'Sweet and Loving' Puppy Returned to Shelter 72 Hours After Being Adopted

A rescue puppy has been left heartbroken after being returned to a shelter less than 72 hours after he was adopted.

Scrabble, a seven-month-old pup, was rescued from almost certain death at a shelter in Tennessee and eventually taken into the care of Shultz's Guest House dog rescue center in Dedham, Massachusetts.

"He was in a high kill shelter with his brother Checkers," Merrill Fortier, from Shultz's Guest House, told Newsweek. "Our foster carers in the south keep a close eye on euthanasia lists and pull dogs that they see have the opportunity to live a better life and be adopted out through our shelter."

Fortier said that sadly she has seen many "similar situations" involving dogs rescued from Tennessee. "Whether it's being pulled from a high kill shelter or found as strays or picked up on the side of the road after being dumped in rural parts of the area. It's sadly all too common," she said.

That's just a snapshot of the problems facing many animal shelters. Each year, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to 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.

Though organizations like Shultz's Guest House are dedicated to finding loving homes for so many dogs, Fortier admits even with careful vetting of potential adopters, returns "happen all too often."

She's seen dogs returned anywhere between 24 hours to two weeks after being adopted, with the reasons ranging from the dog not being a "good fit" to the new owner realizing the "commitment and costs." Some dogs are even surrendered years later "due to life changes," like the arrival of a baby.

"All of our adoption coordinators reiterate these aspects prior to adopting, that owning a dog is a lifetime commitment, but the excitement of bringing home a cute new puppy sometimes outweighs the rationale," she said.

While Scrabble's brother, Checkers, has already been adopted and is off enjoying life with his new family, his sibling has yet to find the same happy ending. It's not through a lack of trying, with Fortier speaking in glowing terms about him as an "incredibly sweet and loving pup."

"He loves being held - he latches onto you like a little Koala," she said. "He rides well in the car and seems to do well with other dogs but prefers being with people." Judging by his color, she suspects he is part heeler and would benefit an "active family."

Since returning to the shelter, Scrabble has had yet another false start. He met with a new family who were interested in him, but they ultimately opted to adopt a 10-week old puppy instead. That means Scrabble is still there, waiting and hoping that the next person who comes to play decides to take him home.

Fortier is desperate to see that happen, but she's keen to stress that the next place he hopes to call his forever home needs to be the right one. "He needs a patient family, even one with kids, that is willing to let him acclimate to a new setting and provide him with consistent structure and training," she said. "He is still very much a puppy. He is an active dog and will need the appropriate mental stimulation and physical exercise to keep him content."

Scrabble also needs time. The first few days in a new home can be tough. He's traveled a long way already and needs a setting where he can decompress and settle into a new environment. If anyone thinks they can provide that, then Shultz's Guest House and Scrabble are waiting for your call.

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