A dog who was surrendered after getting a nail stuck in her claw is still waiting for a forever home.
One year ago, Riley, a sweet and playful black Labrador, arrived at CoPilot Animal Rescue (@copilotanimalrescue) in Sanger, North Texas, after her elderly owner could no longer care for her after she sustained an injury on her farm.
Despite her recovery and affectionate nature, Riley remains without a permanent home.
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“She’s had no adoption visits in the one year she’s been here, likely because of Black Dog Syndrome,” a representative from CoPilot Animal Rescue told Newsweek.
Riley the black labrador. The shelter shared Riley’s heartbreaking tale on TikTok in the hope of finding her a forever home.
CoPilot Animal Rescue/CoPilot Animal Rescue
Riley is a wonderful companion, especially for families with young children.
She has experience around babies, toddlers, and kids of all ages, and she gets along well with other dogs. She’s even been known to ignore cats, and despite the occasional shoe or toy theft, she’s a typical Labrador retriever with a heart full of love, the shelter said.
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However, Riley’s situation is not uncommon. Many black dogs like her face longer shelter stays and lower adoption rates due to a phenomenon known as Black Dog Syndrome.
This bias, where black dogs are often overlooked, has no clear cause but is believed to be influenced by factors like superstition, lighting in kennels, and less visibility in online photos, according to The Spruce Pets.
In the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has found that approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters each year, with around 3.1 million of those being dogs.
Texas shelters are currently facing a crisis and overcrowding is a major issue, according to local news reports.
The influx of homeless pets has far outpaced the capacity. The situation has led to difficult decisions, including increased euthanasia rates and a growing urgency for adoptions to alleviate the pressure on shelters.
The Sanger rescue center recently shared Riley’s story on TikTok, touching the hearts of many viewers.
“She deserves a foster or adopter,” the rescue center wrote of the caption of the video which explained Riley’s current situation.
“This is Riley, she is dog friendly, potty trained, good on leash, playful, loves people of all ages and sizes, minimal barking, basically a perfect girl,” they wrote on the text overlay of the video.
The footage showed Riley adorably enjoying a chin rub and sitting contentedly with her tongue out.
Comments poured in expressing disbelief that such a loving dog remains without a home.
“Poor baby… Can’t believe she hasn’t been adopted yet. So sweet,” one viewer wrote. Another added: “I hope this beautiful, perfect girl finds her forever family soon.”
Riley has fully recovered from her injury and loves to run, so a fenced yard is essential in her new home.
Though she is a bit timid, she warms up quickly and enjoys affection. “She is very loving and wants to be with you all the time,” the shelter said.
Riley is also smart, food-motivated, and has learned basic commands like sitting and walking well on a leash. She can be left alone at home and would thrive with another dog to play with or in a household with kids who can give her the attention she craves.
One minor challenge is that Riley doesn’t enjoy car rides, but she is otherwise the perfect companion. She is micro-chipped, spayed, and up-to-date on all her shots, ready for the loving home she deserves.
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