Dog Abandoned With Her Puppies Now Overlooked in Shelter With 'No Interest'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A shelter dog, who has known little else but sacrifice and suffering in their life to date, is struggling to find a forever home.
When Willow the dog was first found abandoned out in the cold, there was only one thought on her mind: her puppies.
"Willow came to us after being found tied up, with her three puppies by her side," Jackie Gonzalez, a volunteer at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, told Newsweek. "Since then, she's raised her little ones and is now waiting for her own happy ending."
Eager to drum up interest in this often-forgotten pup, Gonzalez posted a video appealing for help in rehousing Willow.
Gonzalez posted footage of a forlorn-looking Willow, staring off into the distance from within the confines of her kennel to her TikTok @jjack.iie an onscreen caption explains the shelter has received "no interest" in anyone adopting her.
The continued lack of interest in Willow is a source of some frustration to Gonzalez. Having interacted with Willow on a one-on-one basis, she's seen everything she had to offer as a pet.
"Willow is a loving girl who enjoys long walks and snuggling up with her favorite people," Gonzalez said. "Sadly, she's often overlooked because she isn't dog-friendly and still needs more positive exposure around other dogs."
The video has provided Willow with some much-needed exposure. Writing in the comments section, one viewer said: "She has the name of my souldog who passed away. Someone please save her."
Another wrote: "Poor baby. Praying for your forever home!" with a third adding: "I hate to see this."
Unfortunately, this kind of scenario isn't all that unusual. The sad reality is that adult dogs like Willow often struggle to get adopted compared to puppies.
In 2015, the website Priceonomics conducted a study exploring the most commonly adopted types of dogs and most popular age groups.
The research, which was based on adoption data from the website Petfinder, revealed that while 95 percent of puppies listed on the site ended up in new homes, that proportion dropped to 75.5 percent among adult dogs.
Willow's struggles with other dogs appear to have played a part. Sadly, that's an issue likely caused by the difficult start to life she has endured.
Whatever the case, the experience of doing months without garnering much in the way of adoption interest is having a negative effect. Willow is struggling. That's clear in the video. But things could get even worse.
"The longer she waits, the more the stress of kennel life weighs on her," Gonzalez said. "We're starting to see her spark fade, and she deserves so much more than that."
Just having one person take a chance on her could be enough to change everything. A 2018 study in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the wellbeing of a shelter dog.
Willow just needs someone to take a chance on her. Gonzalez said: "Willow would thrive in an active, pet-free home where she can finally feel safe, loved, and free to be herself."
Anyone who feels like they may have what it takes to change Willow's life, is encouraged to contact the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Deadly Medical Plane Crash in Arizona's Navajo Nation: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A medical-transport aircraft crashed near Chinle Municipal Airport in northern Arizona on Tuesday, killing all four people aboard. The small plane caught fire on impact in a remote area, although authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the crash. Officials confirmed the fatalities involved the entire crew and passengers; no survivors were found at the site. The incident prompted investigations by local and federal agencies, including the FAA and NTSB, as officials work to determine what led to the deadly accident. NTSB posted on X, "NTSB is investigating the crash of a Beech 300 airplane near Chinle, Arizona." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Newsweek
Abandoned Dog Found Tied Up With Heartbreaking Note: 'Don't Want Him Back'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An abandoned dog, found tied up at the park with a note, landed in the right hands, despite the unfortunate circumstances. Erica Loring received a call from a neighbor who found a pup tethered at the local park. As someone who has fostered countless canines, Loring knew she needed to step in and help. She arrived to find the dog, Juniper, calmly lying on the sidewalk, tied to the park's entrance sign. He greeted her with happy tail wags and sniffs. The note read: "Just got him and it was too much for me. Nice dog. Can't keep him and the original owner doesn't want him back. Please help." Loring immediately took Juniper to the car, and he hopped in, no questions asked. She said in her June 27 Instagram video to the account @super_scooty that the dog seemed to be thrilled about driving in the car. It was as if he knew a better life was in his future. Screenshots from a June 27 Instagram video of a dog tied up to a park sign, left, and abandoned with a note, right. Screenshots from a June 27 Instagram video of a dog tied up to a park sign, left, and abandoned with a note, right. @super_scooty/Instagram However, because no one was available to be an immediate foster to Juniper, Loring brought him to the San Diego Humane Society. A dog in her home prevented her from taking him back to her place. "I knew the SD Humane Society is the best-possible no-kill shelter in the country," Loring told Newsweek via Instagram. "We