Shelter animals will hold on to the hope that their forever family will come around, despite having traumatic pasts. But unfortunately that hope does not last forever.
In April, a deaf shelter dog named Albie was brought in as an injured stray. After he started to feel better, his personality began to shine. A November 13 Facebook post about Albie said he is a very fun and bubbly lurcher collie mix.But as nearly seven months have gone by, Albie is a "broken little soul" who is still living at a Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) facility in a suburb of the city. His hopes have waned, and one day he showed the staff just how depressed he was over not finding a home.
In the past few days, Albie seems to have given up, and even with the cuddles and playtime he gets from the DSPCA, he can't help but feel lonely.
Animals confined in shelters often experience a range of emotions that can affect both their mental and physical health. Animals might become anxious from the loud noises and an unfamiliar environment. Others might respond with aggressive behavior, such as barking, being destructive and starting to urinate in kennels, according to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Stress can also lead to an increase in susceptibility to diseases because it compromises the immune system. Dogs might experience a loss in appetite or upset stomachs when feeling stress, the Humane Society of the United States points out.
In Albie's case, he shut down. He was found sleeping on his tiny bed that had been turned upside down, with his back toward the kennel window.
"Albie flips his bed sometimes when he's stressed," the Facebook post reads.
The DSPCA is hoping Albie's forever home is out there. The staff says he would benefit from living with another playful dog, but that is not a requirement for his adoption.
Shelter Numbers in the U.S.
Each year, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, for an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, 24Petwatch Shelter Watch Report found.
About 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs and behavior rehabilitation.
So far this year, the DSPCA, which is Ireland's oldest and largest animal rescue service, has re-homed 1,511 animals and rescued 2,364.
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Liz O'Connell is a Newsweek Reporter based in North Carolina. Her focus is on pet news and videos. Liz joined ... Read more
