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A North Carolina animal shelter’s “goofy, high-energy” dog was returned by potential new owners twice, for being “too playful.”
In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday, June 17, the SPCA of Wake County announced that pup DJ was in search of new owners following his second return to the Raleigh, N.C.,-based shelter.
“DJ’s been returned twice for being too playful with other animals in the home. He wants to be friends sooooo badly, but unfortunately his high energy, goofy antics, and in-your-face play style haven’t meshed well with calmer companions,” the shelter shared, writing that the dog is a “spirited dog” — which “isn’t the right fit for everyone.”
“Now he’s back here with us and we are on a mission — to find him a forever home and a dork-tastic animal friend who can keep up with his little-legged zoomies!” the shelter continued.
According to the SPCA, DJ — thought to be about one year old — first arrived at the shelter on June 5 after being transferred from a local high-intake shelter.
After discovering his favorite hobby was splashing around in a pool, the adorable mutt quickly found some potential adopters, but Samantha Ranlet, communications manager at the SPCA of Wake County, told Newsweek that DJ came back to the shelter quickly after his first adoption because his owners couldn’t manage his energy.
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“DJ lives in a world full of rainbows and sunshine,” Ranlet said of the dog. “Our staff spends a lot of enrichment time with him outside in the kiddie pool or playing with the hose—not only to keep him cool in the heat, but because he lights up when he gets to play in water.”
Soon after, another adopter took him home from the SPCA — but DJ was once again back at the shelter after just two days because he was “too playful,” Ranlet said.
“He’d been in that home for two days during a trial adoption period which gives families a chance to see how the pet fits into their home before finalizing anything,” Ranlet said. “He was returned because he was trying to befriend their cats, and the cats didn’t appreciate his offers of friendship.”
Following his second return to the SPCA, the shelter took a hard look at DJ and made the decision to give him a medication called trazodone — an antidepressant often prescribed to dogs with anxiety.
“DJ’s energy and anxiety were in overdrive when he first arrived at the shelter, but we’ve discovered that he’s much happier on a medication called trazodone,” the shelter wrote on Facebook. “These meds help him go from a frightened fella that hunches and startles at the sound of a door opening to a lively, playful pup that loves flopping around in the pool.”
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The shelter’s Facebook post about DJ came on Tuesday last week, June 17, and animal lovers quickly spread the word about the adorable dog for adoption. By Thursday, June 19, Ranlet told Newsweek that DJ had found his third home — and shelter staff hopes his third time will be a charm.
According to Ranlet, DJ’s newest owners have renamed him Nova and he’ll have three other canine friends to play with in the house — the “perfect” situation for a dog with tons of energy.
“We explained to his new family the reasons he’d been returned before, so they knew they were signing up for a playful, energetic dog, and that was just what they were looking for,” she shared.