A TikTok video of a hopeful dog greeting a shelter worker has left some viewers in tears.

The footage, shared by Olivia Boblet (@oliviaboblet), captures the moment she pulls up to the SPCA of Southwest Michigan and enters the building. She then films 2-year-old Scooby's heartwarming reaction as he eagerly jumps up on his enclosure gate and spins in a circle while clutching his favorite stuffed toy in his mouth.

"Our longest resident at the dog shelter, Scooby, still greets everyone who passes by with his stuffed carrot," reads the text layered over Tuesday's video.

The footage quickly went viral, amassing 235,500 views and almost 40,000 likes.

The video is captioned: "He's the sweetest boy. Dog friendly, kid friendly, just not anyone's first choice yet."

The clip has left many viewers wondering why such an adorable dog has yet to find a forever home.

"How is he still there for real," asked one user, to which Boblet replied: "Do NOT know."

Another user commented, "My heart tells me I need a farm so I can start my own rescue." A third added, "Scooby needs a home! That's big enough for him and his carrot!"

The Kalamazoo shelter's website says Scooby is a mixed breed and a "bundle of energy and affection!" The description notes his cheerful and curious personality, saying that he's social, loves spending time with people and enjoys playing outside. While it doesn't specify how long he has been at the shelter, it says he would thrive in an active family environment.

"Poor baby just wants to be loved and played with," said another commenter, a simple yet powerful wish for many shelter dogs.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that about 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. shelters each year, including 3.1 million dogs. While approximately 4.1 million animals are adopted annually, around 920,000 shelter animals—390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats—are euthanized, which shows the urgent need for more adoptions.

Stress may be one reason some dogs are overlooked. Shelters can be highly stressful environments for dogs, mainly because of the isolation and unfamiliar surroundings.

A study by Colorado State University's Department of Animal Sciences found that human interaction shortly after a dog's arrival can significantly reduce stress levels. On their second day, some stray dogs were taken outside for 45 minutes to play, get groomed and petted and get practice with basic commands. These dogs showed lower stress levels (measured by cortisol) on their third day, compared with those that didn't receive human interaction.

Human interaction not only helps reduce stress. It also provides insights into a dog's personality, making it easier to find the animal a compatible home. This approach benefits both the dogs' well-being and the adoption process, offering hope for shelter residents like Scooby.

Newsweek reached out on TikTok to @oliviaboblet for comment and could not verify the details of the case.

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