Just like all shelter pups, Roxxie patiently waited for the day her dreams would come true – the day when she would find a forever family.
She stole the hearts of the staff at Huntington County Humane Society, a shelter located in Huntington, Indiana. Apart from being stunning, she was adorable and full of love.
When Roxxie was adopted, the staff was certain that it was her happily ever after.
Heartbreakingly, after spending two weeks in her new home, Roxxie was surrendered to the shelter, and the reason shocked the staff.
Roxxie Only Wanted Love
The dog’s adoptive family returned her because she was too snuggly.
“Roxxie wanted to snuggle in bed at night, and they just didn’t want to deal with that,” Katy Hudson, board president of the Huntington County Humane Society, told The Dodo.
The shelter staff was both stunned and confused. It was the first time that a dog had been returned for being too affectionate.
“We’ve heard almost every reason under the sun for why animals get surrendered to us, but for a pet to be returned for being overly affectionate and clingy is not something we’ve come across before. It immediately caused confusion: ‘What do you mean you don’t want to cuddle with your dog?’” Hudson added.
Even after the shelter offered to provide some training to Roxxie so that she wouldn’t jump into bed with them, the family didn’t change their opinion.
Roxxie was devastated after her adopters returned her to the Indiana shelter. She struggled to understand what she did wrong. She only wanted to love them. Why did they reject her?
The doggo was a shadow of her former self. Nothing interested her. She curled up on the kennel floor, and didn’t even want to go outside.
After Hudson shared the dog’s heartbreaking story on the shelter’s social media, people across the country reached out, flooding the shelter with calls and messages of support and encouragement.
Hudson shared that Pit Bulls are often labeled as aggressive, but Roxxie’s story proved otherwise. It showed people that Pit Bulls, like any other breed, have a wide spectrum of personalities and that they can be just as loving.
The Perfect Family For Roxxie
Out of 30 families who applied to adopt Roxxie, one special family caught the shelter’s attention – the Chases. The affectionate pup reminded them of their dog Lucy who passed away. She loved to snuggle just like Roxxie.
The family mourned the loss of their beloved dog, and after a year, they felt that it was time to welcome another dog to their home. Since they had six rescue cats, they searched for a cat-friendly dog in their local shelter, but they couldn’t find them.
Once they saw Roxxie and heard her story, they felt that she was the pup they had been looking for. The Illinois family didn’t mind driving three hours to the shelter just to meet Roxxie.
From the very beginning, it was clear that the Chases were the right family for the pup. They loved and cared for their animals deeply.
Roxxie’s shelter friends threw a party and celebrated her adoption. They made a line and cheered on the dog. When Roxxie appeared at the door, she had a huge smile on her face. She was excited and happy to greet her new family.
When it was time to leave, she hopped into their van right away.
A Fresh Start
Her family decided she deserved a royal name to match her adorable spirit and they named her Lady Olivia Huntington. Her shelter friends call her Livvie for short.
Shortly after moving in with her family, Livvie hopped on the bed and asked for cuddles.
Jessica, her husband Dan, and their twin daughters, Kirsten and Annaliese love her snuggly personality.
“I don’t think a dog can be too affectionate. I love how much she loves us,” Jessica Chase told The Dodo.
Livvie adores the twins and she always greets them when they come back home from school.
The pup showers them with kisses while they snuggle with her.
Livvie found her family – the one who loves her for who she is and feels lucky to have her in their lives.
The sweet pup’s story shone a light on other shelter dogs, helping fifteen more residents at the Huntington County Humane Society to get adopted.
We hope that other shelter residents who continue waiting for their turn will soon receive the news they had been waiting for.