A rescue dog from Pennsylvania was heartbroken when his owners returned him to the shelter after spending six years together, but, thanks to a Facebook post, another family immediately stepped up for him, and now he is happier than ever.

The viral post, shared earlier in October by Greenmore Farm Animal Rescue, located in West Grove, says that Augie was terrified when his owners took him back to the shelter after such a long time together. However, with the support of the community, the dog found his new forever home in less than a day.

Jack Merritt, spokesperson for Greenmore Farm Animal Rescue, told Newsweek that Augie was initially adopted from the same shelter about six years ago, when he was just 2 years old, and he was a loving member of his adoptive family.

However, his owners had to relocate out of the country and could not take him with them, so they made the decision to take him back, hoping he would find someone else to take care of him.

"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared and commented. Yesterday afternoon, Augie was returned to us after spending 6 years in a home. Terrified and trembling, one of our incredible volunteers captured the heartbreaking reality these dogs face when they lose everything they know and love," reads a caption shared with the post.

Abandoning a dog can cause harmful consequences not only for the pup himself, but also for the environment around him. Animal charity Four Paws International says that, while the fate of abandoned dogs is almost always tragic, they are not the only ones to suffer.

Forced to fend for themselves, stray dogs can become a nuisance to the locals, searching for food, barking at other canines, or even biting people. They also cause shelter overpopulation, which, every year, leads to hundreds of thousands of healthy pets being euthanized.

However, that's not all; the family who abandons the dog may also experience great psychological impact, especially children. After surrendering their pups people often feel like they failed and betrayed their most loyal companion, something that their dog would have never done to them.

"Augie has been a 'house dog' for so long, he clearly was confused and scared being placed back into the kennel environment. His story quickly got out and, within days, another former Greenmore adopter stepped up to adopt him. He's doing great in his new home!" Merritt said.

He added that, at any given time, Greenmore Farm Animal Rescue has about 45 dogs waiting for adoption, and in the past 13 years, they have rehomed over 5,000 pups.

While Augie immediately found a new home, many pups in their care are still hoping for a kind human to give them the life they deserve. There is Charmin, a 4-pound poodle mix who is great with dogs and children and is already crate-trained.

There is also Snow, a 3-year-old Boston terrier and American Staffordshire terrier mix, who is spayed, crate-trained and ready for a new family. Lots of other pups looking for a new home can be found here.

Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

The post with Augie quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across Facebook. It has so far received over 500 positive reactions.

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