An Instagram reel from the Humane Society of Broward County has left viewers heartbroken as a dog sadly looked on to other puppies getting adopted.
In the video, the adult shelter dog named Pretzel watches another dog get adopted while she remains overlooked. Since the video was posted, it has received 16,000 likes and dozens of pleas from Floridians to adopt the dog.
“It’s just not fair,” the Humane Society captioned the reel. “Beautiful girl Pretzel has been waiting for a forever home for almost three months and is officially our shelter’s longest resident. Sadly, this is the reality for many adult dogs. While the puppies get adopted quickly, our wonderful adult dogs can wait months to find a family.”
Stock photo: A dog in a kennel looks outside.
Roman Nurutdinov/Getty Images
Pretzel, a 3-year-old mother dog, carries a particularly sad past.
She was “given up” after raising her puppies for her owner, the caption stated. Described as “gentle [and] a little shy at first,” Pretzel is “still trying to understand that people can be kind.”
Once she feels safe, though, they added that her “true personality shines,” and she is playful and affectionate. Her favorite things? Belly rubs, treats, water and taking long sprints outside.
“[She] just wants to be part of a family again,” the Humane Society concluded. “Pretzel is ready to start over. She’s ready for a home where she can feel safe, loved and never left behind again.”
How Did Viewers React?
The sight of Pretzel watching younger, more easily adopted dogs struck a chord with Instagram users. Many expressed overwhelming sadness for overlooked adult dogs compared to puppies in shelters.
“I’m so insanely thankful for the workers and volunteers at shelters, because it must wreck their hearts to see these angels everyday getting passed over,” one person wrote. Another, dreaming of a grand rescue, shared, “My goal is to buy a house in the ranches so I can adopt them all.”
One comment highlighted Pretzel’s past as a mother. “This broke my heart cause you see she’s had litters of puppies, and she must feel so used,” the commenter wrote. “Being somewhere where it’s a constant reminder of your mistreatment is so heart breaking. Probably has trauma seeing puppies carried away from her as well.”
The plight of adult dogs like Pretzel is a common challenge in shelters. While puppies often find homes quickly, adult dogs, despite often being house-trained and having established personalities, tend to wait longer.
As one commenter pointed out, Pretzel is the “perfect age.”
“Puppies are a lot of work,” they wrote. “Don’t get me wrong…they are worth it, but not everyone has the time or patience to train a puppy. We adopted an adult dog years ago, and she was the most amazing dog. Please someone give this beautiful dog a chance!”
Despite the widespread emotional outpouring and expressions of interest on the initial post, there has been no update on Pretzel’s adoption status.
Newsweek reached out to @humanebroward for comment via Instagram.
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