Dogs are surrendered to shelters for countless reasons, but staff at this animal rescue weren't expecting a dog to be returned for being "too nice."
LifeLine Animal Project in Georgia picked up a stray dog they named Helena this past summer. She's short and stocky with a square-shaped head, and she was adopted in October by a man and his family. Staff at Fulton County Animal Services thought they'd happily seen the last of sweet Helena, but last week, she showed up at the shelter again.
Shelter spokesperson Karen Hrisch told TODAY,
"It was obvious the gentleman was looking for a guard/protection dog. He also suggested she be adopted by a woman 'because they are more into that petting stuff."
Men are just as likely to welcome "that petting stuff," as much as women, but it was clear Helena's former owner didn't appreciate her loving personality. He likely saw her big head and muscled body and submitted to the misconception that these types of dogs are naturally protective and mean. As Helena surely proves, you can't always judge a dog by its breed stereotype.
At four years old, Helena wants nothing more than to be with people. She's earned the nickname "Velcro Dog" at the shelter and her need to please is noticed by everyone she meets. Even when her former owner was abandoning her at the shelter, she sat happily with her tail wagging waiting for new friends to come say hello.
She gets along with everyone she meets, and no one at the shelter believes her being "too nice" is a problem.
While disappointed her first adoption experience didn't work out, shelter staff took the opportunity to find Helena a home that will love her as much as she loves people. When the story behind her unusual surrender broke, people everywhere fell in love with her sweet face.
It didn't take long for a family to visit the shelter and show interest in taking Helena home. After making sure the family was as excited about canine cuddles as Helena was, the adoption papers were officially signed. As the shelter said on Facebook,
"Nice guys (dogs) don't always finish last."
Do you think there's a such thing as a dog being too nice? Let us know in the comments.
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