A Texas animal rescue’s plea on Facebook for someone to adopt a dog constantly going through a “revolving door” of homes broke people’s hearts.

Wilbur first came to Dallas Dog, a rescue, rehab and reform organization, in August 2024 with his sibling, Orville. The rescue organization president, Patti Dawson, told Newsweek that the two were found as strays and then spent their puppyhood in foster care before both came down with severe ringworm.

“That limited their exposure to events and slowed down their chances of being adopted,” Dawson said.

It took nearly four months for Wilbur to be adopted, but since he didn’t get along with the family’s other dogs, they returned him. It happened again in January 2025. The family said he was not bonding quickly enough, only allowing him three days.

The third adoption, which happened in July, was the “hardest one.” The rescue organization went through multiple meet-and-greets with the adopter, but at his home, Wilbur barked at the husband. They returned him 36 hours later.

“It’s heartbreaking because in each case, Wilbur wasn’t given the time or support to settle in,” Dawson said.

Now, Wilbur is in board and training and is thriving, she said. They noticed he does excellent in social groups with other dogs. He befriended a Great Dane and uses another rescue dog as his personal jungle gym.

While there has been interest in Wilbur, Dawson said they’re being extra cautious with who adopts him. They want to ensure the right family understands he needs time to decompress and will commit to his adjustment period.

The 3, 3, 3 rule offers a general timeline for how long it takes for animals to adjust to their new homes. During the first three days, a dog might be overwhelmed by the new environment, causing them to hide or sleep excessively. A canine will start to settle after the first three weeks, and then by three months, they’ll typically feel completely comfortable.

“He really is such a special little guy,” Dawson said. “Once he warms up, he’s pure mush: affectionate, silly and full of personality.”

Wilbur’s story touched many as the August 5 Facebook post amassed over 14,000 likes and 2,000 comments.

“I think people have good intentions but not the time or patience it takes,” wrote one user.

Another person wrote: “People cannot think past the moment they ‘want’ a dog. Wanting a dog and committing to a dog are two very different thing.”

“Makes me so sad that people don’t understand it takes time. Be it a puppy or a older dog,” a third commenter wrote.

Each time he gets passed along, Wilbur’s anxiety grows. He becomes “confused” and more guarded, the post explained. He is more cautious with men. His fear causes him to bark and hesitate, which can be mistaken for aggression, but he is only scared.

Wilbur’s sibling went through a similar experience, being adopted in May and returned later that month. The rescue plans on starting him with his own board and training program to help with his socialization and confidence, but he tends to be more fearful than Wilbur.

“Both boys are absolutely darling, and I’m determined that their next homes are their forever ones,” Dawson said. “They’ve been through enough, and they deserve families who love them for exactly who they are.”

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