Latest news with #ValleyAnimalCenter
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Dog Found Tied to Pole in Rain at Shelter—Now Hoping for a Second Chance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a heart-wrenching TikTok video, a shelter volunteer shared the story of an abandoned pup found tied to a pole in the rain, and his struggles to find a new family, despite being a very good boy. The clip was shared on Saturday by Jackie Gonzalez, volunteer at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, under the username @ it shows the pup, Newton, lying on a fuzzy blanket in his kennel, looking disheartened as he waits for his next special person to choose him. "POV [point of view]: you were left tied to a pole in the pouring rain at the shelter …" the volunteer writes in the caption. Gonzalez told Newsweek that Newton is a 1-year-old pit bull mix who was found tied to the fence of the shelter facility, but, despite his rough start, his spirit remains full of potential and love. "Newton is an energetic, playful boy who would thrive in an active home—especially one with other dogs to help him burn off energy and build confidence. He gets along well with cats and can do well with children who understand and respect his boundaries," Gonzalez said. Life in the shelter has been tough on Newton, and the stress has taken a toll, so he is on anxiety medication to help him cope. Gonzalez said: "At times, the confinement has caused him to bounce off the kennel walls—literally. But, outside of the kennel, Newton is a different dog: eager, affectionate, and incredibly responsive to praise. "He's a quick learner who's highly motivated by positive reinforcement and just wants someone to believe in him. If someone is looking for a loyal, fun-loving companion and can give Newton the daily exercise and structure he needs, he just might be the perfect match," Gonzalez added. Of the millions of dogs that enter shelters across the country each year, pit bulls constitute the majority. Rescue Dog Home says that pit bulls end up in shelters more than any other breed, and are also euthanized in the greatest numbers, too. Only 1 in 600 pit bulls in shelters ever finds a forever home. Moreover, they make up around 33 percent of dogs arriving in shelters, and at least 75 percent of shelters euthanize them immediately upon intake. A screenshot of the video shows Newton laying on a blanket in his kennel. A screenshot of the video shows Newton laying on a blanket in his kennel. @ The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received almost 7,000 views and more than 2,550 likes on the platform. One user, Clearjelly, commented: "His little sad face. This baby needs a home asap." Payton Willis said: "Sending so many prayers." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Dog in Shelter for Over 365 Days Still Looking for a Forever Home
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. 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 @ 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. @ 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@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
