Animal adoption is a process that one should only go through if they are a hundred percent certain that they want to keep their animal. Most pet owners grossly underestimate the work that goes into keeping a pet, and only a few short weeks after adoption, they are quick to return the animal.

Animal return rates vary. Some studies put it at 7%, while others say that it is close to 20%. This is another animal return story. What makes it astonishing is that the fella had been returned before, not once, not twice, but 11 times. The reason for the constant rehoming will surprise you.

Stacey Decides To Take a Brave Step

After he was returned by a family the last time, the shelter decided that they would keep Benji. The road to adoption was not worth causing him constant mental anguish. The shelter employees loved him, and they took care of him.

One of the employees, Stacey, decided that she was going to take Benji home. He would be happy there, and he would adjust well. Circumstances lead to Stacey having to return him, this time for the 12th time. As she sat in her car, driving home, she was lost in her thoughts as she finally figured out why Benji was unable to adjust to whoever adopted him.

The Shelter Employees Are Left Astonished by Stacey’s Call

When Stacey realized that Benji could not live with her, she called her colleagues at the shelter. They were surprised to get the call which informed them that she would be bringing Benji back. They were also heartbroken when they heard that even the kind-hearted Stacey could not make it work with Benji. If she couldn't, would anyone ever be able to?

On the phone, Stacey had not communicated why she was bringing the canine back. Three of them were waiting at the shelter, preparing for Benji's return, with their curiosity bubbling about why so. Hopefully, Stacey had a very good explanation about the situation.

The Same Sad Story Over and Over Again

Benji had been given to the shelter almost a year and a half ago. Then a puppy, he had grown up, though his physical appearance did not show much. He was beautiful, and when people looked into his large brown eyes, they were certain they had to take him home. Unfortunately, his time at home did not last long.

Benji’s 1.5 years at the shelter were marked by constant adoptions and constant returns. A new family would come forward, certain that Benji was the pet for them. But some within days, others within weeks would return Benji, apologetic that he could not fit into their world.

The Beginning of Benji’s Tragic Story

Benji’s tragedy started when he had first been brought to the shelter. He was born to a litter of four other pups. His mother had been owned by someone else, who had chosen to keep the other four pups. Benji did not make the cut.

As young as three weeks, Benji was separated from his mother and his siblings and brought into the shelter. No explanation was offered as to this cruelty. Most experts say that puppies should be separated from their mothers at a minimum of eight weeks. They are dependent on their mother during the first two months and learn their social skills from her.

The Vet Gives the A-ok

The shelter workers suspected that he was the runt of the shelter. This means that the puppy is the weakest pup born into the litter. Mothers know this and suspect that the puppy is not going to live long. This is why they reject that pup from the start They focus most of their maternal affection on the other puppies.

When the veterinarian conducted tests and investigations, he concluded that nothing was wrong with this puppy. At least, not on a physical level because Benji was perfectly healthy. He was well developed, and there were no congenital anomalies or other pathological conditions.

The Perfect Family for Benji

When he came to the shelter, the workers immediately put up an advertisement for his adoption. There was an almost instant response to the advertisement. This was to do with his age. He was a puppy and most families are eager to adopt puppies. Most canines at animal shelters are older dogs. Puppies are rare which made Benji’s advertisement a rare opportunity.

The family that was finally chosen seemed like the perfect fit. It was a young, happily married couple. They were parents to a five-year-old daughter. The mother worked from home. She would be present in the house most of the time and fulfill a puppy’s needs.

Three Weeks Later, Benji Is Back

This illusion lasted for only three weeks as the man pulled up to the shelter. With excitement in his trod, Benji walked behind the man, it was obvious that he had bonded with this man. On average, it can take anything from three weeks to three months for a puppy to bond with its new owners.

The man looked apologetic as he filled out the return forms. He said that both adults in the family were very busy with their jobs to take out time to take care of a dog. But based on all the information the couple had given them the man’s excuse did not make sense.

The Tale of the Second Family

Nevertheless, the shelter workers could not argue against this man and they accepted Benjis’ return with grace in their hearts. He was now six weeks old. This meant that he was now closer to the 7 to 9 weeks age when puppies were most likely to be adopted. In 2020, the most adopted dogs from animal shelters were puppies at 42%.

The second adoption happened quickly enough, within two weeks Benji had found a new home. The shelter workers were relieved. Unfortunately, it relief was short-lived. It hadn’t been even a month since the workers found Benji back at the shelter. He had been returned.

The Lies and Excuses Keep Piling Up

This became a common occurrence; Benji would be taken home and sometime later, he would be back at the shelter. Every time Benji was returned, the owners who had previously been so eager to make Benji a part of their lives were struggling with their answers.

They could never truly point out one concrete reason as to why Benji they were giving Benji back. The shelter workers thought that Benji was a special and amazing dog, the kind that would make an incredible pet. They concluded that some of the adopting families had to be lying about why Benji could not be a fit in their homes.

Everyone Is Saying Something Different

The excuses did not match up. One family said that Benji was too lazy and he wouldn’t even get out of bed. There was something wrong with him. Other swore, that he created too much of a ruckus because of how energetic he was.

