06/23/2026
A message on behalf of dogs like Eleven, who is catching up on some R+R on a sleepover with a volunteer:
Adopting a new dog, or any animal, is an incredibly rewarding experience. You get to form a new bond, full of love and fun and gratitude, and you can know you helped give a deserving animal a second time. It is also something that can take a little time - and often, it can be all the sweeter for it.
During meet and greets, we spend a lot of time talking about the concept of decompression and how to set dogs up for success in a new environment. That is, a period of time to give dogs a chance to adjust, relax, and learn to trust and feel safe, where you don't ask too much of them. Some dogs may be restless or nervous, some dogs may seem a little aloof or independent, some dogs might need to catch up on sleep. The transition to a new home is a huge change for any animal, regardless of where they come from... but ESPECIALLY when coming from a stressful kennel. Most need some time to ease out of that stressed-out mode. It is important to keep in mind that the dog you see on day two is likely not how it will be forever.
Lately, we have had a number of adopted dogs returned to the kennel in a very short period of time. We do not share this in order to shame, but to make a plea: if you are planning to adopt, please give the new dog a chance to adjust. Not do we mean to say that adopting a shelter pet will always be a massive challenge - many dogs adjust quickly and go home already knowing quite a few things. But most just need a little peace and patience. There might be some hiccups - maybe some accidents, maybe some uncertainty. We are not trying to say someone should always hold onto a dog that is truly not a good fit for the household - but give them a chance to settle in and relax enough to respond to training, to learn a routine, and to show the companion that they can be.
When we are already so full, we desperately hope that adoptions will stick and be a success. Our adoption counselors spend one-on-one time with potential adopters to do our best to find a good match, and we try to supply plenty of resources to help set expectations and provide support along the way.
Ultimately, we hope to set up more dogs for success. Ultimately they need people to give them a chance - and we think most people who have adopted a best buddy will agree that it is worth the bit of time to get to know each other.
