Some people don’t realize just how much adoption means to a shelter dog. For them, it’s not just a casual decision or a temporary arrangement—it’s their entire world.

Duke, also known by the nickname Meatball, learned this lesson the hardest way possible.

After being passed over countless times at the Indiana shelter, this eighty-pound Terrier mix finally got his chance at happiness. He stepped out of his kennel, tail wagging and a huge smile on his face, ready to begin life with a family of his own.

But in just one day, his world came crashing down.

From Hope To Heartbreak

What makes Duke’s story even sadder is that this wasn’t the first time his heart had been broken. Originally, he arrived at the DeKalb Humane Society in Indiana as a young pup and was adopted into what seemed li

See Full Page