Schutzhund on death row reacts alarmingly to the opening of the kennel

Footage has emerged online of a young dog on death row at her shelter showing a disturbing reaction when the door to her kennel is opened.

The video was posted three days ago on TikTok by The Foster Adopt Rescue (FAR) Network, a channel dedicated to raising awareness of animals on the euthanasia list in the United States. In the clip, a one-year-old terrier and American pit bull mix can be seen clinging to his cage and excited to see his new visitor. However, that is changing quickly.

The person behind The FAR Network’s TikTok page told Newsweek that the dog in the video is housed at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control in Texas. She was classified as “Code Red,” meaning she “could be euthanized at any time.”

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. animal shelters each year, an average of 17,260 per day.

The number of dogs and cats admitted to animal shelters reached 46,807 in January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared to January 2022, 24Pet’s Shelter Watch Report found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year.

Animal shelters strive to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spay and neuter programs, and behavioral rehabilitation. Unfortunately, Fort Worth Animal Care and Control is still euthanizing dogs, and this young dog could soon be one of them.

According to The FAR Network, the young dog in the video was surrendered by his owner “because he was behaving destructively outside,” although details are few. The clip paints a portrait of a dog who is severely emotionally damaged. At the start of the footage, she appears excited at the prospect of meeting someone new.

But as soon as the door to her kennel is opened, things take a sinister turn. In a disturbing development, the dog is seen cowering in the corner, afraid of the person coming into his space.

She only relaxes when they offer them a treat, and she realizes that they are more of a friend than an enemy. The animal rights activist behind The FAR Network said the dog may have been the victim of abuse based on her reaction.

“I have seen many dogs behave like this and get beaten,” the lawyer said. “It’s more common than you think…animals are considered property in Texas.”

However, once the animal got used to its visitor, it was just as happy and playful as any young dog. The lawyer added: “At 12 months she is still a baby. She loved dressing up and was submissive.”

Several organizations, including Code Red Rescue and Code Red Animals of Fort Worth Animal Care and Control, have been founded to raise awareness about dogs and pets running out of time in Texas and other states

The FAR network was founded for the same reason. “I started this page to raise awareness about the stray population and the animals that are at risk of being euthanized,” said the person behind it.

There is still time for this special dog to avoid the same fate as many others before him. The good news is that word of the FAR Network video appears to have spread, with hundreds of animal lovers taking to the comments section to boost the post.

“Oh my god…she deserves a life of love and security,” one person wrote. “She is absolutely adorable. I pray this sweet angel finds her forever loving family,” another commented, while a third urged potential adopters to “run and not walk” the dog.

However, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to give this frightened young dog a second change in life.