16/05/2022
This is good writing. Please read.
Edit 5/16: What a beautiful outpouring of love and support for our sweet Nova girl. Thank you all for sharing and commenting. If you are interested in applying to adopt Nova, you can do so at the link below. Please note that our process is not first come first serve. Nova is about 4-5yrs old, dog friendly, and may do well with a dog-savvy cat. She would do best in a home without children, but we think she could do okay with kids over 10.
Thank you all again. ❤️
https://www.vaonj.org/adoption-application/
This is more than a post about a dog being returned. It's glimpse into the heart of a shelter team member. Our hearts break daily, but we strengthen our resolve and commit ourselves, in heart and in mind, to continue to help those that can't help themselves. Case in point, please read about Nova's return, straight from the mouth of a staff member that was there:
"If heartbreak had an image it would be this. This is Nova.
Nova was originally brought to us last year as an owner surrender. They essentially just didn’t want her anymore. She waited several long months and was finally adopted. unfortunately she was returned shortly after, when her adoptive family couldn’t physically keep up with a dog that needed to be walked… So again nova sat in a kennel for several more months. She was finally adopted again, and just returned today after being in a home for about 6 months, which is less than her total time spent in the shelter, mind you. She was returned for barking too much and having anxiety when being left alone. Wouldn’t you be anxious too, when every family you love turns their back on you??
This is the 3rd family that has given up on Nova. and once reality set in today, she laid on her bed in utter defeat. I cannot erase this image from my mind. My heart shattered into pieces when I saw this dog in the same exact kennel that she sat in for MONTHS, constantly being overlooked and ignored. I’m sorry humans keep failing you Nova."
