Dog in Shelter for Over 365 Days Still Looking for a Forever Home
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
An animal shelter from Fresno, California, recently shared a video of their longest-staying canine resident, 2-year-old Zelda, and internet users can't believe that the sweet pup still hasn't found a home.
The viral video shared on TikTok earlier in July, under the username @jjack.iie, shows the shepherd mix pup looking sad as she is locked in her kennel, waiting patiently for somebody to choose her.
A caption says: "POV [point of view]: you visit an animal shelter and ask to see the dogs who has been there the longest. This is Zelda … This has been her view for 365+ days …
"She's watched adopters walk right past her and choose someone else every time. She would need to be the only pet in the home … Please consider giving her a chance …"
Jackie Gonzalez, a volunteer at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, where Zelda is available for adoption, told Newsweek that the dog was dumped in their lobby one day, and has been in their care for over a year.
"She was adopted once but returned just three days later. She loves people, is toy-motivated, and eager to please, but she struggles in her kennel, often suckling on her blankets to self-soothe," Gonzalez said.
She added that Zelda isn't dog- or cat-friendly, which makes finding her the right home harder.
"She needs an active, pet-free home with someone who can give her the exercise and love she craves. She's been overlooked for too long—she deserves a real chance," Gonzalez said.
Active dog breeds need about one or two hours of exercise daily, including walks, runs, hikes, or play sessions, so they are best-matched with people who look forward to spending some quality time with their pup.
Some of the most-active dog breeds include Border collies, Australian shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, Siberian huskies, German shepherds, and Belgian Malinois.
Other breeds that are also considered to be among the most active include Jack Russell terriers, vizslas, Dalmatians, Weimaraners, and miniature schnauzers.
Screenshots of the viral video show Zelda in her kennel, waiting to be taken home.
Screenshots of the viral video show Zelda in her kennel, waiting to be taken home.
@jjack.iie
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 22,300 views and more than 7,600 likes on the platform.
One user, Sierra, commented: "Sweet babyyy. Someone please give her the life she deserves."
Cynn posted: "She's still there?! Please someone foster or adopt. There's no way this sweet baby is still in there."
JOlson312 added: "Such a sweet girl. She just wants someone to hug at night."
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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