A devastating photo was posted on a Spanish rescue group’s Facebook page around a year ago.
Shelter dog gets hope of a new life
The photo showed a large, scruffy black dog named Mononoke lying on the concrete floor of her kennel with her head down, appearing completely resigned, as the post explained.
Just seven days before this photo was taken, Mononoke had found her forever family. When they visited the shelter, they claimed to have fallen in love with her at first sight and expressed their willingness to support her as she adjusted to her new life. Initially, Mononoke's new family took numerous pictures and videos to share on social media, proudly showcasing their adoption and encouraging others to consider senior dogs.
However, within just a few days, Mononoke's new family began to see her as problematic. They viewed her natural reactions to new experiences as "mistakes". Her fear of the street, with all its unfamiliar sights and sounds, was deemed a "mistake". Her fear of the mirror, something she had never encountered before, was also labelled as a "mistake". And her occasional growling, a sign of her nervousness and uncertainty, was likewise seen as a fault.
Dog returned to shelter by cruel owners
Because of these “mistakes”, and despite the shelter staff’s attempt to advise her family on training techniques, she was brought back to the shelter she came from, just 7 days after she was adopted.
And now it’s up to the staff to pick up the pieces. It’s up to them to try and convince her that humans are worth her trust, that someday, she will find someone good. But it’s hard to believe in it when you’ve never experienced it.
Mononoke now spends her days lying down on a cold, wet, kennel floor, when just a few weeks ago she had a comfortable bed and her own family.
Shelter staff have made a desperate appeal to try and find her the right family. Someone who understands she’ll need time and patience.
We are unaware of whether Mononoke has since been adopted, but we sure hope she did end up finding the perfect home.
