Finding a loving home is the ultimate joy for a dog. Unfortunately, there are dogs who find homes and the families determine they’re not a suitable match after the fact. These dogs are then taken back to the shelter, which is a very traumatic experience. This is especially tough for a puppy who has never experienced true love before, and that was the unfortunate fate of one such puppy. Her uncaring owners returned her to the shelter in Huntley, Illinois, after only a month for a heart-wrenching reason. On June 2, 2024, Lilah was adopted from the Animal House Shelter. Both she and the shelter staff were thrilled. However, less than a month later, Lilah was back behind the bars of her kennel.
Tabitha, a shelter staff member, explained the sad reason for Lilah’s return. Her owners were dissatisfied with her due to difficulties with potty training. Tabitha was not only sad but also disappointed by their decision. “They knew when they adopted her that she wasn’t potty trained, and her foster had reported she was having accidents about twice a day. She is still a puppy and needs training, patience, and consistency,” Tabitha told Newsweek.
The shelter recorded Lilah in her kennel after she was returned and shared her sad face on TikTok via their account, @animalhouseshelter. The video had the caption, “I’m just a puppy. I thought I found my forever. Why didn’t you teach me?”
Sadly, her cries were unheard, and Lilah had to remain in the cold, lonely shelter. This wasn’t her first heartbreak. She arrived at the shelter in February as part of a rescued litter from southern Illinois. Even then, she felt the harshness of the world when all her siblings were adopted, leaving her alone.
She was then placed in a foster home, where she experienced family love for the first time. But after a month, she was returned due to a child’s allergy. Despite this, Lilah continued to capture people’s hearts and soon got another chance. “Lilah was sad when she came back from her foster home but was so excited when she was chosen to be a part of a family again and get out of the shelter,” Tabitha said.
“She was very confused her first night back at the shelter and just sat in her cage with her favorite toy in her mouth, whining,” Tabitha continued. “But, she has settled back in and made some doggy friends to play with while she waits for her perfect family.”
However, as fate would have it, Lilah was returned to the shelter once more due to reasons beyond her control. This time, it seemed truly devastating, and the staff worried about her recovery. Yet, to their delight, Lilah showed incredible resilience, eventually smiling again. Her smile gave hope to the staff that she would soon find her happy ending.
Merida is a senior who was found abandoned in a backyard with her sibling who had passed away. She was left to fend for herself as an 11-year-old with diabetes. Thankfully, Kanoa Rescue Foundation stepped in to save her, but she still needs your help!
The shelter staff has no doubt that Lilah will find a permanent home soon with a family who has patience and all the love in the world for this deserving pup. We wish you luck, sweet Lilah. Lilah is still available for adoption. Please click here if you are interested.
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https://www.tiktok.com/@animalhouseshelter/video/7384627369530772766
Toledo, United States.
