A senior dog’s whole world has been turned upside down after she was surrendered to the Texas animal shelter through no fault of her own.
Olivia, a networker who created the TikTok account @thedogsneedourhelp to “get the word out” about shelter dogs in need, posted a video to her channel detailing Cleopatra’s heartbreaking situation.
Olivia told Newsweek: “Cleopatra was surrendered by her owner who had her for 10 years because his job requires him to travel for work and he can’t be home as much as he should be.”
Cleopatra, a Labrador retriever mix, is currently residing at Greenville Animal Control Shelter, but Olivia said the dog is struggling.
Writing in a caption accompanying a clip of Cleopatra in her kennel, Olivia said the pup has been left “devastated” at being surrendered. “She just lost her world,” the caption says.
Shelter Stress for Dogs
Prolonged shelter stays have been linked with chronic stress in canines.
A 2022 study published in Scientific Reports found hair cortisol concentrations increased significantly after six weeks in a shelter, indicating prolonged stress exposure.Â
However, researchers found cortisol levels then dropped again after adoption, indicating that the physical stress response witnessed was linked specifically to the shelter environment rather than the dogs’ baseline temperament or history.
Olivia said Cleopatra seemed “very stressed in the shelter” when she met her and she noticed that she “barks and cries a bit” there. “She just seems very confused, scared, and sad,” the networker said.
Cleopatra would make a great dog for someone seeking a low-maintenance canine companion. “The owner said she spends most of her days resting since she’s a senior gal, but that she’s dog and kid friendly, housebroken, spayed, very sweet, mellow, loves attention, and enjoys cuddling & pets,” Olivia said.
Senior Dog Adoption Rates
Unfortunately, the sad reality is that senior dogs struggle to get adopted. The ASPCA estimates they have a 25 percent adoption rate. By comparison, 60 percent of younger canines and puppies end up finding forever homes. The good news for Cleopatra is that Olivia’s video appears to have generated a reaction within TikTok’s animal-loving community, with hundreds of users flocking to comment on the clip showcasing the senior pup’s plight.
“Please save this baby please,” one user wrote. “Let’s get this sweet angel into a good foster or adoptive home kind and loving people,” another commented.
A third said, “Senior Dogs deserve the world” with a fourth writing: “bless this baby i’m praying someone adopts her she deserves a FOREVER home.”
‘A Gem of a Dog’
Cleopatra is an older dog, so she will need more care than other younger pups. She needs to go out more frequently, for example. However, Olivia believes whoever does eventually decide to give her a chance at seeing out her senior years in comfort will be getting “a gem of a dog.”
“She needs a home that’ll spoil her for the rest of her life, maybe one with a chill dog and older kids,” Olivia said. “It sounds like she’s suitable for a lot of homes, though.”
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