A shelter dog is reeling from the shock of being adopted, and then returned just one day later.
From the moment Madison Turner, from California, met Penelope the one-year-old Anatolian Shepherd Mix, she knew she was a “great dog.” Turner was looking to foster and, in Penelope, saw the potential to change a dog’s life for the better.
“When I was first introduced to her I made sure that I brought my own dog, Cali, to ensure they got along well,” she told Newsweek. “Instantly they became besties, Penelope was so excited to meet my pup and was ready to play with her.”
Weighing in at around 68 pounds, Penelope was significantly bigger than the 12-pound Cali, but it never got in the way of them forging a friendship. “Penelope made sure to give her a little space while playing, did not trample her, and would even roll on her back to submit to Cali,” Turner, a foster carer for the Del Mar Dog Rescue, said.
Penelope thought she had been adopted. However, she was returned a day later.
Del Mar Dog Rescue
Research has highlighted the important role regular human contact can play in reducing stress for shelter dogs. As back as 2006, a study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior identified a reduction in salivary cortisol levels among dogs who regularly engaged in human contact sessions. Cortisol is the hormone associated with stress.
Whatever troubles Penelope may have had in the past seemed to disappear once Turner took her home. “She was a great foster pup,” she said. “Penelope loved to play with toys, go on walks, give kisses, play with Cali and other dogs, eat treats, and loved to cuddle with a good belly rub.”
Penelope was also on friendly terms with Turner’s cat and even struck up a rapport with one of her co-worker’s dogs, who was a similar breed. “Me and Penelope bonded so much and if I did not live in an apartment I would have kept her in a heartbeat,” Turner said.
After a couple of days in her care, Turner got the news someone wanted to adopt Penelope. The new owner “wanted to add another pup to her family, so she adopted Penelope,” Turner explained.
Penelope seemed perfectly primed for a forever home and Turner assumed this would be her happy ending. But, a little over a day after she was adopted, Penelope was returned. Turner said the new owner cited the fact she already had three dogs and three cats and Penelope was struggling to get along with everyone.
Whatever the truth, Turner felt Penelope deserved more time to adjust to her new surroundings. “Shelter pups need more than a day to acclimate to a new environment,” she said. “When it comes to adopting shelter pups, they usually state the 3-3-3 rule, which means to give the pups 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months to fully get used to life out of the shelter.”
Adopted dogs being returned is nothing new to Turner or anyone else at the shelter, but she believes a dog like Penelope would be a good fit for most homes.
That’s why she took to her TikTok, @CaliBali23, to appeal for someone to take a chance on Penelope, with the video amassing more than 1,000 views since being posted last month.
Penelope is currently being looked after by staff at Del Mar Dog Rescue in San Diego and enjoying regular visits from Turner.
“Penelope would thrive in a home with possibly one dog that she can play with, a loving family that is willing to take the time to let her settle in and give her endless love,” Turner said.
“She is very sweet and I can tell that she just wants to give and receive love, she wants to learn, and she wants a family to call her own. She has been in so many homes and I can just tell that she is confused because she just wants to find HER people that she can call home and family.”
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