An animal shelter volunteer treating a shelter dog to a day out captured heartbreaking footage of the moment she appeared to realize they were heading back.

Meghin from Richmond, Virginia, takes Grab N Go, or Gigi for short, out once a week. It's an invaluable service that provides shelter dogs like Gigi with a much needed boost.

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Just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting is enough to boost a shelter dog's overall wellbeing, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, so spending an entire day out is likely to provide an even bigger life.

Gigi certainly enjoyed a great day out with Meghin. "We went to Belle Isle," they told Newsweek. "We walked through the trails and I let her play in the river."

The 4-year-old rescue pup was in her element. But, as they headed back to Richmond Animal Care & Control (RACC) her mood appeared to change.

Meghin was able to capture the heartbreaking shift in a video that was subsequently posted to TikTok under the handle ex_barista.

"Saddest part about only taking Gigi out of the shelter for a few hours is returning her to the shelter," they wrote alongside the clip. "I don't know if Gigi knew she was going back to the shelter."

Many watching on social media appeared convinced her reaction was one of painful realization. "She knows she's going back," one user wrote, with another commenting: "This has to be absolutely the most confusing thing for these babies!"

A third added: "I'm literally bawling that I'm not close enough."

Whatever the truth, once they did arrive back at the shelter, Meghin was pleased to confirm that Gigi seemed to perk up significantly.

"Her tail was wagging and she was smiling ear to ear," they said. "The shelter workers at RACC go above and beyond for every animal in their care and it showed when Gigi walked back through those doors."

The shelter can still be a stressful environment for a dog. A previous 2006 study from the journal Physiology and Behavior highlighted how dogs entering a shelter had three times the level of the stress hormone cortisol in their system than canines residing in a standard household.

Haley, a member of staff at RACC, confirmed that while Gigi is a "sweet and friendly" gal, she is not enjoying life at the shelter. "This lovely lady is struggling to settle down in the shelter environment, so she's looking for a patient and loving family to help her feel secure," she said.

The RACC believes Gigi would benefit best from being the only dog in the home for now, though they are not ruling out the idea of her one day cohabiting with another canine, she just needs time.

"With a little time and love, she's sure to blossom into the perfect companion," Haley said.