Arnold, a neutered, strawberry-blonde boy, with an expressive face and a heart-on-his-sleeve attitude, needs people to understand something. His life depends on it. The Grant County Animal Shelter is a “No-Kill” shelter. Yet, Arnold senses, seeing real tears on staff members’ faces, that doesn’t mean every animal’s guaranteed his happily-ever-after.

Being no-kill means that at least 90% of pets leave the shelter alive. Arnold is in danger of being one who doesn’t. Yet, Arnold has already left the shelter three times. And he’s been returned three times. Twice because the one-year-old, 50-pound fellow’s energy overwhelmed his new friends. The third time, Arnold and another pup battled.

Arnold is a good boy who went to the wrong situations. The staff wouldn’t cry if that weren’t so.