Dog Returned To Shelter Year After Adoption Still Struggling 380 Days Later

A dog who was adopted from her shelter as a puppy only to be returned a year later is still waiting for a second chance more than 380 days on from being surrendered.

There was a time when the shelter of the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, was all that Roxy knew. "Roxy was born in our care," Ruben Whitney-Cantu, an animal care adoption supervisor at the center, told Newsweek.

"Her mom, Nera, was a very pregnant momma dog who gave birth days after intake. She had eight healthy female pups, with Roxy being one of them."

It didn't take long for Roxy to catch the eye of visitors at the shelter and soon after she was adopted, heading off to what staff assumed would be her forever home. But a year later, she was returned. "The reason Roxy was brought back to us was her inability to coexist with livestock animals," Whitney-Cantu said.

Roxy struggled to adapt back to life in the shelter. "She was used to having land to roam on, and now suddenly she is in a 4 foot by 8 foot kennel," Whitney-Cantu said. "She struggled to put on weight; she stressed, barked, and would spin in her kennel."

Though efforts are made to try and improve the day-to-day lives of the shelter's residents with things like park visits, it was still a far cry from the experience Roxy had enjoyed at her previous home.

Despite this, Whitney-Cantu said that Roxy has all the qualities needed to make the perfect canine companion to the right special someone.

"Roxy's favorite thing to do is be with people," he said. "She loves the staff and volunteers that spend time with her. She does amazing during car rides and enjoys park visits for a game of fetch."

However, more than 380 days on from being returned by her original adopter, Roxy is still waiting and hoping to be given a second chance at happiness.

The sad reality is that the odds of her finding that perfect owner are a little slimmer now she's an adult dog rather than a puppy. Though every dog is different, research has shown that puppies remain hot properties in the shelter system.

A study conducted by the website Priceonomics, using data from the online adoption platform Petfinder, found that while 95 percent of puppies on the site end up finding a home, that proportion drops to 80 percent among young dogs and 75.5 percent among adult canines.

Having been back in the shelter for well over a year has also taken its toll on Roxy.

"After a year of being with us, I know for a fact that Roxy still struggles mentally with being in our care," Whitney-Cantu said. "We do everything in our power to make our pets feel comfortable, provide enrichment, and get as much time away from their kennel as possible, but it will never be enough for what they deserve. Roxy deserves a family of her own, to have a yard to run in, and to be spoiled for the rest of her days."

Having spent an extended period of time with her, Whitney-Cantu has a pretty clear idea of the kind of family or owner that would suit Roxy.

"I think her next family needs to be active and prepared to work with her. At this time, I think the best home setting for her would be one where she is the only pet in the home so that they can continue working on her social skills," he said. "When Roxy came into our care as an adult, it was hard to find a dog friend that she was comfortable being around, and she has made great improvements, but again, these need to be continued with training."

Whitney-Cantu's advice for anyone interested in adopting Roxy is simple: "come and meet her." "She is the sweetest dog with people; she instantly wins everyone over with her eyes and smile. Her struggle with other animals is something that should have been trained and worked on a long time ago when she was still a young puppy, but we have worked on correcting her behaviors, and I truly believe she will make a great pet for someone," he said. "If they are willing to work with her and give her a chance, they will have the best dog that Roxy can be."

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