Rescue Puppy Was Given Up After Two Days—Now His Luck Has Finally Changed

A shelter puppy was left devastated after being adopted and returned within the space of just two days. It’s a familiar story for many young dogs and owners, but thankfully for Dixon the puppy, this one ends well.

Every rescue dog has a backstory and, as a result, requires more patience, care, and understanding than the average canine. Animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell is a strong believer in what’s commonly known as the 3-3-3 rule for giving rescue dogs time to adjust to a new home.

“For the first three days, dogs are often in a bit of shock, and don’t show you too much about who they are until they’ve been there a few days,” McConnell told the American Kennel Club. “After three weeks, many dogs have settled and behave as though they feel like they are home now, but they really don’t fit into your routine until about three months have gone by.”

It’s a solid framework to base the continued care of a rescue dog on but, sadly, it’s not one every owner adheres to when they first adopt a shelter pup.

Dixon, the one-year-old puppy, is a case in point. His backstory is one that Cherie Wachter from the Humane Society of Broward County is not all that clear on. “Dixon was previously in the care of Broward County Animal Care & Adoptions,” Wachter told Newsweek. “Not exactly sure how he ended up there, but they handle stray pets.”

What she does know, however, is that even this early part of Dixon’s life was tinged with heartbreak. “According to the notes we received, he was adopted and returned after a day because the family felt their home was too small for him,” she said.

Things would soon improve for Dixon though when, on January 7, he was transferred to the Humane Society of Broward County, a non-profit organization that is not affiliated with the government agency. “Dixon was part of a weekly transfer program we have with this agency to help dogs that are getting overlooked,” Wachter said.

It was a move that would change his life. Within a matter of weeks, on January 29, Dixon was adopted. He had finally gotten the happy ending to his story. The home he had always dreamt of.

But before Dixon could come anywhere close to getting acclimated to his new surroundings, he was returned by his new adoptive family. “His exuberant energy level was too much, and he liked to jump up. The family was nervous he would hurt their elderly mom,” Wachter said.

Though his return was tinged with sadness, Wachter was keen to stress that his former adopters did the right thing if they deemed Dixon to not be the right fit for their family. “It is sad when a pet is returned, but we’d rather the adopter bring the pet back than just let it loose on the streets,” she said.

In the wake of his return, the shelter decided to go all out to help Dixon bounce back immediately. A TikTok video was created and posted to the shelter’s humanebroward county account showcasing how “heartbroken” Dixon had been left since his return.

“He watches everyone who passes by with those soulful puppy eyes, then lies down by the glass, hoping for a gentle touch. It’s breaking our hearts,” a caption accompanying the clip of Dixon in his kennel said.

As part of the post, the shelter offered an honest assessment of what Dixon would need from a prospective paw-rent.

“Dixon is still just a puppy who needs guidance to grow into the well-mannered gentleman he’s meant to be,” they wrote. “He doesn’t bark, is incredibly affectionate, has the softest fur, and already knows commands like sit and down. He’d thrive in a home with another dog and deserves a family that will embrace his big, loving personality.”

It was a message that the animal-loving community took note of with the video of Dixon racking up over 679,000 views. Then something wonderful happened. “A potential adopter saw the post and came to meet him,” Wachter said. “She fell in love with him, but we wanted to make sure Dixon and her dogs would get along so a meet and greet was scheduled.”

Incredibly, Dixon’s new family had driven four hours from Tampa to meet him after watching his video. It was clear they were in it for the long haul and that’s proven to be the case: Dixon has now been adopted and is already settling in well at his new home where, Wachter revealed, his family is currently busy “trying to teach him to swim.”

Though his story had a happy ending, Wachter hopes it serves as a reminder to consider all factors when adopting a dog. “Adopting a pet is a big responsibility and adopters really need to look at their lifestyle to make sure they’re selecting a pet that is a good fit for their family,” she said. “Bringing the entire family along to the adoption facility would also be a good idea. Depending on the age and size of the dog, they need daily exercise and playtime. In some cases, having a dog friend to play with can help with this.”