Staff Realizes Something Was Up After This Puppy Got Returned 11 Times

They Were Disappointed

It is never a good time when a dog has to be returned to the shelter for any reason. When a shelter’s wishes are eventually fulfilled and a dog is adopted, it might be difficult enough when the dog is later returned. And to think that Benji has already been returned a grand total of twelve times… When Stacy and Benji arrived, three other staff were already there because she had made some prior arrangements. They were obviously disappointed that the adoption had failed, but they were also quite inquisitive as to why since now was their chance to finally receive an honest explanation.

They Were Disappointed

The Actual Reason

The issue with adoptions is that, in most cases, no justification is required for returning them. It only takes a phone call to the adoption center to let them know you wish to give back the puppy you adopted. The center is required to pick up the dog and return him; they are not permitted to inquire about the circumstances. They were convinced that Stacy would tell them the truth even though Benji had been returned to the shelter 11 times with various justifications. The fact that they were not ready to confront the truth would become clear to them quickly, though. This raises the question of why Benjij was returned to the shelter 11 times. Was there anything that could be done to help this sad puppy and what was wrong with it?

The Actual Reason

One & A Half Year In the Shelter

A dog is better equipped to adapt to its surroundings when it stays at a shelter for a longer amount of time. However, that does not necessarily mean a good thing. A dog in a shelter often has to share a cell with other dogs, which limits the number of opportunities it has to socialize with them. At this point, Benji had been a resident of the animal shelter for almost 1.5 years. Even though he was hardly a puppy anymore and yet very much looked like one, everyone who came to the shelter to pick him up fell in love with him and wanted to take him home right away.

One & A Half Year In The Shelter

Adopted A Lot

Certain dogs are more successful than others in finding new homes. Because he was still a small boy and had an endearing face, Benji was particularly lucky. Compared to other animals, adopting a puppy is a decision that can be made more quickly because, well, they’re puppies and they’re cute! Benji did not spend nearly as much time in a shelter over that one and a half years as people may think. If he were there, and if he were up for adoption, it would take someone no more than two weeks to adopt him. The issue, though, was that his adoptive parents kept returning him to his biological family.

Adopted A Lot

No Given Reason

When he was initially brought into the shelter as a puppy just three weeks old, this was already happening. A dog belonging to his former family had successfully given birth to five healthy puppies. But for some reason, they decided to keep four of them, and without offering a single justification, they donated Benji to the animal shelter. There were some questions at the shelter at the time, so they chose to have their on-call veterinarian thoroughly examine Benji. The shelter just assumed that the puppy got unfortunate and ended up here since the results of all the testing showed that there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him.

No Given Reason

What Seemed To Be A Perfect Family

There were some questions at the shelter at the time, so they chose to have their on-call veterinarian thoroughly examine Benji. The shelter just assumed that the puppy got unfortunate and ended up here since the results of all the testing showed that there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him. He seemed destined to join the most ideal family possible—a young, newlywed couple with a 5-year-old daughter who is longing for a puppy. Around was always someone there to tend to Benji whenever he needed it because the mother worked from home as well. Nobody thought they would ever see Benjio again at the animal shelter.

What Seemed To Be A Perfect Family

Odd Reasons

But in reality, this would never happen at all. Benji’s new owners brought him back to the shelter in just three weeks. Benji, who was delighted and enthusiastic, had followed the father when he arrived on his own. The men only gave a vague justification for why they were returning Benji, which was undoubtedly an excuse. He had definitely formed a bond with the men and was unaware that it would be the last time he would see them. Perhaps because it had been going on for too long, but something about that was simply not working out. It was totally illogical given the knowledge the shelter knew about the family.

Odd Reasons

It Wouldn’t Stop Happening

The shelter chose not to probe too far, though, at that particular moment. The puppy would have been better off living with someone else if Benji’s family wasn’t going to take care of him. And they had no doubt that he would soon be adopted by someone who would appreciate him to the utmost. There was no other explanation for this but a freak accident, right? It turned out that everything about this was absolutely ordinary. Something keeps causing it to happen. Benji was adopted several times, but each time he was quickly brought back to the shelter and then adopted once again in less than two weeks.

