Heartbreaking footage has emerged of a shelter dog quite literally crying out to be adopted.
It's not entirely clear whether Birdy the pit bull has ever truly had a place to call home. When this happy, high-energy pup first arrived at Take Paws Rescue in New Orleans, his background was something of a mystery.
"Birdy was found roaming the streets in January of this year. He was not microchipped, and was never claimed," Monique Bonnaffons, the founder and director of Take Paws Rescue, told Newsweek.
Whatever his past, Birdy's future was soon looking considerably brighter. Take Paws Rescue is a foster-based rescue, meaning he was placed in a home with a carer who could focus on bringing the best out of him.
A little attention can go a long way with a shelter dog. In 2018, a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science looked at the impact 15 minutes of one-on-one petting had on a shelter dog.
Researchers found that positive behavioral and physiological effects on shelter dogs were detectable following these petting sessions.
In the case of Birdy, his foster stay helped bring out his true personality. His foster carer, who chose not to be named, saw a dog with a love of the outdoors and a passion for play emerge.
"Birdy is adventurous and loves activities," they told Newsweek. "He loves to play games, do tricks, chase bugs. He loves toys, walks and bubbles. Oh, and he loves to kayak."
Yet, for all the good his foster stay has done, the reality remains that Birdy needs a forever home. According to his foster carer, the most obvious obstacle to that is something entirely beyond Birdy's control.
"He struggles to get adopted because he's a high energy pit bull," they said.
There's no escaping the fact that certain breeds of dog struggle to get adopted. A 2021 study from the journal Animals found that long-term shelter dogs were most commonly older, male, of large size, neutered and considered a "dangerous breed."
There are a number of myths and misconceptions about pit bulls, including the fact they aren't technically a recognized breed but rather a set of physical canine characteristics.
They are also wrongly assumed to be bad tempered—in fact, research from the American Temperament Test Society found they were likely to be more tolerant than other breeds.
Though Birdy has proven himself to be a happy, engaged and eager-to-please pup to his foster carer, he has yet to convince a would-be adopter to take a chance.
In the meantime, Birdy's circumstances with his foster carer have changed.
Bonnaffons said: "His foster home has had some life changes and they're gone long hours, leaving him crated too long. He really needs a forever home."
While Birdy is still happy with his foster carer and enjoys his time out of the crate, it's clear that being inside it has brought home the stark reality that he needs somewhere to call his forever home.
Proof of that came via a video posted to the TikTok channel 'adoptbirdythedog'. In the clip, Birdy can be heard howling from within his crate while a caption explains that he spends much of his time in there "crying for a real home" but at present "nobody wants him."
It's a situation that left many of those watching the video upset on Birdy's behalf.
"Poor guy," one wrote.
"I feel so bad for him. All dogs deserve a good home," another said, with a third promising: "A beautiful life will come."
Birdy's foster carer, whose personal circumstances mean the foster pup has to spend extended periods of time in his crate, acknowledges it has not been easy on him.
"Being in his crate all day is making him anxious and sad," they said. "He's eating less and crying a lot." While Birdy is undoubtedly still considerably better off here than he would be on the streets or a standard shelter, it's clear he needs a home.
"Birdy would do best in an active home with a submissive dog or as an only [dog]," the carer said. "He's just happy to have attention and someone to interact with."
Anyone willing to be that person for Birdy is encouraged to contact the Take Paws Rescue shelter.
English (US) ·