Nowadays, shelters are truly struggling with a constant influx of new dogs. The situation can sometimes be overwhelming, so every offer for adoption or fostering is welcomed.
That is especially the case with older dogs and those that have problems with behavior or some other similar issues. It is sometimes almost impossible to find these dogs a forever home.
However, in the case of one dog with special needs from a shelter in Yreka, California, it seemed that the problem was easily solved, at least at first.
Unfortunately, there were many unsuccessful attempts for her to adapt to her new family. Several such disappointments prompted shelter employees to write a brutally honest description of this dog, which left the Internet in awe.
“Only Joy Is Food”
A seven-year-old dog, Merry, has been in the Rescue Ranch Yreka shelter, located in California for quite some time. However, nobody except the shelter employees and a few potential adopters would know about her if it wasn’t for her description that went viral.
On October 19, 2024, Reddit user u/scarrlet shared a screenshot of one truly unusual description for the shelter dog, Merry. It was shared on the popular “What’s Wrong With Your Dog” subreddit.
“The rescue’s website lists her ‘special needs’ as ‘has been adopted out numerous times and returned for biting.’” says the post. But what are those special needs?
Well, in this unusual text, Merry is described as “a fat dog whose only joy is food.” They supported that claim with a picture showing a plump Merry lying on the floor with her paws raised in the air.
After many other bizarre statements, they also said that she is surprisingly good with other animals, but not so much with people as she “will not tolerate fun, late dinners, laughter, or happiness of any kind.”
“If you’re looking for a judgmental friend to sit on your porch and bring trauma to your community, look no further because Merry is the dog for you! Just be sure to bring lots of treats, it’s the only thing to crack the code to Merry’s cold heart.” they wrote at the end.
A Truly Special Dog
According to Rescue Ranch Yreka, Merry is a Chihuahua and Dachshund mix who has certain issues with her behavior which prevent her from finding a forever home.
In general, special needs dogs, especially if they are older, have little chance of catching the eye of a potential adopter. But if they get a chance, as Merry did, there is a low percentage of successful outcomes.
If you are dealing with a special needs dog you truly love and want it to stay, you have to invest time and energy. These dogs often require more attention and love, so you have to be patient with them and also bring them to professionals who will work on their behavior.
People who tried to adopt Merry obviously did not have neither love nor patience for this little senior dog, which is truly sad because she ended up in the shelter again.
The employees of the shelter don’t know what to do anymore and they don’t want to just give up on this truly special dog. That’s why they wrote this text in order to draw attention to Merry.
Despite the positive comments, Merry is sadly still waiting for someone who will accept her as she is and love all her flaws, no matter how hard that is.