Senior dogs are often overlooked in shelters since many people gravitate toward playful puppies. However, one woman recently changed her fostering plans after meeting an elderly dog with a heartbreaking story.
Taylor Angelini, 26, spontaneously visited the Animal House Shelter in Huntley, Illinois, on Thursday, intending to foster a puppy. Instead, she was drawn to Sadye, a 15-year-old dog with a tragic past.
A video capturing Angelini’s first encounter with Sadye quickly went viral, gaining over 953,000 views and over 152,000 likes. The text overlay says that Sadye’s owners had died, and the caption reads: “She was shaking so badly when she met me, I almost started crying. I can’t wait to foster her.”
Sadye had been in the shelter for two weeks. In another video, Angelini expresses her sympathy for the senior dog, saying, “I can’t imagine how scared she is—going from living in a home for 15 years to being in a shelter.”
Newsweek reached out to @taylorangelini for comment via TikTok and could not verify the details of the case.
The Science Behind Shelter Dog Stress
Studies have shown that shelter dogs experience significant stress, prompting shelters to use strategies like playtime, training and calming music. While music has been found to reduce stress, little research has explored the effects of visual stimulation.
In 2020, a study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science tested whether a pet videophone playing calming sounds and videos could lower stress in 47 shelter dogs. While there was no significant change in stress hormone levels, the treated dogs spent less time hiding and groomed themselves more, suggesting increased comfort. While not conclusive, the study suggests that audiovisual enrichment may help improve shelter dogs’ well-being.
Another way to alleviate stress is by placing dogs in foster homes. However, research indicates that fostering provides only temporary relief. A 2019 study found that social isolation is the biggest stressor for shelter dogs. While human interaction helps, the effects fade once dogs return to their kennels.
The study, which examined 207 dogs across five U.S. shelters, measured stress levels before, during and after fostering. The results showed that cortisol levels dropped significantly during fostering but returned to the baseline once the dogs were back in the shelter. Dogs also experienced longer rest periods during and after their sleepovers. However, stress levels varied by shelter, indicating that environmental factors also play a role in their well-being.
While fostering offers short-term relief, the key to reducing long-term stress in shelter dogs lies in improving overall kennel conditions.
A stock image shows a senior shelter dog.
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TikTok Reacts
“Please give that baby the most peaceful last years on earth. Every dog deserves a happy ending. Thank u for doing this,” said one user. Angelini replied: “I agree. No senior dog should be in a shelter. I can’t wait to give her so much love.”
“I put my dogs in my will for this exact reason. Nobody gets anything unless my dogs get cared for,” said another user.
A third commenter wrote: “I know those owners are watching from heaven and filled with love and appreciation. I hope you have you have some new guardian angels with you.”
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