It Wouldn’t Stop Happening

It Doesn’t Make Sense

The staff at the animal shelter had no idea why this was happening because they had never experienced anything even vaguely close to it before. The explanations for continually returning the poor pet just seemed too weak and shallow. Additionally, they were so dissimilar from one another that at least some of them had to be made up. Benji was alleged to have excessive vitality by some, while others asserted that he wouldn’t even get out of bed. Benji was criticized by some for having simply too much enthusiasm. Others said he avoided going to the park because he was so terrified of the other dogs there, while some claimed he was antagonistic toward other dogs.

It Doesn’t Make Sense

Benji Was Hurt

When the animal shelter ran out of options for Benji, they made the decision to re-offer him for adoption. He couldn’t just spend the rest of his life in the shelter, though. After being returned for the eleventh time, no one had any hope that this unfortunate dog would ever find a home where he could live out the remainder of his days. It was also obvious that the puppy, for whom everyone at the shelter had developed a strong bond, was starting to suffer the consequences of being trapped in this never-ending cycle of agony. They could obviously see that each time he was returned to that case, the glitter that formerly shone in his eyes diminished dramatically. It was heartbreaking.

Benji Was Hurt

A New Trainee Named Stacy

At this point, all Benji was doing was slumping over in one of the corners of his cage. Finally, his 11th owner had given the shelter a justification for his return that it accepted as legitimate. It was obvious that Benji just seemed miserable all the time and didn’t trust him. They have every right to think that… Everyone who worked at the shelter merely felt that they needed to find a solution to this problem. They were all very concerned about the dog, and thankfully for them, a trainee named Stacy, who had only been working with them for approximately two weeks at the time, had the solution.

A New Trainee Named Stacy

She Wants To Adopt Him

While earning a degree in veterinary medicine, she was in training. She worked as a volunteer at the homeless shelter during that time. She had never seen Benji before, and the moment she saw him, she fell completely in love with him. She first encountered Benji when his most recent owner gave him back to her. The staff members who had worked at the shelter for a longer amount of time told her all about how amusing Benji had been in the past, despite the fact that she had only ever seen him in his extremely depressed state. They also revealed that Benji had been returned 11 times, each time for a different reason.

She Wants To Adopt Him

Trying To Convince The Parents

However, Stacy was not at all discouraged by this. She thought about all the idiotic previous owners who had given Benji to the shelter out of the grief of their loss. She was determined to give this puppy the fulfilling and healthy life it so obviously deserved. She was still living with her parents, so she needed to persuade them to let her acquire a puppy, but she was utterly unaware of the consequences of her actions at this time. Though she had feared they wouldn’t like the concept, she was pleasantly surprised to find that they were very supportive. They had reportedly already discussed buying a dog because they anticipated Stacy leaving shortly.

Trying To Convince The Parents

Benji Was A Piece Of Work

Because all the required documentation was finished and organized, Stacy was allowed to take Benji home with her that day. At this point in his life, Benji was going through the same identical steps for the twelfth time. He always appeared apathetic while he was being led out of the cage. On the way back to his house, Benji wouldn’t even look at Stacy. She knew there was a lot of work to be done to get this poor dog to trust people again, to get him back to being the happy, cheerful dog he had been in the past. Stacy was sure she could pull it off, but she soon learned that her confidence wasn’t well-founded.

Benji Was A Piece Of Work

Meeting The Other Dogs

On the way back to his house, Benji wouldn’t even look at Stacy. She knew there was a lot of work to be done to get this poor dog to trust people again, to get him back to being the happy, cheerful dog he had been in the past. Stacy was sure she could pull it off, but she soon learned that her confidence wasn’t well-founded. The family had many of the other items needed for dogs at home when they bought Benji because he wasn’t their first dog. Three more of them were already wandering the home. But because of his size, Benji was the smallest of the group. They couldn’t identify what was bothering them, yet there was still a problem. But Benji was behaving strangely.

Meeting The Other Dogs

The Other Dogs Only Wanted To Play

The family had many of the other items needed for dogs at home when they bought Benji because he wasn’t their first dog. Three more of them were already wandering the home. But because of his size, Benji was the smallest of the group. They couldn’t identify what was bothering them, yet there was still a problem. But Benji was behaving strangely. The family’s other dogs, on the other hand, were less suspicious of their new buddy and, as soon as they were let to exit the other room, they started inspecting their new friend. One of them even gave Benji a toy as they were sniffing him like there was no tomorrow. Benji’s attitude changed a little bit after that. Did he enjoy being the center of attention?

