A dog who was rescued from a life of cruelty has experienced the heartbreak of being adopted and returned to shelter.

Lilo the 3-year-old boxer mix originally came to Sierra's Haven For New And Used Pets in Ohio in May 2023. The shelter told Newsweek Lilo was rescued along with another dog, who was named Stitch, from an owner with whom she suffered "years of neglect."

"Lilo was found with a chain around her neck secured with a padlock," the shelter said. "When she arrived, she was literally skin and bones. You could see nearly every bone in her body. She was clearly starved and not cared for by the people she trusted the most."

Over the year that followed, Lilo gained weight, found her confidence, and began to realize she was safe. Then, in June of this year, something wonderful happened. "She was adopted out of the blue," the shelter said. "We were so thrilled for her!"

It seemed like Lilo's story was complete. She would get her happy ending and the forever home she so richly deserved. Sadly, though, it was not to be. "She was brought back to us in September after we were told that she was not doing well with the new puppy in the home," the shelter said.

Not every adoption works out and that is no one's fault, but the fallout is always felt most by the dog involved. A 2006 study from the journal Physiology and Behavior previously highlighted how dogs entering the shelter system were found to have three times the normal level of cortisol, the hormone linked to stress, in their bodies over their first three days there.

Though it is impossible to know for sure, the experience of returning to that setting may well have caused a similar reaction for Lilo. Dogs returned after an adoption has not worked out have been known to struggle.

Though the people at Sierra's Haven For New And Used Pets were happy to have Lilo with them, they appreciated the difficulty of the situation. "We are thankful she is safely back with us, but it is still heartbreaking knowing that she continues to spend more time in a shelter than she ever has in a good home," the shelter said. "Every dog struggles when they come back to the shelter after living life in a home. Our hearts break for them as well. It's very hard to watch."

Despite everything she has gone through, Lilo has fared better than most since her return. "She seems to be doing OK, though, as she has her fuzzy bed to lay on and her toys to play with," the shelter said. "Lilo is a very upbeat dog with nonstop tail wags. She has a bark that could scare away the bad guys, but it's all just talk. She's a very dramatic girl."

It has been 18 months since Lilo first arrived and, while that's a heartbreakingly long time for a dog like her, the shelter hasn't given up hope of her being adopted and have a good idea of what home would suit her best. "Lilo has always been dog-selective, but for the most part, she got along well with her kennel mate, Stitch. She may do well in a home with a calm dog or a senior dog," the shelter said.

"In her previous home, we did find out that she lived with a cat, so possibly a home with a calm cat or a cat that is used to being around dogs would be best. She would obviously do well in a home where she is the only pet as well!"

With the end of the year fast approaching, the hope is that Lilo can look forward to a better 2025; one spent in a happy and caring home that's all hers.