Some said that they were returning this cute puppy because he was too aggressive. He would not get along with other dogs already present in the house. Others were on the opposite end of the spectrum and said that Benji wouldn’t even be excited to go to parks and play because he was so fearful of the presence of other animals.

Benji Is a Shell of What He Once Was

The shelter workers were at a loss. They would put him for adoption every time he was returned. After he returned for the 10th time, the shelter workers lost hope. It seemed like no one was willing to take this sweet pup home permanently. Animals can be emotionally affected by the loss of a companion, grief, trauma, injury, and by environmental changes.

The constant return was taking a toll on his mental health. The sparkle in his eye was no longer there as he retreated into himself. Rejection by ten families had gotten to him and he was no longer the happy dog he once was.

Stacey Wants To Make a Difference

The 11th owner that had returned him, had something substantial. He claimed that Benji was finding it hard to trust his owner and that he was unhappy. When the shelter employees saw him, sitting forlorn, in his cage, it made sense. The shelter employees were desperate at the point, for any way they could cheer Benji up.

The hope came with Stacey, a two-week-old trainee who was studying to be a vet. She was determined to bring Benji back to his former self. The other employees told her about all that he had been through and the reasons given for his return.

The Parents Approve Benji Coming Home

The excuses did not deter Stacey, she had fallen in love with Benji when she had first seen him, and she knew she could fix him. But first, she had to convince her parents. She was living with them and thought they would not be on board with the idea.

In a surprising turn of events, they agreed. With Stacey moving out, they had been planning to get a dog anyway. The paperwork was filled out that day for the 12th time, and Benji was brought to Stacey’s home. The car ride home was bleak; Benji lay there seemingly impassive in his cage.

Benji Doesn’t Seem To Want To Get Along With the Other Pets

Stacey’s parents were well-prepared for Benji’s arrival. Her dad had gone and purchased a bowl and bed for Benji. There were three other dogs at home, and everyone thought that Benji would be comfortable with them. That was not the case; Benji was detached from them. He was not interacting with them and maintained his distance from them.

The other dogs tried to get Benji to engage with them, but he did not respond. His small size made him the runt of the litter. And with other dogs exhibiting normal behavior around him, something about Benji’s demeanor just stood out.

It Seems Like Benji Might Be Alright After All

As one of the other dogs passed Benji a toy, the ice around him started melting. He was socializing with the other dogs now. Bit by bit, he was opening up. Stacey and her family decided that he just needed a bit of love. So they took him to the park, got him some new toys, and even cooked him a special welcome-home steak.

It took less than 24 hours, and Benji had found a fit in this home. Stacey was happy; she had achieved what she had set out to do. But there was still something she couldn’t put her finger on. If he adjusted so quickly, why was he returned so much?

Benji Has Gone Missing!

Days passed on and everything was fine. The employees at the shelter were desperate for this miracle to stay. Stacey would relay information back to them every day and they were happy with the progress. It seemed like everything had worked out in the end after all.

But things were too good to be true. One morning Stacey got up and saw that Benji was not in his bed. He was not anywhere in the house and he was not in the backyard. Benji was missing and Stacey felt overwhelmed. Everyone at the shelter loved Benji and they had trusted her to take care of him!

Stacey Is Determined To Find Benji

Stacey made the decision not to inform the shelter about the missing pup. She would find him herself and it would be alright again. Statistisctics say that it can take around 30 days for a missing pet to be found. She took a week off from work giving some other excuse and she began her search. She searched far and wide in the areas around her home.

She asked her neighbors if they had seen Benji. They informed her that they had seen no pup matching Benji’s description. Stacey was heartbroken but she would not throw in the towel yet. It was time to move into Plan B of her Benji rescue plan.

Putting up Posters Was of No Help

Stacey decided to make posters and distribute them around the local establishments. Hopefully, none of her colleagues from the shelter would come across them and her secret would remain safe for now. It’s not that she didn’t want them to know, it's that she couldn’t face looking at their hurt faces when she told them that she too had let Benji down.

Two days later, the posters were up everywhere. Stacey’s mom and dad got in on the mission too and helped spread the posters everywhere. But there was no response. It seemed like no one had seen Benji. Stacey was prepared to come clean.

The Miracle Call From a Stranger Who Had Found Benji

But before that could happen, the landline rang. There was a strange man on the other end who told Stacey that he had found Benji. He did not give any details about how he had come across the lost dog. But he did sound angry on the phone.

Stacey was at her wit’s end. What had happened? She needed to figure all of this out. She thanked the man and took his address. His house was almost an hour’s drive away from Stacey’s home. As Stacey drove there, she thought to herself, how had Benji managed to get that far away from them?

The Man Is Angry and Stacey Is Angrier

When Stacey pulled up to his driveway she found the unknown man already standing at his front door. He cut an intimidating figure with an aggressive expression clouding his features. Stacey was frightened, what had gotten this man so riled up? Had Benji done something to him? And more importantly, was Benji okay?

Stacey followed the man inside his house and there she found Benji in his living room locked up in a small cage. Now she was furious! Why had he so cruelly locked up her dog? But the man had an explanation that would set everything straight and give Stacey the answers she had been in search of for the past 12 days.

