It saddens us deeply whenever we encounter an adorable dog abandoned by its prospective family at a shelter. However, the situation is even more distressing for the pups who unexpectedly find themselves separated from their homes.
When Ritter’s family lost their home and could no longer care for their pets, they made the difficult decision to surrender them to the Humane Society for Hamilton County in Indiana. Corky, Ritter’s sibling, was already well-known. The sudden loss of his warm and loving home left Ritter, like many dogs in similar situations, feeling fearful and uncertain.
According to Megan Bousley, marketing communications coordinator at the Humane Society for Hamilton County, he was terrified, anxious, and heartbroken, much like many other dogs in similar situations. They are unsure of where their family has gone missing, and they are both confused and frightened by the unfamiliar and chaotic environment.
Left alone in the kennel, his distressed and bewildered demeanor touched everyone deeply. He simply leaned against the wall, staring at the ground.
Although everyone at the shelter showered Ritter with love and comfort, it couldn’t replace the stability of a permanent family. According to Bousley, the staff has consistently shown him love and attention. While he feels scared and uneasy inside his kennel, outside, he eagerly engages in play and enjoys being petted.
Ritter’s melancholy tugged at the hearts of everyone at the shelter, prompting them to redouble their efforts in finding him a new family as swiftly as possible. The team took to Facebook, sharing Ritter’s photo in the hope that a compassionate dog lover would come across it and offer him the loving home he so deserved.
Sophie Spenia reached out to the center upon seeing that the post had garnered over 3,000 shares. Her lifelong dream had always been to have a dog, particularly a large one, but she had put it off until she had a larger home of her own. Once settled in her new house, she diligently checked the Humane Society of Hamilton County’s website and Facebook page every morning in search of the perfect canine companion. When she finally came across Ritter’s forlorn photo, she knew she had found exactly what she had been looking for.
At 6 a.m., Spenia first came across Ritter’s photo and description, prompting her to promptly email her sister, urging them to rescue him from the shelter after work. Two hours later, her sister texted her, informing her that the Facebook post had gone viral. Spenia then explained the situation to her boss, who, being a dog lover himself, agreed that she should leave work to go to the shelter.
Despite Spenia’s initial concerns about whether Ritter would warm up to a new home, she was overjoyed with his positive response.
“When he trotted over to me and rested his incredibly cute head in my lap,” Spenia recounted, “I instantly knew he was a sweetheart. He just had to be mine.”
On Thursday, Ritter and his dedicated new owner journeyed to his forever home. During the drive, he was brimming with excitement.
