Senior Beagle Returned to Shelter 12 Years After Being Adopted Still Has So Much Love to Give
Lola may be a senior dog returned to the shelter after a decade in her most recent home, but this 13-year-old queen immediately stole the heart of long-time shelter volunteer and foster mom @bristexastails. The BARC Houston volunteer knew she had to help when she saw the pup's age, but it was the dog's shocking and emotional backstory that left viewers heartbroken.
It can't be easy being a dog surrendered after 12 years, but Lola was happy to meet every new friend on May 20, even though she was back at the animal shelter. The senior Beagle had already been rehomed once since the last time she was surrendered, but she never lost her zest for life and affinity for people. Despite the poor cards she's been dealt, she still has so much love to give!
@bristexastails Update: Lola has left the shelter with @Caitie's Foster Fam freedom photo in the comments & on my Instagram story! More updates will be posted on Instagram. -- I love all shelter dogs, honestly all dogs in general, but the ones that truly have my heart are senior dogs. I've had the privilege of fostering and adopting several in the last stages of their lives, and there's something so special about the bond you build with them. Lola immediately caught my eye because I could tell she was older, but when I saw "2014" vaccines listed on her kennel card, my heart completely sank. From my understanding, Lola was adopted in 2014, then rehomed by that adopter in 2016, and now, in 2026, she's back at the shelter again at 13 years old. Lola is just another example of why our shelter system is overflowing. A dog can be bought as a puppy, surrendered, adopted, rehomed, and then end up right back in the shelter again years later. Life is complicated and nobody is perfect, but we have to try harder to set these dogs up for success. They didn't ask to be passed around. So aside from unexpected life curveballs, I beg that we are honest with ourselves before adopting. If we know we don't have stability in our lives yet, let's wait before bringing a dog into that uncertainty. Right now Lola isn't available yet, but in the coming days she may need an outcome if rescue doesn't step in. I will update more on this as I find out more. #adoptdontshop#shelterdog#rescuedog
original sound - jv
No dog deserves to return to the shelter, especially after over a decade of loyalty and love. What in the world happened to bring such a sweet senior dog back to where she started?
As @bristexastails explained to a commenter, "The original family lives in another country but said they'd attempt to get a friend to adopt. They rehomed her in 2016, and the 2016 owners surrendered her because they said she costs too much in medical."
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That's positively heartbreaking! Lola has dedicated her entire life to loving two families, and now she's being let down when she needs a helping hand the most. BARC did not immediately make Lola available for adoption because of her medical concerns, nor did they disclose what those concerns were. The important thing is that she's getting the care and love she deserves!
On May 22, Lola's online fans got the most exciting update when Caitie's Foster Fam helped break the dog out of the shelter for good. The dog rescue will make sure she has a comfy foster home to call her own while the rest of the plan comes into place, but it won't be long until this gentle soul finds her forever home.
Fostering a Senior Dog
To many people, fostering a senior dog sounds like heartbreak waiting to happen, but for dog foster moms like Caitie, who rescued Lola from the Houston shelter without a second thought, it's precisely the opposite. Giving a senior dog a cozy, loving home is almost the greatest gift, second only to finding them the perfect forever home!
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Dog foster parents like @caitiesfosterfam may have a challenging and emotional job, but knowing that their every action saves dogs' lives makes the effort worthwhile. Even senior dogs like Lola can thrive in a foster home, so it's only a matter of time until she's feeling half her age.
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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 5:40 AM.