‘Stressed’ dog has been at Ohio shelter for over 400 days. He needs ‘literal lifeline’
Staff at an animal shelter in Ohio are “desperate for a lifeline” for a “stressed” dog that has been there for more than 400 days.
Staff and volunteers at the Humane Society of Richland County hope someone will take a chance on Malcolm the 3-year-old boxer, who is overwhelmed by loud and chaotic shelter life, the organization said in an Aug. 7 post on Facebook.
“What do you do with a shelter dog who recently bit someone? He was overstimulated and stressed at the time, but still…he bit someone. Thankfully it was not serious,” the organization said. “In a shelter environment, it’s oftentimes a dealbreaker.”
The organization is hoping it won’t be for the dog staffers have grown to know and love.
But they’re “at a loss” on how they can get others to see all the affection Malcolm has to offer, especially because “his terrible past” makes him anxious around men and strangers.
“Meet and greets have been fails,” the organization said. “People do not typically come back for a second visit.”
The shelter is running out of options. Dog rescue organizations and sanctuaries have turned him away because he’s a “liability,” the organization said.
“We are desperate. Absolutely DESPERATE…for a lifeline for this guy,” the shelter said. “A literal lifeline.”
Several people offered up advice for potential solutions and words of encouragement in the comments.
“His kind of dog - tough, challenging, but with a lot of work and patience he can fit in somewhere!” someone said. “I have had a few aggressive dogs regarding strangers or other dogs but they have all been great companions! Someone has to take that handsome boy!!!”
Others expressed their sadness at the situation.
“Poor baby. After 400 days we’d be stressed (too),” another person said. “Praying he finds someone who understands him and gives him a chance.”
The shelter updated the post the next day to address the feedback it received.
“WOW. We are overwhelmed by the amount of feedback we received for our special boy, Malcolm,” the shelter said, adding that it would be turning off comments to filter out people who aren’t interested in adopting him or welcoming him into a rescue or sanctuary “where he can thrive.”
“The suggestions are valuable and appreciated, but ultimately, we need to get him out of the shelter,” the organization said. “Medication and training and oils and field trips are all well and good (and great ideas), but as long as he lays his head down in the shelter at night, it’s not going to make much difference. 400 days is just too long to be with us.”
Several people suggested reaching out to The Asher House, an Oregon-based nonprofit animal sanctuary, in the comments. Many also tagged the sanctuary in the comments.
“Looks like they just helped another dog that bit someone,” one person said.
They shared one of the sanctuary’s videos showing a dog named Roger that it took in after he bit someone.
“He was just misunderstood and truly needed the Asher House love,” the post says.
Richland County is about a 65-mile drive northeast of Columbus.
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 3:33 PM with the headline "‘Stressed’ dog has been at Ohio shelter for over 400 days. He needs ‘literal lifeline’."
