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A video of a senior dog who has lived at a shelter for 632 days has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip, which has been watched 1.3 million times, was posted on June 19 by Julie Saraceno (@juliesaraceno2).
Saraceno is a graphic designer and photographer based in Pasco, Washington, who volunteers at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick.
The 41-year-old told Newsweek that Snoopy is a 7-year-old Staffordshire terrier who was diagnosed with Cushing's disease just over a year ago.
A message overlaid on her video reads: "POV [point of view] You're a senior dog with special needs who has been a shelter dog for 632 days and nobody wants to take you home."
Around 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters across the country each year, including some 3.1 million dogs. This is according to 2019 data compiled by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Around 65 percent of the dogs are adopted while 13 percent are euthanized, the ASPCA said.
The video shows the terrier in a cage at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society. He is hunched over a blanket, with his head close to the floor. Barking from other dogs can be heard in the background.
The caption explains that "Snoopy is looking for an end of life foster or adopter" and the Cushing's disease causes "problems with his vision, hearing and weight."
Saraceno told Newsweek that Snoopy also takes medication and "is on a special diet for his allergies, which helps with his skin issues."
Cushing's disease is a condition where a dog's adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones, according to veterinarians Malcolm Weir and Ernest Ward in an article for the website of animal-hospital chain VCA. Located near the kidneys, the adrenal glands produce several vital substances that regulate body functions and are required to sustain life.
"The most widely known of these substances is cortisol, commonly known as cortisone. Decreased or excessive production of these substances, especially cortisol, may be life-threatening," Weir and Ward wrote.
According to the shelter, Snoopy's "prognosis is positive, and it hopefully shouldn't affect his lifespan," Saraceno said, so "he hopefully has at least a few years left."
TikTok users were moved by his plight. Nikkipeery simply wrote, "Heartbreaking," while user5071682639074 posted: "Oh sweet boy."
Kelo Pinok commented: "Please someone adopt this beautiful baby."
User seasunnies posted: "Aww the baby!! Praying he gets adopted soon!!"
Karrisa wrote: "I hope you find a good loving home. You deserve it."
Do you have funny or heartwarming videos/pictures of your pet to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Update 07/05/23, 1:00 p.m. ET: This article was updated to add comments from Julie Saraceno.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in Read more