Cinnamon was left at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control shelter in North Carolina, overwhelmed with sadness. Separated from her puppies, she couldn’t help but cry whenever someone paused to interact with her. Her plight drew the attention of a volunteer, who chose to capture her heartbreak on video and share it on Facebook. Within 48 hours, Cinnamon’s circumstances took a dramatic turn. Sarah Jennings Sleime, a volunteer for the Greater Charlotte SPCA, felt compelled to visit animal control on a whim one Saturday to evaluate a few dogs for rescue.
Unprepared for the emotional impact, Sleime was deeply moved by Cinnamon, who was visibly distressed from being separated from her puppies. Each attempt to communicate with the dog resulted in tears filling Cinnamon’s eyes. Despite the SPCA’s limitations in rescuing large dogs due to the lack of a foster home, Sleime felt an urgent need to assist.
She shared a video of Cinnamon’s poignant situation on Facebook, which quickly garnered 1 million views and 20,000 shares. Sleime’s effort to find Cinnamon a home was met with an overwhelming response, with hundreds of inquiries flooding in.
Among the many touched by the video was Meghan Connor Shelton from Charlotte, North Carolina. Shelton and her family eagerly met Cinnamon the following morning and immediately fell in love. They promptly completed the adoption process, and Cinnamon, now renamed Rosie, was ready.
They welcomed her into their home. The family’s other dog, a 3-year-old Pit Bull named Blu, initially posed a concern regarding their compatibility. However, Rosie exceeded all expectations, quickly forming a strong bond with Blu as if they had known each other for a lifetime.
Rosie’s heartwarming story not only ensured her a loving home but also highlighted the plight of many shelter dogs, inspiring others to adopt from the same shelter and rescue group.
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