By Rachael O’connor

Copyright newsweek

Tears have been shed for a dog who realized he was back at the shelter after a day out with a volunteer.Hadlee Freeman, 22, lives in Jasper, Alabama, and volunteers at Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter, which offers an “amazing” program called Happy Hour, where people take a dog from the shelter for a day out.The shelter’s website describes Happy Hour as an opportunity to provide exercise for a dog outside of the shelter, whether at their home or a public place. The shelter says that it also helps provide information about the pup’s personality for potential adopters, helping the animals to get adopted faster.Freeman told Newsweek that she chose to bring out Stetson, a Labrador mix who stood out to her in the busy kennels as he was “one of the only ones that never barked, and was patiently sitting there.”But when Freeman picked him up, “he was so excited and jumping everywhere.”Stetson quickly relaxed once he got used to her, and Freeman brought him on a walk by the river where he played with sticks and took a dip in the water, followed by a “pup cup” at Starbucks, “which he loved.”However, when 5 p.m. came around, it was time to bring Stetson back to the shelter—and, as soon as they arrived in the parking lot, the dog had an instant reaction.”He automatically jumped in my lap and lay on me. He started crying,” Freeman said.Hadlee shared a video of the devastating moment to her TikTok account, @hadleecora, on September 6, showing Stetson lying across her in the front seat of the car, looking quiet and sad. The dog didn’t make eye contact or move a muscle as Freeman filmed, only to blink his eyes as he looked out the front dash of the car toward the shelter.”When he realized we were back at the shelter after a fun day,” Freeman wrote over the video, which has been viewed more than 2.1 million times.TikTok users were heartbroken, with one writing: “I understand volunteering, and I think it’s great, but taking them home, then giving them back will always be confusing to them, I think that heart break is worse.”But another posted that it was better than “the dog spend[ing] all his time in a cage than spend a day being loved and getting time with someone.””Not everyone can adopt every dog they spend time with. Volunteering is amazing and gives these dogs one-on-one time and a day out of the shelter,” a third agreed.Plenty of commenters urged Freeman to adopt Stetson, and she told Newsweek that she and her roommates would have loved to, “but we would get fined if we had an animal.”Instead, “we cuddled together with the time we had, and I made a TikTok to help Stetson get adopted,” Freeman added.”The amount of time we had together wasn’t long enough, so I am going to keep going back to have Happy Hour with him until he’s adopted.”To any potential adopters, Freeman praised Stetson as a “very smart and loving” dog, full of affection toward her, and was “so excited” to see other dogs and people while on their walk in the park.”This was my first time volunteering, and I will say my favorite part is seeing how amazing they are compared to your first impression of them in their cage,” Freeman said.”When they are in their cage, you can’t see their personality. They are stressed out and overstimulated by the loud noises but, when you get them out and let them be alone, they are free-spirited and you get to see their character traits.”Stetson is just under 2 years old and is available for adoption and fostering from the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter, with his adoption page available to view on the shelter’s website.Newsweek has contacted the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter via email for comment on this story.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.