A pitbull named Roxy has captured hearts worldwide after a video showing her crying in her kennel went viral. The emotional footage, shared by the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in New York, shows the 10-year-old dog howling as she waits for someone to give her a loving home.
“Senior girl Roxy howls hoping someone will hear her cries for a new home. Please hear her. Come meet her today,” read the shelter’s poignant message accompanying the video.
Roxy’s Journey: From rescue to heartbreak
Roxy’s story began in 2017 when she was first rescued from the streets of New York and brought to the shelter. She quickly found a new home, but tragedy struck when her owner became homeless, forcing her back into the shelter system. Now, for the second time, Roxy waits patiently for a family to call her own.
The shelter has described Roxy as a dog in need of a calm and supportive environment. “She needs a home that will allow her to decompress after being in and out of the shelter system,” they wrote in a heartfelt appeal on Facebook.
What Roxy needs
At 10 years old, Roxy remains spirited and playful but requires a low-traffic, adult-only home where she can feel safe and secure. The shelter noted her positive traits, including her love for affection, excellent leash skills, and eagerness to receive rewards. However, they emphasized that she does have protective tendencies and guarding issues that need understanding and patience.
“She is friendly with people she knows and has been friendly with strangers,” the shelter stated. “She truly needs someone who will set her up for success!”
Public outpouring of support
Roxy’s story has sparked an outpouring of compassion and support online. Social media users flooded the shelter’s post with emotional comments and calls for her adoption.
“This is heartbreaking. Please someone open up your heart and home for this poor dog,” one user pleaded. “She needs a forever loving home or loving foster home. Please don’t wait. Prayers and sharing.”
Another commenter, reflecting on their own pets, wrote: “How sad. I couldn’t even comprehend the idea of doing this to my senior pitbulls, who are 17 and 15. They will pass knowing they were loved and cherished till their last breath.”
Others echoed similar sentiments: “She is very beautiful. I hope someone adopts her soon. She is a real sweetheart,” one person wrote, while another added, “Prayers this adorable girl Roxy is adopted very soon!”
One particularly moving comment urged others to empathize with Roxy’s loneliness: “Can you imagine being behind bars for as long as that poor precious baby has? Think about yourself and think about the love you could give her. Please help her.”
A plea for compassion
Roxy’s video serves as a stark reminder of the struggles faced by senior dogs in shelters. Her howls, filled with longing, have struck a chord with animal lovers globally, highlighting the urgent need for adoption.
The shelter remains hopeful that a loving family will soon hear Roxy’s cries and give her the second chance she so desperately deserves. For now, Roxy continues to wait—her heart full of hope—for the day she will walk out of her kennel and into the arms of her forever family.
