A shelter dog could barely contain their joy after being treated to a day out, but all that soon changed as they approached the place she calls home.
Footage posted to social media by the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia (HSNEGA) captured the moment Blue returned from a special trip out.
“We had taken her for a walk to the Gainesville Square,” Ana Arias, Marketing Manager at HSNEGA, told Newsweek. “She helped us shoot some marketing content for one of our upcoming events. Since she is so smart, we can rely on her for this kind of video, because she is patient and knows some commands.”
In the video posted to the shelter’s TikTok page, @hsnega, Blue initially appears delighted to be sitting in the back of a car, far away from the life she has grown accustomed to in the shelter.
TikTok/hsnega
But as the clip progresses, Blue’s demeanor seems to change, as if she has just clocked she’s returning to the shelter. In that split second, a look plays across the shelter pup’s face. It’s a look of realization, as if Blue has been brought back down to reality with a bump.
One user posting on TikTok, where the video has 15,000 views since being shared at the end of May, commented: “Reminds me of the kid that has a parental visitation but has to return to the foster home.”
“I just cried a little,” another wrote with a third adding: “Just breaks my heart. They know exactly what’s going on.”
Sadly this is the reality Blue has been living with for some time now.
“She has been with us since April and was surrendered to us, with another dog, Baxter, who was recently adopted,” Arias said.
Blue has all the attributes needed to be a great rescue dog to the right home and family. “Blue loves to go on walks, play fetch, and is friendly with other dogs and kids,” Arias said. “She is brilliant and well-behaved, especially on car rides!”
Yet, for whatever reason, she remains at the rescue and, no matter how many days out she enjoys, they always end with her returning there.
As far back as 2006, a study published in the journal Physiology and Behaviornew found dogs entering the shelter system had three times the levels of cortisol, the hormone linked to stress, in their system over the first three days following their arrival compared to canines in a normal home.
Having left the hustle and bustle of the shelter behind for her day out, it’s easy to imagine that Blue’s stress levels likely increased upon her return, or even at the mere thought of returning.
Arias has seen dogs taken on days out by the shelter staff react like this before. These moments of realization are not prompted by sight though.
“We have witnessed dogs realizing they are back at the shelter,” Arias said. “We need to remember that they are highly sensitive to smells, and they know once they are back, first because they know where they live, and most probably they can even smell and recognize where they are.”
Arias likens the reaction to “Cinderella after the ball.”
“They had a great time, but once they’re back, this is their reality: a shelter where they are hoping someone will come and give them a family forever,” she said.
While the perfect fairytale ending would be for Blue and the many cats and dogs on their books to find forever homes, Arias understands that is not always possible.
However, she would encourage anyone eager to help to sign up to take one of their four-legged residents on an ‘ExPAWdition’.
“Even if someone cannot adopt, they can help our animals by taking them out on adventures,” he said. “We are always looking for people who want to give dogs a break from the shelter, which can be a stressful environment for them. They can go to a restaurant, take a walk, or visit the park, among other options.”
Blue may be dejected for now, but as long as staff and volunteers continue to provide their invaluable support, someday soon she’ll leave the shelter for good.