Virginia Shelter Staff In Tears After Seeing This Dog’s Reaction To Being Overlooked
It’s a hard truth, but even the most loving animal shelters, filled with compassionate staff and dedicated volunteers, can feel confining for dogs.
Think about it – a creature built for running, sniffing, exploring, and curling up beside their humans is instead limited to a small space for most of the day.
There are occasional moments of joy during walks, play sessions, or meeting new people, but soon enough, it’s back to the same kennel surrounded by the sounds of other restless, lonely dogs.
That kind of life can wear down anyone, whether animal or human. This was the reality for Mya, a beautiful Hound girl living at Halifax County Animal Control in Virginia.
After a few months at the shelter, Mya began to struggle with the weight of her situation, and she finally reached her breaking point.
The way she chose to show it, though, left her caregivers – and later the internet – completely stunned.
Marissa Emerman, a devoted volunteer at the Virginia shelter, spends her time doing everything she can to bring comfort and joy to the dogs there.
During one of her routine check-ins, she came across something unusual. Mya wasn’t on the ground of her kennel where she should have been – she was perched high up on the railing of her crate.
It hadn’t been a graceful leap but more of a frantic scramble to get there. When Marissa looked closer, it became clear that Mya wasn’t just trying to take in her surroundings. She was attempting to escape.
What made the scene even more surprising was that Mya had always been known as a gentle, easygoing dog.
She wasn’t a barker or a troublemaker, just a sweet girl quietly waiting for a family of her own.
Marissa believed this unexpected behavior, which she described as a “bold move,” was Mya’s way of showing how overwhelmed she had become.
After months of living the same routine, Mya, an intelligent and lively Hound, discovered that climbing was her outlet for coping with the monotony of shelter life.
It was a bittersweet display of creativity, born out of her desperation for something more.
Marissa, feeling both worried and a bit amused, recorded the video and shared it online with the caption:
“She’s officially reached her breaking point… Literally.”
The video went viral because, honestly, you don’t see a dog on top of a kennel railing every day.
People from all over the world flooded the comments with a mix of sympathy, laughter, and hope for Mya. One commenter said:
“Praying she finds her forever family.”
To ensure Mya wouldn’t hurt herself, the staff transferred her to a kennel with a secure cover. While this kept her safe, it did little to ease her longing for freedom.
Even so, she continues to wait patiently, holding on to the hope that one day someone will notice her gentle spirit and give her the loving home she deserves.
Marissa runs a TikTok account called Shelter Tails, where she shares engaging videos of the animals at Halifax County Animal Control.
Her greatest hope is that someone will see these overlooked pets and open their hearts to give them the loving homes they long for.
Sharing their stories is her way of reaching beyond the local community, in search of families who are ready to adopt.
Mya isn’t alone in her struggle. Through Marissa’s videos, many other dogs and cats at the shelter can be seen, each of them quietly waiting for their chance.
The staff and volunteers provide them with care and affection, but what these animals truly crave is a home of their own.
A place where they can run freely in a yard, play until they’re worn out, and curl up on a soft couch for a nap instead of returning to a kennel.
Mya and her companions continue to wait, clinging to hope, even if they show it in surprising ways, like Mya’s daring escape attempts. They deserve more than just survival; they deserve a full and joyful life.
With a little kindness and the right attention, Mya and countless other hidden gems in shelters could finally find the forever families they’ve been dreaming of.
