When foster mom and animal shelter volunteer @movingwithmutts heard that her beloved foster dog, Onyx, had finally been adopted, it felt like a success story in the making. But less than three days later, that hope was crushed when she learned the adopter had changed her mind and returned him.

Video by @movingwithmutts on TikTok

Onyx, a large and loving dog known for getting along with other dogs and cats, had spent meaningful time in foster care while waiting for the right home. During that time, his foster mom shared his story and sweet personality with the world through TikTok, hoping to help him find a forever family.

After being adopted, Onyx was back in a shelter kennel within 72 hours. His foster parent was devastated—not just for herself, but for Onyx. The sudden transition seemed to break his spirit. A TikTok video posted on June 2 shows Onyx soaking in time with his foster mom before adoption, looking joyful and free. But the next scene is drastically different: he’s back in the shelter, standing still, hesitant, eyes wide with confusion as he’s greeted once again by the woman he trusted.

Rather than dwell in disappointment, she took action, pouring her heartbreak into a renewed mission: finding him a real forever home. In the caption, she wrote, “The absolute worst feeling ever and feeling there isn’t much we can do to help him besides help him find his home.”

Video by @movingwithmutts on TikTok

The video struck a chord with viewers, earning over 30,000 views and thousands of likes. “Poor baby must be so confused, sad and scared,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “So infuriating. Silver lining is that he wasn’t dumped on the streets and you were made aware.”

Others, especially fellow foster parents, deeply understood the emotional toll: “The worst part of fostering is choosing a home for them that doesn’t work out. The guilt is enormous, even if it’s not our fault.”

Thankfully, signs of hope have since emerged. Onyx is no longer listed among the adoptable dogs on the Associated Humane Societies’ website, suggesting that he may have found the right home at last.

Video by @movingwithmutts on TikTok

From heartbreak to healing, this story serves as a reminder of the resilience of dogs—and the unwavering love of the people who never stop fighting for them.