Shelter Dog’s Injury Is No Fault of Hers, but It Has Humans Viewing Her Differently

The sound of a squeaky toy was all it took to bring a shelter volunteer back down the kennel hallway after she was ready to leave for the night. There was Pele, standing at her kennel door with her favorite toy still in her mouth and looking as though she had been waiting for someone to stop by. In the video shared by @cassondrachristman, the 2-year-old shelter dog gets exactly that, along with cuddles, sweet talk, and some much-needed company. Pele is friendly with people and other dogs, loves toys, and weighs only 40 pounds, but there is one issue making potential adopters hesitate: her injured back leg.

Shelter dog has humans losing interest in her because of a leg injury

The video starts as Cassondra is leaving the shelter for the night. She hears a squeaky toy somewhere down the hall and turns around to see what is going on. Her search leads to Pele’s kennel. The dog is standing at the mesh door with her favorite toy and looking straight at Cassondra. The text says she was hoping someone would come in, and once the door opens, her tail starts wagging while the toy stays firmly in her mouth.

Cassondra sits down with Pele and lets the camera run as the dog climbs onto her, settles across her lap, and keeps hold of the toy. One message on screen puts it simply: “She just wanted someone to lay with.” Pele has never been in a foster home or trial adoption. She has had a couple of interested adopters, but the situation changes when they hear that her back leg may need to be amputated.

Pele is still using the injured leg when she gets excited in her kennel, including jumping when familiar volunteers pass by. Cassondra says she should not have to recover from surgery in a kennel, yet that is where she may have to stay without a foster or adopter stepping forward.

Pele’s other qualities are easy to see in the clip. She is affectionate, people-friendly, and thrilled to show off her toy. She does not need long games of fetch. Holding the toy, squeaking it, and occasionally chewing it apart seem to be plenty.

The video has received more than 32,800 likes. One commenter pointed out that dogs can adapt remarkably well after an amputation. Another shared a story about fostering a tripod through surgery and called it one of their most rewarding experiences.