Cuddly dog is so overwhelmed, she stopped eating at TX shelter. She needs a home
A lovebug of a pup in Texas is in desperate need of a permanent home, even though she’s getting love around the clock.
Meet Mia, a dog who is looking for a soft lap to rest her head on, but whose zest for life has dimmed a little since being in a shelter.
“Mia is struggling in the shelter and needs your help,” the Humane Society of El Paso said in a Sept. 21 Facebook post.
“You can usually find this 5-year-old Boxer mix in HSEP’s lobby, cuddled up under a mountain of blankets with a yummy snack, a sweater on, and a pile of toys nearby. You’ll likely see a staff member or two cuddled up with her, baby talking to her, and giving her hundreds of kisses and providing her with some much-needed emotional support. After all, she needs it.”
Kennel stress can be a common thing to see in some shelter pups, especially for pets who have never been in that environment.
“There are many factors that can lead to stress in dogs, and some dogs are better equipped to handle stress than others,” Purina scientist Ragen T.S. McGowan said. “Some individuals are easygoing, and others are more anxious, making it difficult for them to adapt readily to anything new.”
The stress weighs heavily on Mia, no matter how much love the shelter staff rains on her.
“Mia is an extremely loving and emotional pup who has been having a very hard time adjusting to the shelter environment,” the shelter said.
“This sweater-wearing, cuddle-loving, blanket-hogging pup is having a hard time with the noise in the kennels. She’s lost her motivation for most things, even eating, and has lost over 10 lbs during her month-long stay at HSEP. Mia may be getting the princess treatment, but no amount of snuggles in the bullpen stacks up to the power of a loving home.”
The Humane Society is heavily advocating on Mia’s behalf, hoping that she’s sprung and welcomed into a loving family.
For more information, visit the shelter’s website.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Cuddly dog is so overwhelmed, she stopped eating at TX shelter. She needs a home."