The majority of canines may struggle to adapt to life at a shelter. Like this 10-year-old golden retriever mix puppy that was raised in a caring environment. Rio appeared to be giving up as he shut himself off from everything within the shelter and refused to budge from the wall.

The staff members of the shelter quickly realized that Rio’s situation was abnormal. Since being brought to the Detroit municipal shelter, the dog has refused to eat, has reacted negatively to even the faintest human contact, and—worse—has what’s refused to leave the wall.

Rio appeared to be in grief, ready to give up, hiding his head in a corner the entire time.

Employees at Detroit Animal Care and Control phoned Detroit Dog Rescue because they realized they had to act soon or risk losing Rio for good (DDR).

Executive director of DDR Kristina Millman-Rinaldi stated to The Dodo:

“We take on the [most challenging] medical and mental health [shelter] issues, such as kennel-dwelling dogs that may be shutting down or experiencing neuroses. Many people are unaware of how perceptive and sensitive dogs can be. They experience everything that occurs around them, just like people do.

Rio had already developed a reputation as “the saddest dog in Detroit” by the time he entered DDR. And, in keeping with his moniker, Rio kept moving toward despair.

said Kristin:

“I didn’t respond to anybody. She was standing directly in front of a corner, not looking at anyone, not answering to his call, and struggling mightily to let go of everything she had ever known.

She made a call because she realized she needed to place Rio in a foster family as soon as possible in order to give him a shot at survival and to return him to some sort of normalcy.

While some individuals might have been afraid to adopt such a challenging senior dog, DDR volunteer Ryan Callahan and his wife Tashia had no such reservations.

Corey said:

“The dog, the setting, and the moment were all ideal. He needed us, and we were able to provide the individualized attention he required.”

The snowy night before Valentine’s Day, Ryan and his wife picked up Rio from the shelter and took him home. They converted Ryan’s office into Rio’s personal space to ensure his comfort.