The Other Dogs Only Wanted To Play

Playing In The Park

Benji began to socialize with the other dogs after appearing to have his icy demeanor slightly cooled by all the attention and contact. The rest of the day was devoted to providing Benji with the finest experience possible, as the family made sure. They felt that was the best they could do to give Benji the attention he needed. He was, after all, a good boy. Right? They took Benji to the park, went shopping for a new toy, and even made him a beautiful steak. A day in canine paradise had a significant impact on Benji. He had a tail that was wagging all day. In line with the rest of the family, Stacy appeared to appreciate her time spent with Benji. They also proved to be popular with Benji. Would that emotion last?

Playing In The Park

A Drastic Turn

The family thought they would have a fantastic new part of the family as a result of the fact that they had already restored him to the vivacious puppy he had once been in just twenty-four hours. But why does Benji keep getting called back if that’s the case? Do they still need to learn something that they already know? The next few days, in contrast, were comparatively quiet. Benji didn’t seem to have any trouble acclimating to the routine family activities. The shelter was given all the details by Stacy, and they expressed gratitude for the accomplishments. However, after that, things started to change. No one could explain why Benji suddenly and mysteriously vanished.

A Drastic Turn

Looking For Benji

One morning as the family awoke, Benji was immediately out of bed. They looked everywhere in the home, but they couldn’t find him. Stacy became anxious. She betrayed the shelter’s confidence by handling Benji carelessly. What was happening? Benji either fled or something else occurred. She decided to keep it a secret from them and instead took a week off work to search for Benji. She started by asking each and every one of her neighbors if they had seen the puppy, but she was unsuccessful. It looked like Benji had disappeared into thin air because he was nowhere to be seen. This stressed Stacey.

Looking For Benji

Putting Up Posters

Even though the morning had been spent seeking for him and asking around, Benji was nowhere to be found. The next logical step was to publish wanted posters because it looked like no one had seen him. Simply crossing her fingers that no one from the shelter would see them, Stacy said. She didn’t want to let them down in any way after everything that had happened. There were 2 more days. Benji had not returned. The family had posted posters all over, but no one had ever responded. Stacy believed she had no choice but to tell the shelter the truth as they were approaching that moment. When she finally made up her mind to call.

Putting Up Posters

She Had No Clue

The phone did eventually begin to ring after that. He had been tracked down and located. The caller sounded really upset but didn’t seem to want to go into detail about where and how the issue occurred just yet. Suddenly, Stacy felt herself on the verge of passing out and could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins. What was going on with Benji? Stacy arrived at the man’s home feeling both anxious and perplexed. It took almost an hour to drive there. How on earth did Benji manage to go so far from home? Even though she had no idea how Benji had pulled this off, she was intrigued to see what she would encounter.

She Had No Clue

Benji Was Caged

When Stacy got home, the man who had discovered him was already waiting for him at the front door. Standing there with his arms crossed, he appeared to be extremely irritated. What in the name of the devil could Benji have done? The man didn’t seem to be moving at all, which gave Stacy some fear. While he brought Stacy inside, the man said nothing as Benji, who appeared to be in a very sad state, was being held captive in a cage. Stacy was prepared to lash out at the man for imprisoning this helpless puppy, but he then began to explain what had occurred. Stacy can no longer express her anger toward the man.

Benji Was Caged

Benji Was Well Behaved

It seemed like Benji had arrived earlier that day. The man looked about for Benji’s owner because he had not seen any of the posters. He was going to call the animal shelter when he couldn’t find Benji because Benji was still sporting a collar with their phone number on it. What a score! He was just strolling about the home with Benji at the moment, and he thought he was dealing with a polite puppy. But just then, his own cat showed in to explore and see what was going on. In regards to what Benji might have been preparing to do, Stacy already had a suspicion.

Benji Was Well Behaved

Calling The Shelter

At that same time, Benji had a sudden change of heart and attacked the man’s cat. Benji was on the verge of harming the cat when the man intervened just in time to stop him and seize the dog instead, allowing the cat to escape. The man immediately placed Benji in his cat cage after what had occurred. He thought that this was the only way to simultaneously ensure the safety of his cat and Benji. He then dialed the emergency hotline and detailed what had occurred. After describing the puppy, the shelter instructed him to phone Stacy so she could pick him up, which is what actually happened. Thankfully, Benji wasn’t hurt.

