Ashelter dog who had to have one of her legs amputated is struggling to attract much in the way of interest from visitors.
It can be difficult for dogs in the system to catch the eye of would-be adopters and even in those scenarios where they do interact with a visitor, it can be fleeting.
A 2014 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science saw researchers observe 250 interactions between adopters and shelter dogs. It laid bare the small window of time shelter pets have in which to make an impression.
According to the results, adopters interacted with just one dog per visit and these interactions lasted for just eight minutes on average. Some, however, aren’t even lucky enough to get that.
Ranch the three-legged dog would love to have an interaction of any kind with a visitor but, since arriving at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, there’s been little in the way of interest in her.
“Ranch was transferred into our care from local animal control after being found as a stray,” Ruben Cantu, animal care adoption supervisor at the Valley Animal Center, told Newsweek.
Little is known about her life before the shelter. “The loss of her leg was due to being born with a congenital deformity to her front right leg that affected her mobility,” Cantu said.
“Our doctors felt that it was in the best interest of Ranch to amputate the leg as it would potentially cause more mobility or growth issues in the future.”
Despite going through such a profound change, the brave rescue pup was able to quickly adapt to her new way of living.
“Ranch has adjusted very well to now having only three legs,” Cantu said. “Before her surgery she would attempt to walk with all four paws and would typically trip and fall over, now she moves around much better and is healing great.”
However, that has yet to translate into interest from would-be adopters.
A video posted to TikTok by a shelter volunteer, under the handle jjack.iie, showed Ranch sitting in her kennel waiting for someone to come and say hello.
Sadly that someone has yet to materialize, with the clip confirming she has “zero” visitors so far. Despite this slow start, Cantu is keen to stress Ranch has been busy with her surgery and treatment since her arrival at the shelter.
However, he does acknowledge that her circumstances could put some off.
“I am hopeful that she will find a home quickly, but I think her biggest hinder is that she will be a large breed dog who is considered disabled,” he said. “There may be extra care that arise in the future as she ages.”
He still believes the right family or owner is out there somewhere just waiting to meet this brave, determined young dog. “Ranch is very playful with other dogs and loves everybody she meets,” he said.
“She needs a loving family, where she’ll be spoiled and never has to have another worry again in her life, or maybe someone who has experience with a three-legged dog in the past.”