A heartbreaking video of a dog that was sent back to the shelter he came from has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was shared on October 2 from NAWS Humane Society (@nawshumanesocietymokena on TikTok), a nonprofit based in Mokena, Illinois, and has over 337,000 views.
A caption with the post says: "We are devastated for Sampson, he is back to looking for his forever home. Someone needs to give this boy a fighting chance!"
Interest in pet adoptions surged across the globe during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a May 2021 study in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Data released in May 2021 by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) found that one in five households had gotten a dog or a cat since the start of the pandemic, which accounts for around 23 million American homes, based on 2019 U.S. Census data.
According to the society, the "vast majority" of these households were reported to have kept their pets, including 90 percent of the dogs.
Despite regional reports of "a surge in owner surrenders," the ASPCA noted, "this trend is not currently evident on a national level, with many organizations simply seeing a return to pre-pandemic operations and intake."
One of the greatest causes of stress for dogs in animal shelters is social isolation, according to a March 2019 study on open-access site PeerJ.
Research has shown that "human interaction reduces cortisol (a hormone regulating stress) in shelter dogs, with the possibility that longer periods of interaction may yield greater effects," the study said.
The footage in the latest viral video shows the dog on a leash being led into an enclosure. A message overlaid on the clip says: "Unfortunately, after a week, Sampson has been returned back to the shelter."
The message continues: "Sampson is back to looking for a patient and understanding family," as the dog is seen wagging his tail and looking up towards the camera from the enclosure.
"Someone who can show him love, patience and give him time to adjust to home life," the message adds, as the footage shows the door to the enclosure, with Sampson's name across it, being closed shut.
@nawshumanesocietymokena We are devastated for Sampson, he is back to looking for his forever home. Someone needs to give this boy a fighting chance! #animalsoftiktok #pitbull #pitbullsoftiktok #pitbulllove #adoptdontshop #rescuedog #rescueanimals #rescuedogsrock #rescuedogsoftiktok #nawshumanesociety
♬ original sound - ٤٤٤
'They Didn't Deserve You'
The dog's return to the shelter in the latest clip has broken the hearts of users on TikTok and left many furious at Sampsons treatment.
Angie said: "A week? My rescue was an absolute terror for months. It's a lot of change. They need time to decompress."
User moto_mystry asked: "Did they even try? A week isn't close to enough time..."
Creatively Chelsey noted: "They didn't deserve you sweet boy. Someone better is coming."
Audrina Nicole added: "A week ?!? They don't deserve animals point blank!"
Gram & Gina said: "They just gave up on him," and a _maureen27 wrote: "They didn't even give him a chance."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
Do you have an incredible pet adoption or rescue story to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details and your story could appear in Newsweek.
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
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
Soo ... Read more