Calling The Shelter

Talking To Previous Owners

Stacy saw that she had missed a few calls from the homeless shelter when she checked her phone. The ability to keep this information a secret had long since vanished. She took Benji from the man and profusely apologized. She believed that in order to protect the shelter, she would need to defend herself. She then accompanied Benji back to the shelter. When Stacy arrived, she learned that the other staff members had already contacted a number of Benji’s prior owners to find out whether any of them had similar experiences with Benji to her own. The results of these calls offered illuminating insights.

Talking To Previous Owners

The Right Decision

Every single former owner they contacted provided them with the same account. Benji assaulted another animal at some time, which is the real reason they had to send him back. They now had a clear image of Benji, which clarified a lot of things. Why is this behavior toward other animals the way it is? They had lied about it because they were afraid Benji would be killed if they had disclosed the truth. As a result, they made up the truth. They all cherished the dog far too much to consider doing something like that. They all took him back to the shelter nevertheless because they didn’t want it to happen again while he was in their care.

The Right Decision

Brought Back To The Shelter

Normally, Benji would have been deemed dangerous and put down; but, Stacy and the shelter were not going to allow that to happen. They could finally make better selections now that they had more knowledge. They were also conscious of the fact that they could help Benji. Benji was scheduled to stay at the shelter for a few weeks, where staff members intended to work with him on gaining more cat trust during that period. One by one, they were brought together in a secure setting, and Benji was gently introduced to them. Benji first didn’t want to work with the animal shelter, but they were persistent in their attempts. Was it worth it?

Brought Back To The Shelter

Finally Finding A Home

Benji’s cat-related anger was eventually trained out of him through a challenging procedure, and he was returned to Stacy and her family’s custody. They were overjoyed to have Benji back because he was the puppy they had always desired. They showered Benji with affection. They received his gratitude. From that moment on, they never had any issues with their new dog at any time. He joined their family, just as Stacy had always anticipated he would. Finally, Benji had found the house that would serve as his permanent residence. Benji already had everything, therefore he didn’t need any additional kennels at that moment.

Finally Finding A Home

Puppy Finds Itself In A Lion’s Enclosure

If this story made you emotional then reading the following one could be leaving you in tears.

Lions are strong and vicious creatures willing to do anything to take care of their pride. Now, we want you to imagine what happens when a tiny dachshund puppy finds itself in a lion’s enclosure. We bet you’re worried. A poor little dog like that doesn’t stand a chance, right?

Puppy Finds Itself In A Lion’s Enclosure

King of the Wild

The lion has earned a reputation as the king of the wild, a status earned through strength, power, elegance, and mighty roars. However, people get a different look at these fierce creatures when they are in captivity. Under this setting, we can see that lions share many similarities with a distant relative – the house cat. Perhaps they are not as terrifying as we all assumed!

King of the Wild

Domesticated

Meet John Reinke. He is one of several people who had the opportunity to play with and raise large animals when they are still young. He pretty much took care of a tiger called Tony and a lion called Bonedigger ever since these creatures were just orphan little cubs. The three formed a rather unorthodox family, to say the least. However, John soon noticed something between his “kids”. When Tony gets a little too rough with John, Bonedigger would approach the tiger and growl!

Domesticated

Health Issues

You should know that the cub had health problems from the moment he was born. Bonedigger had metabolic bones, which meant they were weaker and more brittle than usual. Most animals with the same condition tend to not live to see adulthood. However, Bonedigger is a survivor and he made it despite the odds.

Health Issues

A Terrifying Fall

However, Bonedigger was not the only family member who had to deal with medical issues. In 1994, John made the decision to try bungee jumping. However, the worst case scenario happened and John fell 55 feet and landed on a metal spike! The end results involved broken back, hip, and feet. Yikes.

A Terrifying Fall

Life-Altering News

The doctors were convinced that John would never be able to walk again. However, even worse is the fact that John had to amputate both legs! This served as an eye-opener for John. This was when he realized how much he wanted to help everyone in any way he possibly could. That was how he made the decision to work with animals.

