Onyx the Lab bounced between shelters now urgently needs rescue to escape shelter stress
Jackson, NJ – An 8-year-old Labrador Retriever named Onyx is in urgent need of rescue after being surrendered just days after arriving in New Jersey—his second shelter in a matter of weeks.
Onyx was originally adopted from a shelter in Florida and transported to New Jersey, where he was placed in a home. But within days, his new owners surrendered him to the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson, leaving him confused, anxious, and back behind bars before he had a chance to decompress.
Shelter staff describe Onyx as intelligent, affectionate, and eager to please, but visibly stressed in the kennel environment. Despite his anxiety, he has passed all assessments and shows no signs of resource guarding. Outside of his kennel, he settles quickly, enjoys his walks, and already responds to commands.
While he has been around other dogs, staff are recommending he be placed as the only pet in a home to give him the calm, focused environment he needs. Shelter officials are urgently seeking assistance from a 501(c)(3) rescue group to help remove Onyx from the shelter and get him into a setting where he can relax and recover emotionally.
Anyone affiliated with a registered rescue group that can assist is asked to contact kathleenfrett1@gmail.com immediately.
Key Points
- Onyx, an 8-year-old Labrador, was surrendered just days after arriving in New Jersey from a Florida shelter
- He is showing signs of severe shelter-related stress but has passed all behavioral assessments
- The shelter is urgently seeking a 501(c)(3) rescue to remove him from the environment
