Unfortunately, in the world of animal shelters, first impressions do mean a lot.
For many pups, that first – and sometimes only – glimpse a potential adopter gets can truly seal their fate.
Shelter visitors don’t usually spend too much time with each dog, meaning that the pups only have one chance to stand out and grab their attention.
For dogs like Juke, that snap decision can be devastating.
Tough Luck
Juke is an adorable pup who is being taken care of by Different Breed Solutions (DBS) Rescue, Texas. Just like many other pups, he is being passed over day after day because of the way he behaves inside the kennel.
Being rescued as a stray in late January, the Texas staff was immediately able to figure out that Juke was already somebody’s pet.
“Given how thick and healthy he was, it is presumed he was dumped very shortly beforehand. The fact he understood easy commands like sit and down added to that presumption,” said Tessa Parker of DBS Rescue in an interview.
Despite these promising signs, Juke has been consistently dismissed by potential adopters since his behavior within the kennel is, at first glance, too much.
“All of the potential adopters that see him in the kennel, even ones that come to see him directly, pass due to what comes across as reactive tendencies: barking, pacing, jumping from wall-to-wall and back to floor, on a loop as if it was a roller coaster,” Parker explained.
Not The Real Picture
Unfortunately, many visitors fail to realize that the Juke people see behind bars isn’t the real Juke.
The stress, noise, and isolation of kennel life made him feel a little anxious and very scared.
“Think about it, would YOU be okay sitting in a 4 by 6 beige cell without anything to distract you, no phone, TV, no music, no gym? All Juke, and the other shelter dogs, have to pass time in the kennel is to listen to the other stressed out, anxious, scared or barking and scents of other dogs you can’t see, aside from when they are walked by humans sometimes to never be seen again,” Parker said.
Outside of the kennel, Juke is a different dog. He is calm, gentle, and affectionate. A recent video posted to the DBS Rescue TikTok page showcases this perfectly.
“He is so different outside of the kennel, calm and sweet, easy to handle on the leash and playful in the yard. Routinely when I spend time with Juke after about 5 minutes of walking he loves laying on the grass and getting belly rubs,” Parker said.
But, time is not always on a dog’s side in a rescue. The longer they go without being adopted, the harder it becomes for people to see past the kennel door.
“Three of the six dogs we’ve adopted were labeled reactive or needing to be the only dog in the home, all of them have adjusted to pack life without incidents,” she said.
There Is Somebody Out There For Him
She believes wholeheartedly that someone out there is right for Juke. Although it won’t be easy as it will take patience, understanding, and willingness to look beyond the surface, Parker knows that it will be worth it.
“I know if someone active and patient met with Juke outside of the kennel, they would fall in love with how sweet, cute and trainable he is,” Parker said.
Juke isn’t just looking for a home – he’s waiting for someone to see him… really see him.
Luckily, that’s exactly what happened. An incredible volunteer who truly understood what Juke was going through decided to open their door and take this sweet pup in. Finally, Juke is in the place where he deserved to be all along.