Stressed-Out Shelter Dog Couldn’t Stop Spinning in His Kennel Until This Happened
Animal shelters serve as sanctuaries for dogs in need of basic care and safety. Unfortunately, these facilities aren’t conducive enough for pets to enjoy a happy, peaceful stay for a prolonged period. (Watch video below)
Even worse is that some shelters — particularly those with overcrowding issues and limited resources — are often forced to euthanize a good number of their canine residents in response. Sadly, the main victims of these tough decisions are innocent pets who only desire this one thing: finding a forever family.
This was the greatest desire that echoed in the mind and heart of Romeo, a German Shepherd shelter dog. Unfortunately for Romeo, time went by without a single soul showing interest in him, prompting the kill shelter to slate a date for his euthanization.
Consequently, the kennel stress became too much for Romeo to handle, so much so that he stopped eating and spent most — if not all his time — spinning uncontrollably inside his kennel (watch video below).
A Last-Minute Miracle
Romeo’s excessive circling caught the attention of a shelter volunteer, who knew that this sweet pup’s repetitive behavior was a response to the deep-seated stress he was experiencing.
They shared his plight on TikTok, and luckily, his story caught the attention of a potential adopter who decided to give Romeo a permanent home. Being out of the shelter was definitely a huge relief for Romeo. Sadly, he couldn’t get over his spinning behavior while at his new, loving home, typical of many nervous dogs who need time to decompress and get used to their new surroundings.
@rescued__animal Dog Can’t Stop Spinning In The Shelter Until… #dog #dogsoftiktok ♬ nhạc nền – Rescue Animals
The Distraction Tactics
It was heartbreaking for Romeo’s owner to watch her new furry friend circling in the yard most of the time, a clear indication that he was yet to fully experience a sense of safety and comfort at his new home.
Thankfully, at no point did this setback make Romeo’s owner question her decision about welcoming this lovely pup into her life. She understood she needed to exercise patience with Romeo. To help, she found ways to distract him whenever she caught him circling uncontrollably. She’d often call out his name and toss a ball to him, a tactic that helped interrupt circling Romeo and made him shift his focus elsewhere.
And whenever he started spinning inside the house, his owner would ask him to lie down, a distraction tactic that also worked wonders.
As time went by, Romeo began to settle into his new home with ease. His spinning episodes eventually came to a mighty halt, and now sweet Romeo is enjoying the simple pleasures of life as a cherished member of a household that didn’t give up on him at any point.
Romeo’s progress serves as a prime example of the power of patience when dealing with dogs overpowered by fearful behaviors; behaviors likely triggered by stressful life experiences.
