Dog Returned to Shelter for Being ‘Aggressive’—Now Adopter Realizes Mistake
February 10, 2026
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The internet is in tears over an “aggressive” dog who was returned to a shelter and narrowly avoided euthanasia at a kill shelter.
TikToker and dog mom @itsmadsme shared a heartwarming video of herself snuggling with her dog, Kenneth, as he opened his mouth and made hilarious grumbly noises to express his joy. The video garnered 529,900 likes and 3.3 million views.
“Kenneth was returned to a shelter for being ‘aggressive’ … he is simply vocal. He has never been aggressive. Kenneth was next in line at the kill shelter. He’s been with us now for two years. It takes on average six months for a rescue to to get adjusted. Don’t give up. Learn to love them for who they are,” she wrote as the text overlaying the video.
Rescue dogs often need time, patience and consistency to feel safe and settled in their new homes.
According to Jess Dog Training, many adoptive dogs follow the so-called “3-3-3 Rule”: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn routines, and around three months before they fully settle into family life. Some dogs—especially those from stressful backgrounds or long shelter stays—can continue showing adjustment-related behaviors for up to six months or longer.
Dog vocalizations are a normal part of canine communication and can mean a wide range of things besides aggression. Dogs use barking, whining, growling, howling and other sounds to express excitement, anxiety, attention-seeking, playfulness or environmental responses, depending on the context and body language.
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs can “purr” like cats. The throaty rumble, like the one Kenneth displays in the video, usually signals happiness.
TikTokers were quick to weigh in, defending the expressive pup and making light of his quirky vocalizations.
“He’s just a Lil weirdo. I love him,” said Brittany.
“That dog was probably raised around cats and is trying to purr,” suggested another user.
“It makes me sad how much vocal dogs are misjudged,” said Eileen.
“Is this equivalent to a rottie purring?” asked one user.
“Awww, my little chi just lifted his head up from a nap, listening to TikTok, apparently very concerned about Kenneth. I assured Isaac that Kenneth is just expressing himself,” shared another dog owner.
“Is this like the rottie rumble? A chihuahua chitter?” joked another user.
Newsweek reached out to @itsmadsme for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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