He’s back?” I asked the volunteer at the front desk. “He was adopted yesterday.” She didn’t look up from the paperwork. She just sighed. “Yep. Returned this morning. Less than 24 hours.” I glanced at the surrender form. Under Reason for Return, five words were written: “He wants to play constantly.” I walked to Kennel 12. Bandit was sitting there, nose pressed to the glass. He wasn’t crying. He was waiting. A green tennis ball was clenched in his mouth. When he saw me, his tail thumped softly against the floor. He didn’t know he’d done anything wrong. In his mind, he’d been a Very Good Boy. He found a ball. He brought it to his humans. He asked to connect. He didn’t understand that wanting to play could land him back in a cage. The car ride that morning felt like an adventure to him. He didn’t know it was a return trip. “He’s too much dog,” the man had said, handing over the leash. “He follows us everywhere. Drops the ball in our laps. It’s annoying.” Bandit dropped the ball at my feet and whimpered. He wasn’t annoying. He was alive. Smart. Bursting with love and energy. A Ferrari they were trying to park in a living room. I opened the kennel. He immediately shoved the ball into my hand. “You’re not too much,” I whispered. “You were just loved by too little.” I took him to the play yard. I threw the ball. He brought it back. Again. And again. For an hour—until he collapsed in the grass, muddy, exhausted, happy. I snapped a photo and sent it to my husband: “He’s coming home. Buy more tennis balls.” That was three years ago. Bandit is asleep at my feet right now. Does he still follow me everywhere? Yes. Does he still drop slobbery balls in my lap while I’m working? Absolutely. Some people saw a problem. I saw my best friend—who just wanted to play. If a dog is “too much” for you… maybe you just aren’t enough for them. Who else has a high-energy dog they adore despite the chaos? #animals #animallover #loyalty #doglover 🐾