German Shepherd Spun in Circles Until Time Nearly Ran Out to Save Him

Time was running out for Romeo, a beautiful German Shepherd at a high-kill shelter. A family had driven to the Carson Animal Shelter in Los Angeles to adopt him but changed their minds when they saw him, saying they didn’t want a dog “that looked like that.”

Kelsey, a dedicated shelter volunteer, refused to give up on Romeo. He had arrived at the shelter sick and had been there for a month. The staff informed her that Romeo had stopped eating and was spinning endlessly in his kennel. He was deteriorating quickly and was scheduled for euthanasia. In a last-ditch effort to save him, Kelsey recorded a video and shared a heartfelt plea online.

Her efforts paid off when a kind woman named Jessica expressed her desire to adopt Romeo but needed assistance transporting him to Tennessee. With time running out, Kelsey put out another plea for a temporary foster. Fortunately, a woman named Katie from San Diego stepped in to help, agreeing to foster Romeo until transportation could be arranged.

Kelsey drove Romeo from Los Angeles to San Diego. The moment he got into her car, he eagerly ate and soon fell asleep, showing signs of relief. After a few days with Katie, Romeo was ready to meet his new family in Tennessee.

Initially, Romeo seemed to be adjusting well, but the trauma from his time at the shelter lingered. He continued spinning—a behavior developed from the stress of being confined in a kennel amidst constant barking and isolation.

Thankfully, Jessica’s family found ways to help Romeo overcome his anxiety. They used balls and fetching games to distract him outside, while inside, they trained him with the command “lay down.” The spinning is no longer an issue; he’s now well-trained and definitely part of their family.

Romeo was truly a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Jessica hopes that by sharing Romeo’s story, other families will be inspired to rescue dogs like him, giving them a second chance at life.