Shelter Dog 'Stressed and Down' After Repeatedly Passed Over for Adoption

A shelter dog in North Carolina became depressed after being overlooked one too many times by visitors.

Burlington Animal Services in North Carolina first highlighted Pie's plight in a Facebook post. It said how he was constantly getting passed over for adoption, which was beginning to impact his mental well-being.

Jessica Arias, director of Burlington Animal Services, told Newsweek that Pie, whom they believe to be around 18 months old, came to them back in February after he was found roaming free.

"Unfortunately, no one came forward to reclaim him," Arias said. "Our staff named him Pie, short for 'cutie-pie' because we think he is adorable. He is a great, young boy with lots of energy and an eagerness to play with other dogs and interact with people."

Despite his outgoing nature, Pie struggled to attract much in the way of interest. That's not necessarily a surprise. Sadly, studies have shown shelter dogs have a small window of time in which to catch the eye of a visitor.

A 2014 study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science found that the average shelter visitor interacts with a single dog per visit and that these interactions last just eight minutes.

Arias said that Pie spent several months in their pet adoption and resource center but began to get stressed and down over the lack of interest from visitors.

Arias has a theory as to why he might have struggled in this respect, saying: "Because he is a young exuberant boy with lots of energy, he has had a more difficult time finding an adoptive home."

Though Pie has yet to find a forever home, steps have been taken to alleviate some of the stress he was feeling after his prolonged stay at the shelter.

"After he began to show signs of stress, which frequently happens with dogs who have to stay long-term in a kennel environment, he moved out of our pet adoption and resource center and into a foster home with Amanda," Arias said.

A little attention can go a long way for a shelter dog. A 2018 study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science found that just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the mental well-being of a shelter dog.

Spending time with Amanda, his foster carer, has done Pie the world of good. Foster stays are important in not only providing dogs with a calmer environment away from the noise of the shelter but helping those caring for him to get a clearer idea of what the rescue animal needs from any future home.

"In foster care, Pie has been feeling much happier and is learning some basic obedience," Arias said. "His foster mom has been working with him on his exuberance by ensuring he receives plenty of attention, structure, and exercise. Of course, one of his favorite exercise activities is playtime with the resident dogs at his foster home."

Amanda now has a pretty clear idea of what kind of home and owner Pie would best suit. She said he is an extremely affectionate dog who is crate-trained, comfortable around cats and would benefit from living alongside another canine with whom he could play.

"He would benefit from some training as he can be hyper, but we are working on it. Having another playmate helps with his energy," she said. "Positive redirection helps Pie calm down and take a break after playing with my other dogs. A variety of toys helps with this. He absolutely loves playing fetch and could play this for hours if you allowed it."

Amanda believes Pie to be a wonderful dog, who is fond of car rides and belly rubs and who is more than deserving of finally finding a forever home. "All he wants is love, affection and attention. He will make an amazing partner in any adventure his family goes on," she said.

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