A dog was left visibly shaken after being surrendered to the shelter, but nobody could have predicted what staff would find in her kennel the next morning.
Kim Thompson shared a heartbreaking video on TikTok (@kimbers.406) showing the devastating effects of shelter life on a pit bull mix. Thompson, who was the enrichment coordinator at the shelter (which she does not wish to name) in the Pacific Northwest region at the time, explained that the dog was surrendered because her family couldn’t provide the care she needed.
After being taken in, the dog became increasingly anxious. Thompson told Newsweek that the animal showed “signs of kennel stress.” The shelter staff did everything they could to help her, but sadly she became so restless and confused during her first night, she caused herself an injury.
The following morning, the team arrived to find her kennel was smeared with the dog’s blood, and she looked utterly terrified.
“I don’t know what exactly happened after the shelter closed for the night, but when staff walked in that morning, her kennel was smeared with blood, and she had the most heartbreaking look I’ve ever seen on a dog,” Thompson said.
“From what the staff could assume, she was likely jumping up to find a way out of her kennel and got a couple of her nails stuck, which caused them to break off.”
Following the incident, the pittie mix spent the following days in the office, keeping the staff company. She was adopted just a few days later by an owner who is now “working with a trainer” to help the dog adjust.
Thompson posted the footage on TikTok showing the poor dog looking shaken by what happened. The clip also shows the blood marks all over the kennel but noted that the animal was immediately checked over by the medical team. The video wasn’t supposed to shame anyone, but Thompson said she felt it important to show what can happen to some dogs when they are put through such a devastating experience.
In the days since it was shared online, the video has gone viral with over 786,000 views and more than 104,000 likes at the time of writing.
Thompson continued: “My purpose was never to scare anyone away from surrendering if that’s what they decide. I just want people to see what some dogs experience during the first couple nights in the shelter. I’m not saying that every single dog is going to have this type of behavior; some surrenders adjust well.
“If you do choose to surrender your pet(s), at least go see what the shelter is about. Ask questions, see how the animals in their care look, and ask yourself if it is somewhere you feel that your pet(s) would have the opportunity to be adopted, or will they sit there for months?”
Shelters can be excellent places, but Thompson highlights the importance of the community’s help. Whether that’s in the form of donating, volunteering, adopting or just raising awareness, it could make such a difference to an animal in need.
If keeping the pet isn’t an option, Thompson urges people to try rehoming the animal first before taking them to a shelter. It could be someone they know (whom the dog is familiar with), or they could screen people themselves with in-person meetings. Alternatively, they could try a trainer or getting a vet to check if they are in pain when surrendering them.
“I know sometimes you don’t have a choice in the matter, and that is OK. Shelters are there to help and have resources that could even help you keep your pet,” Thompson said.
Many internet users were left in tears by the shocking TikTok video, as almost 1,000 people took to the comments to share their reactions.
One comment reads: “Omg [oh my God] the look on her face BROKE my heart.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “they are the saddest dog eyes I’ve ever seen sitting in shelter.”
A third person said: “my heart is broken for her, I’m so glad she was adopted.”
Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
