A shelter dog’s heartbreaking reaction to returning to the facility after enjoying a day out has brought viewers to tears, prompting some to question whether these doggy day trips give animals false hope.
An animal shelter volunteer first created a TikTok account to help get her foster dog adopted, which she successfully did in October. She has since been working with Wright-Way Rescue in Illinois to get other animals adopted, including Cosmo, a 5-year-old blue heeler and shepherd mix, who arrived at the facility last month.
She recently took Cosmo out for a special field trip, giving him a break from the stressful shelter environment. Their day together consisted of long walks, the doggy beach for him to run around and play in the water off-leash, she told Newsweek.
“I fed him some grilled chicken and other treats…” she said. “And we took a nap together in my bed and had some quiet time.”
But with the special doggy day out coming to an end, she needed to drive Cosmo back to the shelter. As they pulled up to the facility, Cosmo’s excitement shifted. He sat still in the back seat as his eyes focused on the building in front of him. He couldn’t believe his adventure-filled day was coming to an end.
The volunteer shared Cosmo’s heartbreaking reaction in a November 14 TikTok video under the account @be.my.human, and as of Wednesday, the clip amassed over 73,200 views, 22,800 likes and 3,764 comments.
“I just couldn’t take them back if I saw that look,” wrote one person, while another added: “I wanna cry. That face of fear and uncertainty. Sweet baby.”
Someone else commented: “I hope this baby gets adopted soon. My heart hurts so bad for these little angels.”
Some users expressed their concern about giving Cosmo false hope. He had a taste of life outside the shelter, only to go back. People thought it was a tease, but research has shown that even a day out can have a positive impact on shelter dogs.
A 2023 study published in Animals analyzed data from 1,955 dogs who went on outings lasting from a few hours to overnight stays and compared it with data from nearly 26,000 dogs residing in shelters. Researchers found that the day outings increased adoption by five times and temporary foster stays by 14 times.
Plus, these outings provide stress relief not only for the dogs but also for the shelter staff, according to an article from Adopt a Pet. These programs attract new volunteers who can help the shelters learn a dog’s personality and capture new photos. It increases awareness of the animals and provides staff relief to attend to other tasks.
But, of course, these doggy days out do not compare to the full, loving treatment they receive after being adopted, which Cosmo is still waiting for. If you’re interested in Cosmo or another animal, visit the Wright-Way Rescue website for more information.
