While shelters provide food, water, temporary shelter, and the hope of a forever home, they are far from ideal for dogs.
The environment is noisy and filled with constant comings and goings, which makes it hard for shelter staff to give the individual attention and love that a dedicated owner could.
This is why having someone who can offer love and attention from time to time is truly a blessing for dogs.
The impact of this connection is most poignantly illustrated by the reaction of one dog when she realized she was heading back to her shelter in Richmond, Virginia, after a day out.
Heartbreaking Shift
Meghin, a passionate dog lover from Richmond, Virginia, has been showcasing her affection by caring for dogs from the Richmond Animal Care & Control (RACC) shelter for some time.
One of these dogs is a four-year-old pup named Grab N Go, or Gigi for short. This compassionate individual takes Gigi out of the shelter once a week, and they always have a fantastic time together.
This time was no different, and perhaps even more enjoyable than before. “We went to Belle Isle,” Meghin shared with Newsweek. “We walked along the trails and I let her frolic in the river.”
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and Gigi struggled to cope with the return to the shelter. Meghin was able to capture this poignant change in her mood and shared it with her TikTok followers through her account, @ex_barista.
“The saddest part about just taking Gigi out for a few hours is having to return her to the shelter,” she remarked in the video caption.
Many viewers resonated with her sentiment.
“She looks so sad; poor baby 😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺,” commented one, while another added: “😭she knows she’s going back🥺.”
A third viewer quipped: “I would find it hard to take a dog out only to return it… I can’t imagine the disappointment and confusion they must feel. 😭😭.”
She Needs A Forever Home!
Despite the difficulty of witnessing Gigi’s sorrow, it was heartwarming to see her smile back with joy when her shelter caregivers welcomed her home.
This moment showed that the compassionate staff did everything in their power to keep Gigi happy for as long as possible while she was in their care.
Nevertheless, as great as the shelter experience was, Gigi was still seeking something more, as confirmed by Haley, a staff member at RACC.
“This lovely lady is having a tough time settling down in the shelter environment and is looking for a kind and patient family to help her feel secure,” she stated.
Although they believe it might take time for that to happen, it is possible for Gigi to find a home with another furry companion in the near future.
What is clear is that this dog will bring happiness to her future family with her infectious smile, and they will certainly not have to witness the heart-wrenching look Meghin saw that day.
