A shelter puppy was left devastated after being adopted and returned within the space of just two days.
Every rescue dog has a backstory and, as a result, requires more patience, care, and understanding than the average canine. Animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell is a strong believer in what’s commonly known as the 3-3-3 rule for giving rescue dogs time to adjust to a new home.
“For the first three days, dogs are often in a bit of shock, and don’t show you too much about who they are until they’ve been there a few days,” McConnell told the American Kennel Club. “After three weeks, many dogs have settled and behave as though they feel like they are home now, but they really don’t fit into your routine until about three months have gone by.”
It’s a solid framework to base the continued care of a rescue dog on but, sadly, it’s not one every owner adheres to when they first adopt a shelter pup.
Dixon, the one-year-old puppy, is a case in point. His backstory is one that Cherie Wachter from the Humane Society of Broward County is not all that clear on. “Dixon was previously in the care of Broward County Animal Care & Adoptions,” Wachter told Newsweek. “Not exactly sure how he ended up there, but they handle stray pets.”
What she does know, however, is that even this early part of Dixon’s life was tinged with heartbreak. “According to the notes we received, he was adopted and returned after a day because the family felt their home was too small for him,” she said.
Things would soon improve for Dixon though when, on January 7, he was transferred to the Humane Society of Broward County, a non-profit organization that is not affiliated with the government agency. “Dixon was part of a weekly transfer program we have with this agency to help dogs that are getting overlooked,” Wachter said.
It was a move that would change his life. Within a matter of weeks, on January 29, Dixon was adopted. He had finally gotten the happy ending to his story. The home he had always dreamt of.
But before Dixon could come anywhere close to getting acclimated to his new surroundings, he was returned by his new adoptive family. “His exuberant energy level was too much, and he liked to jump up. The family was nervous he would hurt their elderly mom,” Wachter said.
Though his return was tinged with sadness, Wachter was keen to stress that his former adopters did the right thing if they deemed Dixon to not be the right fit for their family. “It is sad when a pet is returned, but we’d rather the adopter bring the pet back than just let it loose on the streets,” she said.
In the wake of his return, the shelter decided to go all out to help Dixon bounce back immediately.