Hearts have broken for a 7-year-old dog named Mother Gothal who, after more than 900 days in a shelter, has been returned just months after finding a new home.

The staff at Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, have grown attached to the sweet-natured dog and have been devastated that she has been returned.

"We were overjoyed when she found a loving home after being with us for so long," Valley Animal Center said in a post on TikTok. "Unfortunately, after just a few months, she was returned to us. It's heartbreaking to see her so sad."

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In a video on their social media, the dog appears visibly upset to find herself back at the shelter. Her forlorn expression and eyes filled with pain have captured attention and lots of love for the shelter dog.

Online, people reacted quickly to the dog's plight. "Somebody with a heart please adopt this sweet angel," one commenter pleaded. Another user wrote, "Poor sweet face. Her eyes have pain, but also hope in them," while others expressed their sadness and hope that she would soon find a loving family.

Newsweek reached out to Valley Animal Center via email for comment.

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Unfortunately, Mother Gothal's story is not unique. The rising number of animals entering shelters across the United States has led to more cases of pets being returned after adoption. According to Shelter Animals Count, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters in 2023, a 4 percent increase compared to the previous year. By the end of 2023, there were 117,000 more dogs and cats in the shelter system than at the same time in 2022.

As of 2024, one in four pet owners reported having considered rehoming their pet within the last year, with 25 percent citing housing difficulties as the primary reason.

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Despite positive trends in pet adoption in recent years, the number of animals returned to shelters has increased too.

A 2020 study by researchers at the University of Denver highlighted some of the most common factors. The study found that behavior issues, particularly related to aggression, accounted for around 38 percent of dog returns, while personal reasons led to 56 percent of cat returns. More than half of the animals studied were returned after being owned for more than 60 days, just like Mother Gothal.

Despite her challenges, Mother Gothal remains a sweet and friendly soul, and she is a staff and volunteer favorite as they all root for her to find the right home.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.