Watch 'Fearful' Shelter Dog's Heartbreaking Reaction to Potential Adopters

A rescue dog is struggling to get adopted due to his heartbreaking reaction when people first approach his kennel.

Forrest the 2-year-old border collie arrived at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control in Phoenix, Arizona, as a stray back in October.

Katie Gerlach works with shelter dogs across Arizona and was the first one to draw attention to Forrest's situation after sharing a November video to her TikTok account, @shelterdogsofaz.

Gerlach told Newsweek that Forrest's stray status makes him something of a mystery to staff at the shelter. One thing they do know about Forrest, however, is that he is struggling. In the video posted to social media by Gerlach, she says that he is "fearful and runs any time someone comes close to his kennel."

In the clip, Forrest can be seen initially trying to keep a distance from the visiting Gerlach. "It's hard for dogs like him to get adopted," she wrote.

Gerlach said that Forrest's fearfulness could be down to one of several things, adding: "He could be undersocialized or just stressed in the shelter setting."

Forrest would not be the first dog to struggle in a shelter setting. In a 2015 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, researchers found a link between living in an animal shelter and increases in physiological and psychological distress among cats and dogs.

Dogs like Forrest are not beyond help, though, as Gerlach's video shows. Though he is initially apprehensive about her arrival, she soon found that a combination of "patience and high-value treats" helped to coax Forrest over to her.

By the end of the video, Gerlach had the border collie, quite literally, eating out of her hand. She said: "He's curiously cautious of new situations, especially at the shelter. He's very treat-motivated, which helps him overcome some of his stress."

Forrest's transformation over the course of the 83-second video is the perfect example of what a little care and affection can do for a shelter dog.

In 2018, a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found that just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting with a shelter dog was enough to provide them with a measurable boost to their overall well-being.

Forrest might have struggled to make a good first impression due to his initial fearfulness, but it is clear that, with a little patience and care, he is a dog that would make a great companion for the right owner or family.

All Forrest needs is someone to give him the time to show that. Until then, he will remain at the shelter, waiting and hoping that the next visitor gives him more than a second's glance.

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