Shelter Shares Video of Dog Who Didn't Make It as a Wake-Up Call—'So Angry'

An animal-rescue shelter in California is using a bulldog's death to highlight the alarming trend of neglect that its volunteers are having the misfortune of dealing with.

In Southern California, a female bulldog named Quinn, who was suffering from severe neglect, died, despite emergency intervention by Roadogs Rescue. The incident, which captured significant attention online after being shared to social media, underscores a distressing pattern of pet abandonment and neglect—particularly among certain dog breeds that have seen surges in popularity.

Quinn, nicknamed by Roadogs Rescue as "Quinn the Marvel," succumbed shortly after being surrendered in a critical state a few days ago. A poignant TikTok video shared by the rescue team on April 10, showing Quinn's final moments, has been viewed over 135,000 times to date. "We're sharing this because we're so angry and heartbroken. We want to honor a life that mattered," the post read. The Roadogs team told Newsweek that it was eager to express the deep frustration and sorrow felt by staff at the dog's preventable death.

Quinn
Quinn the Marvel, as the shelter called her, is held wrapped up in a blanket. She passed away after being surrendered in a critical condition, and a viral video has flagged up the trend of... @roaddogsrescue

Nikki Carvey, the founder of Roadogs Rescue, told Newsweek about the troubling trend. The shelter founder is particularly desperate to highlight the plight of bulldogs and French bulldogs, two breeds that are facing a high rate of abandonment in her state.

"Bulldogs and Frenchies are such popular breeds and yet are being dumped at the shelters at an alarming rate because people don't want to care for them," Carvey said.

She criticized the unethical breeding practices that have proliferated due to the breeds' recent popularity, coining the term "Greeders" for profit-driven breeders contributing to a surplus of dogs with health issues.

Carvey added: "Since the Frenchie is the No. 1 most-popular breed in the U.S., people are getting into breeding as they think they are going to make lots of money, but all they've done is create a glut of badly bred Frenchies with health issues. It's really sad."

Across the state, rescues like Carvey's continue to advocate and care for these at-risk breeds. They emphasize the responsibility that comes with pet ownership, which includes unlimited access to medical care and humane treatment. These organizations deal frequently with the repercussions of negligent breeding and the human disregard for the welfare of these animals.

As awareness about Quinn's story grows, Carvey said she hopes that potential pet owners will recognize the serious commitment involved in caring for a dog, particularly those breeds prone to health issues.

The team at Roadogs Rescue added: "Love is action. Love is getting an animal and asking for medical help as soon as they need it."

Their message aims to inspire a shift in how society views and treats its canine companions, in memory of Quinn and countless others like her whom they may have crossed paths with.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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


Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek Life and Trends Reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending ... Read more

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