It’s a sad truth that, through no fault of their own, some unlucky dogs find themselves swapping a comfy couch for the hard, cold floor of an animal shelter that’s full of unfamiliar sights and sounds.
Three such unfortunate dogs are Freckles, Cary Grant and Bandit, who all found themselves in the same pen at the Bradshaw Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California.
In a video posted to the shelter’s TikTok account, the three large dogs can be seen curled up together on one bed, fast asleep. They have clearly bonded during their time at the shelter.
“Just casually walking through the animal shelter when we saw this…wait for it,” reads the caption as the camera shows the three dogs tightly huddled together.
Approximately 6.3 million companion animals are dropped off at U.S. shelters every year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Of those, roughly 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.
Of those 3.1 million dogs, 390,000 are euthanized every year. Often, perfectly healthy and adoptable dogs are put to sleep because of a lack of space to house them in shelters across the country.
The total number of cats and dogs that are euthanized in shelters each year has declined, from 2.6 million in 2011 to 920,000 today. That is partly due to an increase in people choosing to adopt pets rather than shopping for them, says the ASPCA.
While many people might have reservations about adopting a dog because of concerns about previous trauma and behavioral problems, or because they want to own a puppy, if you adopt a dog from a shelter you are likely saving its life.
“You’re giving a dog, cat, horse, or another animal, a second chance at life. In their past life, some may have been abused, abandoned, or had to fend for themselves on the streets,” says the U.K.’s Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS). “By adopting, you are giving the dog a safe and loving home in which it can learn to be a happy and healthy dog again.”
Another good reason not to go to a breeder is that despite all your research and savvy, illegal and irresponsible breeders are very good at making themselves look legitimate.
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“Many dogs are forced to breed as often as possible and kept under cruel conditions in puppy farms,” says the WVS. “By choosing to adopt, you are avoiding these organizations and supporting animal welfare in the process.”
Freckles, Cary Grant and Bandit are not short of adoption offers, according to some of the comments on TikTok.
“I have the land, I would take all 4 had I seen that!,” said one user.
“If I walked in and saw that they would all be coming home with me,” wrote another.
Newsweek has reached out to Bradshaw Animal Shelter via email for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.