have an amazing program here. I dropped him off, but I went to visit him every day." Every day since then, Loring came bearing doggy treats and smothering Juniper with love. She posted daily videos about the pup, cautious that he wouldn't slip through the cracks and be forgotten, but, soon enough, seven families expressed their interest in adopting him, Loring said. One family got matched with a different pit bull, which freed up space in a foster home and allowed Juniper to move in once his stray hold time expired. "Because the families came from various areas of the country, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, northern California, etc., we didn't know how long it would take to actually get people to come visit him," Loring said. "We decided to foster him while we figure out who was the perfect home for him." Within a week, Juniper's forever family came and adopted him. She said they absolutely adore him and his "big personality." Juniper has especially taken to the family's child, with the two being inseparable. Viewer Reactions The Instagram video, which reached almost 1 million views as of Tuesday, instantly left people heartbroken, but they applauded Loring's selfless and quick action. "Glad you took that horrible collar off he was left with," posted a viewer. Another added: "I'm sick of this world. What a sweet boy. I wish I could take all the animals." A third person commented: "Can you imagine if someone tied up a baby to a tree and left a note? To me, it's literally the same thing." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Newsweek
Fury At What Husband Suggests Wife Do So His Sick Mother Can Move In
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman is appealing for advice online after her "incredibly angry" husband proposed she and their children temporarily leave their home so his ailing mother could move in. The 45-year-old woman, using the handle ThrowRA_fe on Reddit, explained how her 56-year-old husband's insistence on moving his 78-year-old mom into their shared home came after her doctor recommended full-time care. 'You make God upset' The mother-in-law (MIL), who previously lived independently with visiting nurses, would now require daily medical attention, though professional in-home care had not been fully explored. However, the family conflict runs deeper than logistics. The original poster (OP) opened up about years of religious judgment and gender-based criticism from her MIL, including repeated comments toward her 11-year-old daughter. "Wear leggings with your dress, or else you make God upset," the grandmother apparently said. When the child expressed interest in becoming a veterinarian, the grandmother retorted that, "a proper lady should not work outside the home." Stock image: Man in conflict between his mother and wife. Stock image: Man in conflict between his mother and also appears to play a role in the family tension. The woman said her MIL treats her 8-year-old son with kindness while routinely criticizing her daughter. Though her husband often defends them in real time, he has stood firm on relocating his mother into their house. When the woman suggested a retirement facility, her husband reacted angrily. "You can move out of the house," he told her, "but I'm not moving my mother into a retirement home!" An edit added by the woman stated that nurses would still be involved in her mother-in-law's care, just on a daily basis instead of every other day, should she move in. 'Don't let that woman move in' Nevertheless, reactions to the woman's Reddit post were swift, racking up 1,500 often infuriated comments within two days. One of many supporters advised the woman to put her foot down: "Tell your husband to move in with his mother and he can provide her all the care she needs. "You will continue your bring up your two children. Don't move out. Don't let that nasty old woman move in." Another person urged the OP and her children to, "stay put while he moves in with his mother and takes care of those logistics. "The kids don't have to be uprooted and he gets what he wants. Just because he wants in home care doesn't mean he's gets it with you and the kids around." Some pundits pointed to legal and financial risks, urging the woman to consult an attorney before any action is taken. Among them, was a person who declared: "Don't move out unless the lawyer tells you to. "You need to do this now to protect your children, especially your daughter." Parallels to Past In-Law Conflicts This is far from the first time Reddit has aired disputes involving in-laws and home life. A previous Newsweek article described how a MIL came under fire online for rifling through a couple's personal items and criticizing how they ran their home. Another Newsweek report highlighted a woman who was widely supported for arranging for her in-laws to be placed in a care facility and instead had her own parents move into her home. Good Influence? In a message to Newsweek via Reddit, user ThrowRA_fe said that she has not yet spoken to her husband about the situation, but planned on doing so soon. "My husband is typically on my side and he plans on hiring full-time care for his mother if she is in our home," the OP continued. "A common misunderstanding in the comments is that I will bear the brunt of caretaker roles. He wants his mother here because he wants her to be closer and to keep an eye on her. "I don't want her here, not because I will have to care for her, but because I do not think she is a good influence on the children." To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
