Dog Was Excited To See Owners At Shelter Until She Realized They’re There To Adopt Different Dog

May 15, 2020 by apost team

Did you know that dogs can suffer from depression just like humans? Did you know dogs retain the ability to recognize people for years? Zuzu, a young German Shepard, is case and point for both, and her former family neither attended to her mental health needs nor rewarded her stellar memory.

Zuzu and her canine father had been lucky enough to live together with the same family. She was just two-years-old when he died. The two shared a deep bond, and Zuzu became depressed in his absence. She would cry, her demeanor clearly changed, and she became an escape artist.

Experts say that the latter isn’t uncommon when a canine losses any pet partner they’ve bonded with closely. For Zuzu, her escape attempts landed her in a neighbor’s yard. This neighbor grew angry and less and less understanding, which resulted in animal control being called.

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Zuzu ended up at California’s Downey Animal Care Center, where staff just assumed she was a homeless stray. They recognized she was sad and did their best to cheer her up. When they’d approach her, she wasn’t aggressive, but she was always nervous and preferred her distance.

Volunteer Desi Lara says that most of the shelter’s dogs zip around the yard excitedly, but Zuzu treaded with nervous softness and continual awareness of her surroundings. She described Zuzu as friendly but confused and sad.

One day, Zuzu did a complete 180 degree turnaround. Lara said Zuzu suddenly exhibited a joyous personally and zoomed across the yard like never before. This video captured that day.

A family was at the shelter scanning the fenced yard to adopt a dog. Zuzu was overwhelmed with excitement and barks of happiness when she spotted the family. Her face lit up. Her tail wagged relentlessly. Her entire body shook with glee. It was obvious to staff that Zuzu knew this family.

Likewise, the family clearly knew Zuzu. As they petted her through the fence, Downey’s staff just knew they were witnessing a heartwarming reunion between owner and pet. Initially, they were so happy that Zuzu would return to her home and live happily ever after with her forever family.

Sadly, that wasn’t how things played out. The family wasn’t there looking for Zuzu. In fact, they were there to adopt a different dog, and that remained the case even after a brief interaction with Zuzu. They explained to staff that they didn’t want her back because of her escape history and bad mood (depression) after the death of her canine father.

It’s not clear whether they adopted another dog from the shelter or went elsewhere, but Zuzu did not go home with them. Given the proper time and attention, animal experts say that canines, like humans, will grieve and recover to their happy selves once again. They need patience and understanding, though, as they traverse the anxiety, mood swings, sadness, and nervousness.

After the incident received media attention and public outrage, a rescue organization came in to help Zuzu. According to the Daily Mail, ZuZu was adopted in 2017 by a couple in Los Angeles. She now lives a happy life with her new owners, Judith and Russ Gallo.

Use the comment section to wish Zuzu the best and thank all the amazing shelter and rescue workers out there. Do you have a pet story to offer? Tell us about it, and don’t forget to pass Zuzu’s story along. A little understanding and perspective may change the life of a pet family you know.