Caramel roamed the streets, fighting to survive and hoping to finally meet a kind human who would help him.
When rescuers saved him and brought him to Carson Animal Shelter in Gardena, California, Caramel felt timid.
The shelter environment was stressful and noisy.
As days passed, the pup made friends with the staff and volunteers, who took him on walks and gave him many cuddles.
However, every time he returned to his kennel, Caramel felt sad and lonely. He yearned to be free and to have a family who would give him unconditional love.
Caramel Experiences A Heartbreak
Thanks to the staff and volunteers who treated him affectionately, Caramel didn’t give in to sadness. He patiently waited at his kennel, hoping that his human would come to pick him up soon.
After spending two months at the shelter, a local animal lover met Caramel and decided to give him a forever home.
The staff kissed their lovely boi goodbye. They were happy for him.
Caramel’s human friends knew that he was an absolute sweetheart and they were sure that his adopter would fall in love with him.
The pup thought so, too. He was very excited to leave the shelter and he couldn’t wait to enjoy his life to the fullest.
A shelter volunteer named Jan Vega was heartbroken when she found out that Caramel’s new owner returned him to the shelter less than 72 hours after adopting him.
She was shocked when the adopter revealed the real reason why they returned Caramel. They didn’t want him because he was “too puppy-like” and because he had too much energy.
The pup couldn’t hide his disappointment and heartbreak.
After he saw a glimpse of what life outside the shelter looked like, Caramel was back in his narrow shelter kennel.
The doggo tucked his tail, feeling more scared and confused than ever before. He couldn’t understand why he was returned.
Unfortunately, the adorable dog’s number ended up on a euthanasia list. He urgently needed someone who would give him a chance and save his life.
Jan posted the dog’s video on her TikTok in the hope that someone would save him before it was too late.
A New Lease On Life
She felt heartbroken because Caramel wasn’t given enough time to settle into his new home.
The kind woman reminded all new dog owners to remember and follow the 3-3-3 rule and give their rescue dog time to get used to their new home.
According to the 3-3-3 rule, new dog owners are supposed to give their pup three days to decompress and three weeks to introduce him to other family members.
At the three-month milestone, the dog should have bonded with their owner and established a sense of trust with them.
People who watched the TikTok video were brokenhearted. They rooted for Caramel and hoped that someone would save his life and give him a real shot at happiness.
Then a miracle happened.
On October 17th, 2024, the volunteers at Carson Animal Shelter shared on Facebook that Caramel escaped euthanasia and found a forever family.
The pup left the Gardena shelter with a smile on his face. His heart was overflowing with happiness and gratitude because someone gave him a second chance at life.