Shock reverberated online after an animal shelter revealed how one of their dogs was returned a mere 10 minutes after being adopted.
In a video posted to TikTok, the Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) introduced Trudge and Matcha, two of their canine residents who recently suffered the misfortune of being adopted and then quickly returned. Incredibly quickly in one case.
“Trudge was originally transferred to us from a local municipal shelter,” Audrey Blaylock, Communications Manager at MARL, told Newsweek. “Because he was originally found as a stray, unfortunately we don’t have any background information and what type of home he lived in prior.”
Matcha was returned to the shelter just 10 minutes after being adopted.
TikTok/mi_animalrescueleague
Matcha was a slightly different but no less heartbreaking story. “Matcha was brought to MARL after becoming uneasy around the children in the home,” Blaylock said. “He was very well-loved by his family, but in his case it just wasn’t a good fit.”
In many ways, these two shelter dogs could not have been more different. Blaylock says Trudge is the “life of the party” though sometimes forgets how big he is. “He is 100 pounds of exuberance—throwing toys for himself, getting zoomies, and squeaking his favorite ball,” she said.
Matcha, by contrast, is a “sweet and affectionate boy” who has proven popular with staff. “Matcha likes to play and go for walks, but can most likely be found snuggling in a volunteer’s lap,” Blaylock said. What they have in common, however, is that they both recently suffered the heartbreak of being adopted and returned in next to no time.
It’s crucial that rescue dogs get given the time they need to adjust to their new homes. Patricia McConnell, an animal behaviorist, believes that those adopting rescue dogs must heed the “3-3-3 rule” when it comes to settling in. “For the first three days, dogs are often in a bit of shock, and don’t show you too much about who they are until they’ve been there a few days,” she told the American Kennel Club (AKC). “After three weeks, many dogs have settled and behave as though they feel like they are home now, but they really don’t fit into your routine until about three months have gone by.” Sadly, Trudge and Matcha didn’t get that time.
Staff at MARL thought Trudge had “set a record” after being adopted and then returned in 72 hours. Blaylock attributes this to the fact he was “too big a handful” for his new family. “His adopters spent a lot of time with him before committing to adoption, experiencing all of his quirks and getting a feel for his larger-than-life personality,” she said. “But sometimes it doesn’t fully translate until the dog is in your home, and that sometimes results in a change of heart.”
Trudge’s return might well have been a record had it not been for what happened to Matcha. In a reveal that drew shocked reactions from viewers on TikTok, the MARL video showcasing their shared story revealed how Matcha was returned “10 minutes after getting adopted”
“Matcha had a fecal test sent out earlier that week, and as the adoption was taking place, the results had come back,” Blaylock said. “He needed to be sent home with a few days of routine medication, and once this was explained to the adopter, they had a change of heart.”
Matcha would have been left understandably heartbroken after being returned within such a short space of time—the internet was certainly crestfallen on his behalf—but his story had a happy ending. “Luckily Matcha had a long line of folks interested in adoption and was scooped up by another family a day later,” Blaylock said.
Ultimately, MARL shared the stories of Trudge and Matcha to highlight how, even with the best planning, things can still go wrong.
The clip of the pair, shared to MARL’s TikTok page, @mi_animalrescueleague, at the end of May, amassed 125,000 views.
“10 minutes?! Had they even left the parking lot?!,” commented one TikToker, while another asked: “I appreciate their good intentions in adopting… but in seriousness wtf? It takes so much longer for animals to decompress from shelter life than 3 days (or 10 min).”
While a third simply said: “10 minutes…”
“The adoption team at MARL really takes the time to ensure that each dog is placed in a home where they will thrive and be successful,” Blaylock said. “We vet applicants, facilitate meet and greets, and have very honest conversations with potential adopters about the dog they are interested in bringing home. Even with these procedures in place —sometimes things just don’t work out, and that’s okay.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
