In a viral Instagram post, a shelter volunteer revealed the most-common reasons dogs are abandoned, leaving internet users heartbroken.
In the post, shared on Tuesday under the username @jsaraceno, the volunteer, Julie Saraceno, walks around the shelter filming some of the pups still waiting for a home, listing the reasons for their surrender. “When you’re a volunteer at an animal shelter and you see all the reasons the dogs ended up here,” the caption says.
The first pup is Mishka, a 10-year-old Siberian husky who was abandoned because of his owner’s health conditions, and is now desperately looking for a new foster, who can make him feel happy and safe for his remaining months.
Saraceno told Newsweek: “He’s been with us for just over a month, surrendered because of the health of the owner. Upon intake, a mass was found on his hip, later confirmed through X-ray.
“Due to his age and medical condition, Mishka is in need of a hospice foster home where he can spend his remaining months surrounded by love and comfort.”
Another pup featured in the clip is Jazzy, surrendered due to landlord issues back in December, still waiting for her perfect match.
“She is only 1 year old. She is very shy and scared, so it takes time for her to trust people,” Saraceno said. “Most people aren’t willing to do more than one meet-and-greet, and I think that is what she needs to feel comfortable.”
Among all the other dogs in the clip are also Bowser and Mario, a pair of 5-month-old dachshund and Siberian husky-mix puppies, surrendered because the family had too many animals.
“They have the most-adorable stubby dachshund legs you’ve ever seen,” Saraceno added.
With almost 3 million dogs entering American shelters in 2024 alone, adopting from a shelter has never been more important.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says that, of all the homeless pups that ended up in shelter last year, only about 2 million were adopted, and 554,000 were returned to their owner.
Of the pups left, 524,000 were transferred to other organizations, and 334,000 were euthanized.
The Humane Society of the United States says that, when animals are injected with proper euthanasia drugs, they can lose consciousness in about 3 to 5 seconds. However, many local and underfunded shelters still use gas chambers.
In these black boxes, it can take as long as 20 minutes for death to occur, and, in some cases, the animals are still conscious when their vital organs begin to shut down.
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received nearly 30,000 views and almost 3,000 likes on the platform.
One user, John_baresky, commented: “Each is a TREASURE of a puppy dog to ADOPT and CHERISH! They bring cheer, fun, joy, laughs, love and loyalty to those that adopt them!”
Portagebreeze added: “So many wonderful dogs who were originally placed in homes where human illness or a must move occurred. These pups are all so deserving of a wonderful family to call their own.
“Won’t you consider one of them? Papa has been waiting SO long. He has to be an only dog in the home it this is easily done and the folks at the shelter can help you be successful with him!!”
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