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When Shelter Dogs Grieve Transition Caring for Rescue Dogs’ Emotional Needs
Guest Contributor
When a shelter dog named Forrest was moved into foster care, what should have been a joyful moment became unexpectedly emotional. Captured on camera, Forrest appeared to “start to cry,” a reaction that resonated deeply with viewers and shed light on the complex emotional lives of rescue dogs. The story, first reported by Newsweek, offers a rare glimpse into the often unseen grieving process many animals experience during transitions—even those meant to improve their lives.
Forrest’s journey began at Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue, a nonprofit organization based in California. Known for its commitment to canine rehabilitation and rehoming, the shelter celebrated Forrest’s move to a foster home as a step forward. But as the footage shows, Forrest seemed overwhelmed by sorrow shortly after arriving at his temporary new environment. According to a spokesperson from Marley's Mutts, this reaction was not uncommon. “He'd just moved from the shelter into foster care,” they told Newsweek. “This is a dog separated from his family and his little canine buddies and mourning those losses.”
That moment of visible sadness is a poignant reminder that dogs, especially those in rescue systems, are capable of experiencing grief. The emotional toll of shelter life has been well documented. A study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior found that dogs entering shelters exhibited cortisol levels three times higher than those in regular home environments during their first three days. Cortisol is closely linked to stress, and elevated levels can indicate significant emotional distress.
What makes Forrest’s case particularly striking is that his tears followed what many would consider a positive change: leaving the shelter for a foster home. But as Marley's Mutts explained, the move represented another loss in Forrest’s eyes. Having already endured abandonment, he now faced the pain of leaving behind a new group of companions and a place that, while imperfect, had become familiar. The shelter described this behavior as grieving—not only for his canine friends but also for “the family that never claimed him.”
I found this detail striking because it challenges common assumptions about rescue animals. Many people assume that the transition out of a shelter is universally positive, but Forrest’s story reveals a more nuanced reality. Dogs, like humans, can carry emotional baggage and may need time and space to process change, even when it leads to better circumstances.
Marley's Mutts chose to share Forrest’s story on social media to highlight what they called “a heartbreaking part of rescue the public rarely sees.” They emphasized that foster carers often witness similar reactions and that these emotional displays are a testament to the depth of feeling dogs are capable of. “They feel everything,” the shelter stated, underscoring the emotional intelligence of animals like Forrest.
Despite the initial sadness, the move to foster care was ultimately a turning point for Forrest. Foster environments offer dogs a chance to decompress, regain their confidence, and begin healing. According to a 2018 study in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting with a shelter dog can significantly boost their well-being. Foster homes provide far more than that, offering consistent care, affection, and a glimpse of what life in a permanent home could be like.
From a behavioral standpoint, foster care plays a crucial role in preparing dogs for adoption. It allows them to reveal their true personalities and adjust to household routines, which can be difficult to observe in a shelter setting. For Forrest, this opportunity was transformative. Though he may have grieved deeply at first, his time with a foster family helped him adjust and eventually led to his adoption. Marley's Mutts confirmed that Forrest now has a forever home, and those early tears have been replaced with stability and affection.
The shelter acknowledged that they could not undo Forrest’s past losses, but they could offer him love and a future where he would no longer have to endure such upheaval. “We wish we could give him back everything he's lost but all we can give is love and the promise of a future where he never has to lose so many things all at once again,” they wrote. That promise, they added, is “the beauty of saying yes to a life in need.”
For those unfamiliar with the emotional landscape of rescue dogs, Forrest’s story serves as a powerful reminder. Behind every adoption is a history, sometimes filled with loss and uncertainty. But with patience, compassion, and the dedication of foster carers, healing is possible. Forrest’s journey—from abandonment to grief to a new home—is a testament to the resilience of animals and the transformative power of care.