A dog known for being a “whole jerk — not even half,” according to an animal shelter, has become a viral hit after being returned three times.
The Niagara SPCA in New York refers to the dog named Ralphie as “the adorable Frenchie with the attitude” but doesn’t mince words when describing his personality and devilish behavior.
“We don’t actually have too many nice things to say so we’re just going to come out with it,” the shelter wrote in social media post. “Ralphie is a terror in a somewhat small package.”
“Our best guess is that Ralphie’s cute face got him whatever he wanted and boundaries are something he heard people talk about, but they didn’t apply to him,” the post read. “If you show a moment of weakness, prepare to be exploited. Sounds fun, huh?”
So far, the Niagara SPCA Facebook post has gotten thousands of likes and replies.
The first owner to take Ralphie home attempted to train him, but soon discovered that Ralphie was the boss, thus bringing a swift end to their relationship. He was rehomed.
Ralphie’s second set of adoptive parents surrendered him to the shelter within two weeks, politely explaining that he “annoys our older dog,” though what they really meant, according to the SPCA, was “Ralphie is a fire-breathing demon and will eat our dog, but hey, he’s only 26lbs.”
Ralphie’s third foray into a potential forever home again ended in less than two weeks, as he proved to be “too much to handle” for the new owner.
“She now understands that Ralphie IS that good-looking bad boy your mama warned you about,” the SPCA jested on their Instagram account.
The shelter warned potential adoptees not to choose Ralphie if they believe that “all Ralphie needs is love. He will totally exploit that.”
They also cautioned those with kids or other pets in the home not to adopt the Frenchie, as he has a bite history — “The ideal home for Ralphie is [with] the Mother of Dragons,” as the SPCA joked in the initial Facebook post.
“While it is unfortunate that he is back to square one, we’re committed to helping him,” the shelter said on Instagram. To that end, the shelter has enrolled Ralphie in a six-week intensive board and train program, which they jokingly referred to as “How to Train Your Dragon in Six Weeks.”
The SPCA is accepting donations to help defray the cost of the professional dog training program. Potential adopters must live in the area and be willing to work with the dog trainer and Ralphie.
Anyone interested in giving Ralphie a forever home was invited to apply to the Niagara SPCA with a letter of interest, and a “dog experience” resume, including an explanation of why their home would be a good fit for the 26-pound little devil.
Or, “Give us a call at 716-731-4368 ext 301 if you’re that crazy,” the shelter said on Facebook.