For most dogs, being surrendered to an animal shelter is a drastic change and a very stressful experience. Even though a shelter may make every effort possible to make a dog’s new home welcoming, it is still often the place where dogs are confined, separated from their families, and exposed to more noise due to the close proximity of other dogs.
Any dog, rescued or not, will fill your life with love and slobbery kisses, but there is an intangible quality that comes with a rescue or shelter dog. How many times have you looked at your pup and felt an almost sacred bond with him/her? Or how often do you catch yourself talking about how your dog came into your life at the perfect moment? Once you’ve adopted a dog, you realize there’s some cosmic force that brought you together, and your life is much better because of it.
Today we are re-featuring stunning Shelly! She is sadly still waiting for the forever she was promised and it is beyond heartbreaking. Please take note of the changes in Shelly’s requirements for a home since our last article.
Poor Shelly is experiencing a high level of stress and anxiety; the shelter environment is a difficult one for dogs to navigate as it is always changing. Different dogs coming in and going out, it’s very loud and chaotic. Some dogs are not phased at all by the daily activity while others are much more sensitive to the activity like Shelly.
Shelly was picked up as a stray and brought to the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter by a good samaritan, and as it turns out she was actually adopted a few years ago. Sadly, her family is no longer able to care for her, and she now sits alone and frightened behind shelter walls.
When a dog was once a treasured family pet, their devastation upon abandonment is nothing short of heartbreaking. They wait for their family to come back for them. With every visitor and every walk outdoors, they’re certain they will be going home. With every breath, every blink, and every sigh they wonder where their families are.
Shelly is now looking for a second chance at a happy life. She is about 7 years young, a petite 48 pounds, up to date on vaccinations, spayed, micro-chipped and heartworm negative. She is ready to meet her love connection and would do best in households with children over the age of 12.
Beautiful Shelly is a ball of sunshine who loves going for long walks and really enjoys playtime. Shelly will make an amazing family dog! She has tons of energy, and would make a great running or hiking buddy. A high energy dog can be a ton of fun since they love to play, learn and accompany you on all your adventures. But to get to the fun parts, you have to accept the challenges that are also part of the deal. Shelly requires a lot of exercise to help her expend all of her energy.
Even with the best and most well-intentioned care, a shelter is not a home – and the impacts of long-term sheltering are too serious to ignore. It’s a sad fact that long shelter stays increase the odds of behavioral deterioration and this emotional trauma may cause issues such as chronic fear, anxiety, depression or even aggression. If a dog remains in shelter care indefinitely it most certainly may lead to long-term emotional suffering. Due to her time in the shelter, Shelly has begun to deteriorate, and is currently taking Prozac for her anxiety. Let’s not allow her to decline any more, help us find her a forever home!
The shelter states that Shelly would do best with calm, low key female doggie friends both big and small, a meet and greet is required at the shelter. She is not a fan of cats. We have been told that she’s such a good girl that they don’t understand why she’s still waiting – and neither do we!
There is no reason she should be sitting behind shelter walls for so long with no interest. She is incredibly friendly, sweet, full of energy and fun. She loves to run, play fetch and enjoys the agility course. She knows to sit and knows to wait. She will sit at a door and wait until you give her the go ahead to move forward.
Every dog deserves a loving family with whom to spend their life. Adopting a homeless dog is an amazing act of compassion and a highly rewarding experience. Giving a shelter dog a chance to live in the comfort of a loving home is priceless. Don’t hesitate to give yourself the wonderful opportunity to brighten a dog’s life; you will not regret it.
Every night when her kennel door closes Shelly dreams of a loving home and family to call her own. Don’t hesitate to go and meet her, we guarantee you will fall in love!
Brookhaven Animal Shelter
300 Horseblock Road
Brookhaven, NY 11719
(631) 451-6950
Be sure to head over to Adoption Central right here on Paws Give Me Purpose, share Shelly and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.