After spending months in a shelter without attracting any attention or finding a permanent home, Reece’s traumatic journey has left him engulfed in fear, making even the most basic movements feel daunting.
Reece is not alone in his plight – he represents countless dogs who, after an extended duration in the shelter, face the distressing repercussions of kennel stress.
For a small puppy like Reece, such experiences incur a heavy emotional burden, leaving them frightened, disoriented, and yearning for a better future.
Scared, Alone, And Confused
Reece, a seven-month-old German Shepherd mix with a striking black and tan coat, found his way to Riverside County Animal Control Shelter in Jurupa Valley, California, after being discovered wandering the streets all alone.
This 28-pound pup arrived at the shelter at the end of September 2023, and regrettably, he has not received any attention since then.
The prolonged stay in such an environment has negatively affected this young dog, and he has begun to exhibit signs of kennel stress.
“Reece was impounded at our shelter on September 30 after he was found roaming the streets. At that time, Reece was struggling to understand how to walk on a leash and was reluctant to interact with humans. As a young pup, we had hoped to see improvements in Reece’s behavior. However, his social skills still seem to pose a challenge for him in the shelter setting,” shared Kerri S. Mabee, deputy public information officer at Riverside County Department of Animal Services, with Newsweek.
After 50 days, Reece had become the shelter’s longest resident and, unfortunately, he found himself on the euthanasia list.
This little pup desperately needed a hero to step in and save his life.
Saving Reece’s Life
The Instagram account, “Saving Riverside Shelter Dogs”, dedicated to rescuing dogs on the brink of euthanasia at Riverside Shelter, California, swiftly mobilized to share a heart-wrenching video appealing for help for Reece.
“Reece has completely shut down after being overlooked for 50 days. He is so frightened that he won’t even move in the play yard. HE IS JUST A BABY! Scared, alone, and confused… We are pleading for someone to save his life & provide him with a future filled with love,” the volunteer-operated page stated.