Telling the Story of What Had Happened Earlier in the Day

The man said that he had spotted Benji on his property earlier in the day. Benji looked alright and was playful. The man took Benji inside his house as he tried to figure out his next course of action. He lived far away so he had not seen any of the missing pet posters.

Benji was wearing a collar from the shelter with a tag that had details of the shelter and their number. The man called the shelter and they informed him that he was indeed their dog. They also provided him with Stacey’s details and told him that she needed to be informed of the developments.

Telling the Story of What Had Happened Earlier in the Day

But something else had happened that had prompted the quick call to the shelter. When He had taken Benji inside, he was adjusting well, until the man’s cat walked into the living room. Something had flipped inside Benji and he had leaped towards the feline, determined to hurt it.

The man had reacted in just the nick of time, he had grabbed Benji by his collar and pulled him away from harming his cat. To keep them separate while he found Benji’s owners, he put Benji inside his cat’s cage. That explained why the cage had been too small for him. It was the only solution to keeping the cat and dog away from each other.

Its Time To Reveal It All

Stacey looked down at her mobile and noticed that she had missed some calls. They were from the shelter. It looks like they had been trying to contact her earlier but she hadn’t noticed. Stacey was devastated, it looked like her ruse was up. Now all the colleagues that she had immense respect for, would realize that she was not a good pet owner.

Stacey profusely apologized to the man for Benji’s behavior. She also thanked him for his role in finding and rescuing Benji. Stacey and Benji got into the motor. It was a long ride back to the shelter and Stacey owed the shelter answers.

The Shelter Has Decided To Solve This Case

When Stacey arrived at the shelter she was surprised to see that no one seemed to be angry at her. Instead, they told her that when they had received the call, they had started their investigation. The employees had started making calls to all the previous owners to see if this behavior had developed with Stacey or if had it been present with them too.

If an animal has a fixed behavior pattern of aggression and violence, then there will be other incidents too. None of the previous owners had previously reported such incidents when they returned Benji but this time when the shelter called, they revealed it all.

The Calls Reveal the Truth of All the Returns

Slowly, after much beckoning from the workers, all the previous owners opened up. Benji had adjusted fine earlier, but then something in him would snap and he would attack other animals. He would attack cats in particular. Attacking other animals is common in dog breeds that have a naturally high prey drive. The owners realized having Benji in the house was just a disaster waiting to happen.

If he was acting like this towards other animals, then it raised the possibility that if provoked, he could attack a human being. The puzzle of Benji was finally making sense as all the pieces seem to fit around each other.

There Was a Purpose to Their Lies

The owners revealed that they had lied to protect Benji. They thought that if they revealed the truth, then Benji would need to be put down. Animals that display aggressive behavior are often euthanized, some by choice, others according to law. animals are also put down by shelters if they are beyond resource capacity.

While the percentage of no-kill shelters in America has rapidly risen, from only 29% in 2018 to 44% currently, it is still high. There are above 2000 no-kill shelters in America and while euthanasia rates in shelters have dropped to 44.6%, an aggressive animal might still need to be put down.

The Argument Against Euthanasia

Many activists are fighting against the euthanasia of aggressive animals. They argue that there are better methods to coach the antagonism out of the dogs than to have them put to sleep. Behavioral modification treatment has shown promising results in many cases.

Other than that, some experts also say that situations can be controlled and the animals should avoid being exposed to a situation that could trigger them. It's better to remove the stimulus than to kill the animal. People have also explored the idea of physical activity helping channel anger in a more conducive way, while others believe that massage therapy can make a difference.

Would Behaviour Therapy Work for Benji?

It was decided that for Benji, they would try behavioral modification therapy. He would spend several weeks at the shelter, where cats would be introduced to him in a controlled environment. This part of the program is known as desensitization, where repeated exposure to the trigger stops the aggressive response.

For the other part of his treatment, the workers employed counter-conditioning. Giving him treats and words of encouragement with the trigger conditioned Benji to think that cats were good. This positive reinforcement method forces animals to reconsider their feelings; they realize something they consider negative has positive consequences.

The Program Seems To Be Working but One More Test To Go

Benji was not comfortable with the treatment program initially. He resisted and was not giving a positive response. But slowly, he got better with great trainers and the right treats. His signs of aggression toward cats gradually lessened until it was almost gone; he was no longer triggered to acts of violence in their presence.

After his program finished, there was still one more step to determine if Benji was safe and could be integrated into society. A proper risk assessment had to be done by a licensed animal behaviorist. If she cleared him, then that would mean that Benji could be returned to Stacey again, that is, if she still wanted him.

Benji Gets the All-clear and Finds a Forever Home

The behaviorist said that Benji showed no signs of violence and brutality, which meant that he was free to be adopted again. And turns out that Stacey and her family did want him back. Benji was reunited with them, and he was joyous to be back. Stacey’s family embraced him with all his heart, and he found a permanent home there.

Stacey was ecstatic at the progress made, she had set out to make a difference in Benji’s life, and she had been successful. She loved Benji and was happy that he would no longer be passed around from home to home as he finally found his happily ever after.