About two weeks ago, a man came into the Washington State-based Benton-Franklin Humane Society with a golden retriever puppy in tow. He informed the shelter’s staff members that he wanted to surrender the dog.
Julie Saraceno
“[H]e just sounded so casual about it,” Julie Saraceno, a volunteer at the humane society, told The Dodo. “He was just like, ‘I have a dog I need to get rid of.’”
The staff members tried to probe the man for more information on the pup, but he didn’t give them many details. All he told them was that he’d had the golden retriever for just three days and never gave him a name. He didn’t even have a proper leash for the dog — he’d just tied a rope to a carabiner on his collar.
“I got the impression that it was just a nuisance to him and he just didn’t want the dog,” Saraceno said.
Julie Saraceno
The shelter staff determined that the puppy was just 5 months old. Saraceno decided to name him Waffles after his adorable yellow fur.
Waffles was understandably incredibly disoriented and anxious when he first arrived at the humane society. He kept looking around nervously and quivering from fear.
Julie Saraceno
“The shelter is very loud, so I think it’s very scary for a new dog when they’re here,” Saraceno said.
The shelter staff gave him a nice warm bath, which calmed him down instantly and helped him feel more grounded.
“I have never seen a dog so relaxed in a bath before,” Saraceno said. “It was like a spa day for him.”
Once Waffles was transferred to his kennel, Saraceno sat with him on the floor to help him relax. Her presence set him at ease so much that he eventually curled up and took a nap.
“After about 30 minutes … he was like, ‘OK, it’s not so bad,’” Saraceno said.
Julie Saraceno
Given Waffles’ adorable looks and sweet personality, it’s no surprise that he got a lot of interest from adopters right away. As soon as he was fixed, he went home with a new family. Everyone at the humane society was overjoyed that he was finally getting the appreciation he deserves and a second chance at a loving home.
While many people have preconceived ideas about what kinds of dogs you might find at a shelter, Waffles being surrendered demonstrates that you never know who you might end up falling in love with at your local humane society.
“There are probably at least 10 other puppies at the shelter right now,” Saraceno said. “So hopefully Waffles will make them come and see those other puppies that are there, too.”
If you’d like to support the Benton-Franklin Humane Society, you can make a donation here.