Ritter faced a heartbreaking situation when his family lost their home and could no longer care for him and his sibling, Corky. Sadly, they had to surrender both dogs to the Humane Society for Hamilton County in Indiana. Ritter was devastated when his family left him behind and couldn’t contain his sadness. According to Megan Bousley, the marketing communications specialist for the Humane Society, Ritter was frightened, nervous, and sad like many other dogs in the same situation. Dogs are confused and terrified by the new and loud environment as they don’t understand where their family went. Ritter sat alone in his kennel, pressed up against the wall, staring at the ground, mourning his new reality.
Undoubtedly, the shelter staff did their utmost to provide Ritter with all the love and care he needed. Nevertheless, it cannot compare to the feeling of having a permanent home and a family by his side. Bousley mentioned that Ritter received an ample amount of love and attention from the shelter staff. Although he comes across as shy and anxious in his kennel, he demonstrates exuberance and happiness when given the chance to play and receive affection outside.
Ritter’s sadness was evident to everyone at the shelter, and it was heartbreaking to see him in such a state. To give him a chance at a better life, they decided to post his picture on Facebook in the hope that someone would open up their home to him. The message quickly spread, with over 3,000 shares, and it didn’t take long for a kind-hearted woman to notice Ritter’s adorable face and realize that he belonged in her family.
Sophie Spenia had been eagerly waiting to adopt a pet dog for a long time, but she wanted to wait until she had a bigger space to accommodate a larger breed. After buying her own house, she started browsing the Humane Society for Hamilton County’s website and Facebook page every morning. When she came across Ritter’s picture, she knew he was the perfect match for her. She immediately texted her sister and planned to take him home after work. Spenia’s boss was supportive of her decision and allowed her to leave work early to rescue Ritter.
Upon arriving at the sanctuary, Spenia felt some anxiety as she was aware of Ritter’s sorrow and distress over losing his family. She was uncertain of how he would react to her presence. However, as soon as Ritter walked into the room, a spark ignited between them. Spenia recounted the moment when Ritter immediately made a beeline towards her, putting his sweet head on her lap and showing affectionate behavior. She couldn’t resist his charm and knew that she had to adopt him.
Without delay, Spenia decided to adopt Ritter and happily picked him up to take him to his new permanent home on Thursday. Throughout the drive, Ritter couldn’t stop beaming at his new mother, and he has since adapted seamlessly to his new life.
When Ritter first came to the shelter, he was feeling very low. However, things quickly turned around for him when he found a loving new mom who made it her mission to keep him happy and cared for throughout his lifetime.