Student who rescued and dropped stray dog at shelter filled with regret after forming deep bond with pupper, resulting in a heartwarming adoption reunion after hold period ended, says: ‘I loved her so much and I regret ever taking her.’

Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor

Apr 22, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

It is not often that dogs are rescued, put into the shelter system and then adopted by the same hoomans who saved them. But that is exactly what happened in this heartwarming story.

We often do not see the pawfect procedure being followed when it comes to rescuing doggos. But to be fair the procedure only works as much as the local shelters can uphold its tenets, which is not all too often. But that is why we are so pleased to be able to share with you this story in which, albeit by accident, a dog lover found, rescued and brought a dog to the shelter, only to regret their decision and put in an application to adopt the dog they had fallen in love with. A symptom of only realizing what you had once it was gone.

But in this case we are lucky enough that this regret came not a second too late and before the pawfect pupper could be scooped up by a different pupper pawrent the doggo was adopted by the very same person who cared enough about it to take it off the streets and put it in the care of trustworthy dog loving people.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

01

via RoboSapien1
02

via RoboSapien1
03

via RoboSapien1
04

via RoboSapien1
05

via Evgenii Bakhchev via Adobe Stock

Cream colored dog looking rough looking thorugh rusted metal fence.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
06

via RoboSapien1
07

via RoboSapien1
Ah the age old problem of what to do with the dog you fell in love with. To be selfish is to take the chance, however slim it might be, that you are stealing someone’s dog. To be selfless is to put the pupper into the shelter system and hope that it is reunited with its family or found the pawfect home. But as often is in life, the pawfect balance in this situation is a bit of both. And thankfully with the power of regret and love that is exactly what went on to happen in this story.
08

via RoboSapien1
09

via RoboSapien1
10

via RoboSapien1
11

via RoboSapien1
12

via Vulp via Adobe Stock

Brown dog standing on hind legs behind metal fence.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
13

via RoboSapien1
And there we have it. A doggo who will thankfully not have to go through the process of learning to trust a whole new set of people and who will be going back to someone who actually truly loves it. Gosh it must be so nice to work at a shelter and see these kinds of stories where you know that the person the dog is going to is a caring and kind person who will do whatever it takes to make that dog’s life lavish and luxurious. And what more could they want out of a prospective pupper pawrent?
14

via RoboSapien1
15

via kegfire via Adobe Stock

Black and white puppy in person's arms.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
16

via RoboSapien1
17

via RoboSapien1
18

via RoboSapien1
19

via RoboSapien1
20

via RoboSapien1