This past April, a sweet dog named McStuffins arrived at Border Tails Rescue in Northbrook, Illinois. McStuffins has an infectiously lively personality and a unique, adorable look thanks to her heterochromia.
With everything McStuffins has going for her, she was quickly adopted, and the rescue’s staff assumed they’d never see her again. But just a few months later, McStuffins’ family returned her to the shelter.
Eric Noxon and Joey Masloski, the content creators behind a TikTok page that brings awareness to overlooked rescue dogs, were shocked to learn that McStuffins had been returned.
“It breaks my heart, because she’s so sweet,” Noxon said in a TikTok. “She just has a bundle of energy, and I think that’s the only thing kind of holding her back.”
Noxon and Masloski visited McStuffins in the shelter every few weeks. Each time they took her out for a long run or played fetch with her, they fell in love with her personality more and more.
One day, Noxon and Masloski showed up for a playdate with McStuffins but were delighted to find that someone had taken her home. They crossed their fingers that maybe this time, McStuffins and her adopter would be a perfect match.
But alas, after just 24 hours, McStuffins was returned to the shelter.
“The good news is McStuffins probably just thought it was a sleepover,” a Border Tails Rescue volunteer said in a TikTok.
Just days later, McStuffins had her dreams crushed yet again. Someone applied to adopt her … but never showed up to meet her.
According to the shelter staff, McStuffins’ behavior has been regressing as a result of being confined to her kennel day after day. She has so much love to give, but it’s hard to be on her best behavior when she’s so isolated.
“It shows you what happens when they sit in the shelter,” a Border Tails Rescue volunteer said. “McStuffins … she’s getting worse and worse.”
Even though it’s hard to watch McStuffins be let down so many times, Masloski and Noxon don’t hold it against the people who’ve returned her to the shelter. Because of them, the staff members have learned that McStuffins needs to be in a home without any other pets and be part of a family that can embrace her active lifestyle.
“Thank you to McStuffins’ previous adopter for giving her a shot,” Noxon said in a TikTok. “Without you, we wouldn’t be able to learn as much as we did.”
Noxon and Masloski know that McStuffins’ perfect match is out there. They’re not going to give up until she finds her real forever home.
