Senior Shelter Dog Cries as If He's 'Calling for His Family' to Return

A New Jersey animal shelter is appealing for people to consider adopting a senior dog who was surrendered by his owners and has struggled to come to terms with life in kennels ever since.

After years of being well cared for and loved immensely, 12-year-old Rax was given up by his owners when they were evicted. Without a home for the senior dog, they took him to Voorhees Animal Orphanage, in the hope that he would soon find a new family.

Unfortunately, the shelter has had very little interest in poor Rax since he joined, and Jennifer Bailey from Voorhees told Newsweek that he has barrier issues, which means he "barks at people when they stop and look at him."

Initially, they countered that by letting Rax outside to meet new people, but lately even that has become difficult for the dog, who cries when he's outside, "almost as if he calling for his family."

Bailey continued: "He is a big boy with a big bark that can be very intimidating but get him outside and he is super chilled. Rax definitely has barrier issues, I mean who would like people staring down at you through a fence all day?

"When he cries outside, it seems like he is crying because he wants to be with his people. They are all he's even known. It's heartbreaking."

Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

On October 29, Voorhees Animal Orphanage shared a post about Rax on their Facebook page, explaining that he "is not doing well in the kennels" and that he keeps "calling for his family" whenever he's outside.

"The shelter is no place for a dog this old. Who knows how long he has left to live? He should be in a home with a family to love him, not in a loud kennel. He must be so confused," Bailey told Newsweek.

"One thing he loves to do is play with a squeaky toy or squeaky ball. He will literally lay on his bed all day squeaking his toy. It actually seems comforting to him. Rax isn't asking for much. His ideal home is a quieter one with a fenced yard where he can lay in the sun all day. Also, one without too many steps."

While the post has amassed more than 8,100 views and over 500 reactions, it is yet to lead to any significant interest for Rax, but the shelter is hopeful that a loving owner will come forward soon.

Due to the lack of interest, Bailey believes that many people "are intimated when they see him in the kennels," which puts them off meeting him again. The shelter hopes people won't be deterred by Rax's big bark, because underneath that there is a very gentle and loving soul.

Among the many comments on the Facebook post, one person responded: "Praying this boy gets adopted into a loving home soon."

Another Facebook user commented: "So sad, hope he finds a home soon."

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