Dog Left Terrified After 'Only Family She Knew' Gave Her Up to Shelter

A young dog was left in a panic-stricken state after her owner surrendered her to the local shelter because they were moving away.

Shelter volunteer Lacey Bradford from Kansas City took to TikTok, posting under the handle laceylbford, to highlight the plight of Millie, a one-year-old goldendoodle who was left "terrified" after the "only family she has even known" gave her up.

Bradford told Newsweek: "She had been with her family since she was a puppy. So she had spent the whole first year of her life with them."

Many rescue cats and dogs struggle to adapt to the bustle of shelter life. A 2015 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science identified a link between living in an animal shelter and increases in physiological and psychological distress among cats and dogs. The study also found an increase in disease prevalence and behavior problems.

Millie had never known anything other than her family, so understandably she struggled with the adjustment. But she had a guardian angel in the form of Bradford. She got her first rescue dog a few years back after getting divorced. "I realized how much love there is in those shelters," Bradford said.

She now spends every other weekend volunteering with her boyfriend at a shelter near where he lives in Kentucky. "We got together to walk the dogs and give them love outside of their kennels," she said.

Maybe it was chance or maybe it was fate but, for whatever reason, Bradford was at the shelter the day Millie was surrendered. "I was actually sitting in the car when I saw her owner walk Millie up and surrender her," she said. "I truly thought they were getting another dog and doing a meet and greet because goldendoodles are amazing dogs."

She was stunned when she walked in to start her volunteering shift only to see Millie in one of the kennels. "I couldn't believe it," Bradford said. "I asked why she was surrendered and they said her family was moving."

Bradford could see Millie was frightened of her new surroundings, so decided to reach out to her. "I crawled into the kennel and sat there on the floor with her, giving her love because she was shaking and so nervous," she said.

Bradford and her boyfriend had already rescued four dogs from the shelter between them, but there was something about Millie; she knew she was special.

"I don't know why my heart was so drawn to her," Bradford said. "I think it's because I actually saw her get surrendered and then I saw her gentle and lovable nature, and knew she was not meant to be there."

So, in no time at all, Millie found herself heading off with Bradford and her partner, to a new forever home. She's settled in well already. "So far she loves playing with the other dogs we have and she loves walks," Bradford said.

Bradford hopes Millie's story will inspire others to adopt rather than shop. "I used to always buy puppies from a breeder and it wasn't until I started volunteering at the shelter that I realized how much love shelter dogs have to give," she said.

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