Life-Altering News

Bonding

John shared a unique bond with Bonedigger as they were both dealing with medical challenges. Whenever Tony played too roughly and tried pulling his prosthetic legs, Bonedigger always came to protect him.

Bonding

Growing Up

It was only a matter of time before the cubs began to grow bigger and bigger. They eventually became too big for John to keep in his own home. This was when he took them both to the Oklahoma-based Wynnewood Animal Park. Here, they could roam as much as they wanted as the place was very spacious.

Growing Up

Lonely

Luckily for Tony, he was introduced to the tigers residing in the park. Bonedigger, meanwhile, was placed in an enclosure alone. It did not seem like he was happy in his new home. The lion usually paced around, probably wishing there were other lions he could play with.

Lonely

Mascots

In the park, there were four dachshund pups who roamed the park and served as the local mascots. They ate the food guests dropped onto the floor and taunted the parrots. The leader of this group was a tiny but fearsome dog called Abby.

Mascots

New Friends

Not unlike the visitors of the zoos, the dogs enjoyed watching the other animals. They must have been thrilled to learn about the new lion in the park. Without hesitation, they took Bonedigger into their little family. We bet this was a huge change for the lion. He was probably unused to all the attention showered upon him.

New Friends

Joe Exotic

It is pretty hard to beat Joe Exotic in terms of experience. He has worked with big cats for more than 32 years! He started noticing that Bonedigger was not comfortable there and he decided to take it upon him to make the lion feel more at home.

Joe Exotic

Risky Decision

The plan that Joe formulated was a rather risky one. He brought Abby into Bonedigger’s enclosure! He did keep the dachshund on a leash and prayed that the lion would treat her warmly. However, Bonedigger was actually quite afraid of the little pup and he tried pulling away from her.

Risky Decision

Bonedigger’s Reaction

Joe told the keeper who had been holding Bonedigger to let the lion go so that he could decide if he wanted to be friends with Abby or not all by himself. While Abby seemed excited to be near Bonedigger, judging by the way she jumped around. However, Bonedigger distanced himself from both the keeper and dog before letting out a roar! He might have tried his hardest, though it still ended up sounding like a squeak. Regardless, it was time to separate the lion and the dog.

Bonedigger’s Reaction

Second Meeting

Joe wanted to try the plan a second time. Things did change a little as Bonedigger appeared braver. He started approaching the tiny dog! The lion completely dwarfed Abby and he had to lower his head in order to sniff her.

Second Meeting

New Friends

The second meeting proved to be successful as Bonedigger approved of Abby’s presence. The keepers let the dog go around without a leash and she roamed the enclosure, clearly excited. They also placed some of Bonedigger’s favorite play toys nearby to make him more comfortable. Abby took notice of the toys and started approaching them. However, Bonedigger was a little territorial of his things and ran towards them. Abby only licked his nose playfully!

New Friends

Moving In Together

After some time, Abby and Bonedigger started becoming friends. This was when the keepers decided it was time to find them a larger place to live. The park moved the pair into a bigger enclosure and even provided them with adjacent beds. The new space also contained a big platform from where they could look over the rest of the zoo.

Moving In Together

A New Pride

Joe knew that lions were social creatures and this is why he decided to allow the other dachshunds into the enclosure. This signaled the beginning of a new and unconventional pride. The three other dogs were Angel, Bullet, and Milo. Bonedigger welcomed every one of them into his pride.

A New Pride

Family Dinner

The zookeepers were completely astounded at the way the lion and the dogs got along. They wanted to try doing something else – they wanted to see if they can feed together! They gave Bonedigger some raw meat and the dogs kibble. True to form, the mischievous pup Abby began barking as she knew Bonedigger could check on her to see what was happening. When he left his food unattended, she went over to his food and took off with a steak! Fortunately, Bonedigger did not mind sharing.

Family Dinner

Separation Anxiety

Abby and Bonedigger had a powerful bond between them. They were always together and they even cleaned each other’s teeth and fur! The lion did not like being separated from his friends. Whenever they left, he would only sit and wait for their return.

Separation Anxiety

Learning About Each Other

Considering the amount of time Bonedigger and Abby spent together, it was not surprising to learn that they taught each other new things. Abby started growling like a lion while Bonedigger figured out her body language.

Learning About Each Other