These Dogs Thought They Had Forever Homes—Now They’re Back at the Shelter for Heartbreaking Reasons
When dogs leave the shelter, they do so with the promise of a forever home. But for some, that promise is short-lived. One day, they’re curled up on the couch, secure in the warmth of a new family. The next, they’re back behind shelter bars, returned by the very people who once vowed to keep them.
At Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar, CA, this harsh reality recently played out for six dogs, each surrendered with a reason more disheartening than the last. In a video shared by the shelter, owners cited excuses ranging from “too much energy” to “we’re getting divorced”—leaving behind dogs who had done nothing wrong.
The good news is, four of these dogs have already landed forever homes. Unfortunately, the remaining two are still waiting for someone to prove to them that love isn’t a temporary thing. With their hearts wide open to love hard once again, these two pups are counting on you to show them that they’re indeed good enough and worthy of the forever kind of love:
1. Milly
One-year-old Milly, a Labrador Retriever mix, was returned to the shelter because she was always afraid to be left alone. Yes, her previous owners expected her to put on a brave face anytime they left her by herself, yet sweet Milly just didn’t know how to exist without her humans.
Don’t let Milly spend another night at the shelter trying to figure out why her previous owners didn’t see her as worth keeping. She’s not too much. She’s not a difficult pup. She’s just a loving dog who’s honest about what she can or can’t cope with. To adopt Milly, learn more here.
2. River
River is a 9-month-old shepherd mix whose previous owners claimed they were divorcing and thus couldn’t care for him anymore. He did not do anything wrong. He did not pick sides when his owners started drifting apart. Yet, he eventually paid the price.
Despite being nothing but a good boy, his owners suddenly started to view him as an inconvenience that had to be done away with. River doesn’t understand why the humans he loved most decided to walk away from him when things weren’t perfect, yet he’s the “I will love you endlessly even during the toughest days” type of dog. To adopt River, learn more here.
