He waved them down and asked for help 🐸
When Roxxie, a 5-year-old pit bull, was adopted from the Huntington County Humane Society in Indiana, everyone thought her future was set. Friendly, gentle with cats and children, and full of love, Roxxie seemed like the perfect family dog.
But just two weeks later, she was back at the shelter—for a reason that stunned staff.
Her new family returned her, saying she was simply “too affectionate.”
“Roxxie wanted to snuggle in bed at night, and they just didn’t want to deal with that,” explained Katy Hudson, board president of the shelter. “We’ve heard almost every reason under the sun for why animals get surrendered, but never for being overly affectionate.”
Despite the shelter offering training support, the family wasn’t interested. The decision left Roxxie devastated.
A Broken Heart at the Shelter
Back in her kennel, Roxxie’s joyful spirit seemed gone.
“She was just broken,” Hudson said. “She curled up in a ball, didn’t want to engage, and struggled even to leave her kennel.”
To help, staff shared Roxxie’s story on social media. The post quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of comments and dozens of adoption applications.
It also sparked an important conversation about pit bulls—often unfairly labeled as aggressive. Roxxie’s story showed the world that pit bulls, like all breeds, can be gentle cuddle bugs.
The Perfect Match: A Family Who Loves to Cuddle
Among the 30 applications, one family stood out—the Chases from Illinois. They had lost their beloved rescue dog Lucy almost a year earlier and were finally ready to welcome another companion. Lucy, like Roxxie, had been a bed snuggler, so the connection felt meant to be.
The Chases, who share their home with six rescue cats, drove three hours to meet Roxxie. Hudson immediately knew they were the right fit:
“This is a family fully invested in their animals. It was very clear they were the right match for her.”
The next day, the shelter gave Roxxie a special sendoff. Staff lined up outside to cheer as the pup trotted happily toward her new family, tail wagging and tongue lolling. She jumped straight into their van—excited for her new life.
A Royal New Beginning
Roxxie’s new family decided to give her a fresh name worthy of her sweet spirit:
Lady Olivia Huntington, or “Livvie” for short.
From the moment she arrived, Livvie felt at home.
“When we brought her home, the first thing she did was hop on our bed and cuddle,” said Jessica Chase, her new mom. “I don’t think a dog can be too affectionate. I love how much she loves us.”
Now, Livvie greets the Chase twins, Annaliese and Kirsten, at the door every afternoon with wagging excitement. At night, she snuggles with Jessica, soaking in the affection her first family didn’t want to give.
A Ripple Effect of Love
Roxxie’s story didn’t just change her life. Inspired by the viral post, 15 other dogs at the shelter were also adopted.
Hudson hopes more people will look to shelters for loving companions:
“There are so many affectionate dogs just waiting for homes. They have so much love to give.”
Livvie, once “too affectionate” for one family, has finally found the perfect home where cuddles aren’t just welcome—they’re celebrated.