“But I’m a Good Dog”—Shelter Pets Confront the Stereotypes Keeping Them From Being Adopted
Each year, around 3.1 million dogs enter shelters across the U.S.—yet only about 2 million find forever homes, according to the ASPCA. That leaves nearly a million dogs still waiting, and many face the heartbreaking fate of euthanasia. Despite their capacity for love and loyalty, countless shelter dogs are overlooked, largely due to common stereotypes that people hold against them. (Watch Video Below)
@peggyadamsarl Adopt love 🧡 These pups are available at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, FL 🌴
♬ I Bet on Losing Dogs – Mitski
In a recent TikTok video, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue tackled this issue head-on by sharing the most common excuses they hear for not adopting. Their goal? To debunk these baseless myths and prove that shelter dogs are just as worthy of love as any other.
1. Demand For Puppies
One of the most common excuses the rescue hears is, “I want a puppy.” Many people mistakenly believe shelters only house older dogs. To bust that myth, the rescue introduces Ludo—a sweet, wide-eyed puppy with an irresistibly adorable face—proving that even the youngest dogs can be found in shelters.
2. Mistrust of Shelter Dogs
Because shelter dogs often come with unknown histories or mixed breeds, many potential adopters assume they can’t be trusted. To challenge this unfair assumption, the rescue highlights one of the kindest shelter dogs, King, with the caption: “I’m a gentle soul.” Their message is clear—shelter dogs are full of love, and their pasts don’t define their capacity to be loyal, affectionate companions.
3. Breed Preference
Another common misconception is that shelters only have mutts, with some adopters saying, “I want a fancy breed.” While mixed-breed dogs are indeed common, shelters also house purebreds and unique crossbreeds. To prove this, the rescue proudly shows off Berk, a white furry stunner who looks every bit like a premium dog.
4. Senior Dog Stereotype
Some potential adopters shy away from senior dogs, believing it’s too sad to bring home an older pet. To challenge that notion, Remington appears on the screen—a striking black and white dog with soulful eyes—who still has so much love and joy to offer.
5. No Good Dogs
Some people say they’d rather go to a breeder because “breeders have good dogs,” implying that shelters are full of pets with behavioral issues. But that’s simply not true. To challenge this harmful myth, the rescue features their super cute, Toad, who looks up with kind eyes in the video as the words, “But I’m a good dog,” appear on screen.
Visit Peggy Adams Animal Rescue’s website to adopt more wonderful furry friends like these.
