Photo of Shelter Dog 'Tired of Being Lonely' Breaks Hearts

A "tired and lonely" dog awaiting to find his forever home has moved the hearts of canine lovers on Facebook.

"Tiny Tim" has been at the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center in Pontiac, Michigan, since February 3 after arriving as a stray, Bob Gatt, a manager at the shelter, told Newsweek.

An image of Tiny Tim, described as a mixed-breed male, about 13 months old and weighing about 44 pounds, laying inside an enclosure with his head down, was shared on March 17 on the shelter's Facebook page. A caption shared with the post says: "Tiny Tim is still here. He's tired and lonely, and tired of being lonely...someone come adopt him!!!"

The picture shared on Facebook was taken by staff on the day Tiny Tim came into the shelter, Gatt said. "After a week of being with us, no one came to claim him, and he legally became our dog."

Despite Tiny Tim's infectious energy and lovable personality, the canine remains overlooked, residing in the shelter for six weeks now. Reflecting on the challenges faced by shelters across the country, Gatt emphasized the importance of responsible pet ownership: "There are just too many pets and not enough pet owners," he said.

Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is 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, the 24Pet 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.

In a March 2019 study in PeerJ, researchers investigated the impact of shelter environments on the welfare of dogs. The findings suggest that the stress of living in a shelter can significantly affect a dog's well-being, highlighting the importance of finding loving homes for these animals as quickly as possible.

One of the greatest stressors for dogs in animal shelters is social isolation. 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 noted.

'He Deserves a Forever, Loving Home'

Carrying "no identification, no microchip and no license," Tiny Tim arrived at the facility with nothing to trace his origins or his family, Gatt said. Despite the efforts to locate his previous home through online platforms like Petfinder.com and the Oakland County website, no one stepped forward to claim Tiny Tim and he became a part of the shelter's family. After he was neutered, micro-chipped and immunized, the shelter named him Tiny Tim.

"Since he's been here, everyone loves him," Gatt said. "Why there are no takers is always a mystery."

The dog has captured the hearts of the shelter staff and volunteers with his youthful exuberance and playful demeanor. Gatt shared the sentiments of those who have had the pleasure of spending time with Tiny Tim: "He's young, friendly, and curious. His goofy nature and smart demeanor make him a joy to be around."

Tiny Tim's charm extends beyond his playful antics. He possesses a gentle disposition, evident in his interactions with humans and fellow furry companions. Staff have said that Tiny Tim "gets along well with other dogs, always eager to make new friends" and "he's also a gentleman when it comes to taking treats, always gentle and polite."

Tiny Tim's story serves as a poignant reminder of the countless animals awaiting adoption in shelters across the U.S.

"Our shelter is one of the largest municipal shelters in the state of Michigan," Gatt said. "We are nearly at capacity. But that same dilemma can be said for almost every shelter in the country.

"When COVID came, people rushed to shelters and emptied them out to have companions at home. When COVID began to wane, many of the same people returned their pets to the shelters. Not enough people have their pets spayed or neutered. And too many people allow their pets to run at large."

As Tiny Tim continues to wait for his perfect match to walk through the shelter doors, Gatt remains hopeful for his future.

"Everyone at our shelter is rooting for Tiny Tim to have the right person come in and fall in love with him," he said. "He deserves a forever, loving home."

Several users on Facebook shared sympathy for the shelter dog in the latest post.

Jeannine Aucoin Stover wrote: "Omg, poor boy needs a curl up..."

Sue Holcomb wrote: "Poor little guy. He really looks so lonely . Someone please make him your little furbaby."

Ray Collins noted: "So sad i wish i could save all animals xx"

Dianna McMillan said: "Poor sweetheart and he's so cute"

Mary Alice Conser wrote: "Aw praying he finds his forever home."

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