Family surrenders dog after 2 years—his reaction in shelter breaks hearts
A dog’s world turned upside down when his family surrendered him to a Virginia-based shelter, and how he handled the transition gutted viewers.
Milo, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd mix, was dropped off at the Stafford County Animal Shelter on January 17 by the family he lived with for about two years. Alyssa, a volunteer trainer at the shelter, told Newsweek via email that the family said Milo was exhibiting resource guarding and “became mouthy with them.”
Resource guarding is a common canine behavior in which a dog reacts when they feel something valuable—such as food, toys or a resting spot—is being threatened. An article from Preventive Vet states that while resource guarding is a natural behavior, it is not desirable as it can become dangerous. Signs include barking, lunging, biting or chasing.
Now, surrounded by strangers in a noisy, unfamiliar environment, Milo was confused and terrified. The animal shelter shared on a January 20 Facebook post a video of Milo, visibly distraught upon arrival. He immediately retreated to the back of his kennel, trembling uncontrollably and barely making eye contact. The sudden change in his world overwhelmed him.
Screenshots from a Facebook video of an Australian shepherd mix shaking in his kennel after being surrendered by his family of two years.
Alyssa has been working with Milo since he came to the shelter, slowly gaining his trust. But even as she pets him, he is unsure if he is allowed to enjoy it, and a week in the shelter has not made it easier. Alyssa said he is still shaking and insecure, but he’s slowly coming out of his shell.
“…every day he’s trying more and more to be happy when he sees me,” she said. “Today, when I went to his kennel, he came right over and cautiously wagged his tail to let me know he was happy but scared.”
Loud noises terrify him the most. He shakes uncontrollably until he is brought outside. But even then, Milo keeps his head down, scanning the world for danger or hiding behind Alyssa.
The team has seen Milo “come alive” when he sees another canine, despite being told he is not dog-friendly. He wants to be part of the run when dogs run around in the yard, but he is still learning how to “be a dog.” The exposure is not enough to keep his stress down because afterward he’ll retreat to the back of his kennel with his tail tucked and head down.
“I do not see any indicators in Milo that aggression would be an issue for him,” Alyssa said. “What I see is an insecure dog who was trained on basic obedience, which is great, but not on the world in general or around him.”
Only one person has offered to foster Milo for the weekend, but the shelter is looking to place him in a consistent home with a dog who will show him the ropes and what it means to be loved.
The Facebook video had reached more than 100,000 views, 3,200 reactions and nearly 900 comments as of Friday.
“Aww, he’s freaking frightened and so are all the others crying,” a viewer pointed out.
Another added: “He’s not used to hearing all that noise.”
A third person said: “Poor, frightened, beautiful boy. I hope he finds a good home or foster soon.” |
