Senior Dog Adopted From Florida Shelter Returned A Few Days Later For Being “Boring”

A senior dog that was adopted and then promptly returned to the shelter is breaking hearts across the country this week.

Honey, 10, was adopted during Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center’s annual Mega-Adoption Event in Tampa, Florida, the weekend of May 17. Through no fault of her own, however, Honey was back at the shelter a few days later. Why? She was “boring.” 

“They felt the dog isn't very interactive and doesn't have much of a personality like they had hoped,” shelter volunteers explained on the Rescue Me Tampa Facebook page. “The adopter found that she didn't eat much while in their care and showed little interest in treats. She had no interest in toys or playing. Honey is very quiet, calm, and spends most of her day sleeping.” 

“She was at the event due to being surrendered by her first owners for being ‘allergic,’” the post notes. “Now she is back for being boring.”   

Jessica Yingst, one of the page administrators for Rescue Me Tampa, told Southern Living that Honey’s story “broke our hearts and souls.” 

“We see this kind of stuff weekly, however, something about her eyes just ripped us in pieces,” Yingst said.

Fortunately, Honey was only at the shelter for 24 hours before word of her situation reached Julie and Michael Bassett at Husky Life Rescue in nearby Lakeland. As soon as they saw her, they knew there was more to her story. Honey was sick.

“We have been informed that Honey is actually closer to 15 years old,” Husky Life Rescue shared after taking her to see a veterinarian. “Her liver and pancreas were elevated quite high. She does have a UTI and respiratory infection. It's no wonder she was ‘boring,’ kind of hard to be motivated when you feel so bad.”

The Bassetts told WFLA that due to her advanced age, it remains to be seen if Honey will be put back up for adoption or if she will stay with the rescue after she has recovered. 

“We will do EVERYTHING possible to help her and make sure she gets everything she needs to get through this tough time,” they promised.

Yingst said that while they’re celebrating Honey’s move into rescue, they want the community to be aware of the many other dogs like Honey who are still waiting for their chance to be loved and adopted.   

“Our shelter is filled with the hopeful eyes of older dogs and young dogs each with a story longing to be heard, and countless others whose fate hangs in the balance of life and death,” Yingst said. “ We have over 400 dogs and cats in the shelter looking for homes.”

For more information on adoptable pets in Hillsborough County visit HCFLGov.net/Pets.