Shelters across the United States are filled with dogs of every kind, yet most of them are mixed breeds, often referred to as mutts.
Hudson Animal Hospital reports that about 80 percent of all shelter dogs nationwide fall into that category.
So when a purebred Belgian Malinois suddenly arrived at the Arizona Humane Society, the staff could hardly believe what they were seeing.
This shelter almost never receives purebred dogs, especially not one as striking and beautiful as this girl.
How Ellie Ended Up At The Shelter
Ellie, the Belgian Malinois, was brought to the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) after her previous owner sadly passed away.
“Ellie came into our care as an owner surrender after her previous owner passed away. Unfortunately, she was living in hoard-like conditions and needed to be treated for some cuts she had, which were likely from dog fighting,” Joseph Casados, Public Relations for the Arizona Humane Society, told Newsweek.
The shelter’s Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital quickly stepped in to provide care.
The skilled veterinary staff treated her wounds, repaired her broken teeth, and worked carefully to bring her back to health. Thanks to their efforts, Ellie was soon on the mend and feeling much better.
Her presence at AHS was unusual, since most of their intakes are mixed breeds.
“We don’t have Belgian Malinois very often, however it is becoming more common as the breed grows in popularity. Roughly 25 percent of the pets that come through our doors are purebred. It definitely speaks to the increase of backyard breeders in recent years,” Casados explained.
Arizona Humane Society is also very active on social media, using platforms like TikTok to highlight animals and give them more chances to be adopted quickly.
Posting a video of two-year-old Ellie patiently sitting in her kennel and capturing her sweet demeanor resulted in a very quick adoption.
“Not often you see a Belgian Malinois at our shelter! Ellie is $49 for a limited time. Come by and meet this sweet lady at our South Mountain campus,” said in the caption of the TikTok video.
Ellie’s Forever Family
Soon after the video went live, Ellie went viral, receiving thousands of views and an outpouring of attention.
With so much interest coming in, the shelter clarified in the comments that Ellie needed an experienced home familiar with her breed.
“Thank you all for showing so much love and concern for sweet Ellie! True to her breed, she is an energetic and intelligent lady. Ellie will need an active family to match her energy level and will need to meet all other dogs in her new home,” they wrote.
Many viewers agreed, with one person adding, “Great dogs. But they are not a breed for everyone to have as a pet. Hope this beautiful dog finds the right home.”
Belgian Malinois are indeed wonderful and brilliant dogs, but they are also high-energy animals that need lots of stimulation and activity, making them more suitable for experienced owners.
Thankfully, Ellie found her forever family only one day after the video went up. Her adoption was a huge success, and it gave her the chance to start a brand-new life.
Still, while Ellie was lucky, the Arizona shelter continues to face a serious overcrowding crisis, much like many other shelters across the country.
With their ethical no-kill philosophy, they are working tirelessly to save, heal, and rehome as many animals as possible, but they cannot do it alone.
If you are able, please consider donating or adopting to help one of the many dogs still waiting for their chance at a happy ending.