An animal shelter has shown the heartbreaking scenes owners giving up their pet don’t get to witness.
The Humane Animal Treatment Society (HATS), a non-profit welfare organization which provides animal care, adoption and spay and neutering services, has gained a lot of online attention after showcasing what happens behind the scenes when a pet is surrendered.
In
a video
to their
TikTok
account @hatsmtp1 on June 21, viewed more than 2.3 million times, they showed “what you don’t see after you surrender your pet,” as a fluffy gray cat hides inside a litter box after being surrendered by his family.
They wrote in a caption that Smokey the cat “spent the day hiding in his litter box, terrified and crying out for his family”—and sure enough, the distressed cat repeatedly lets out high-pitched, long meows, while appearing to try and make himself as small as possible.
“Smokey’s story is, unfortunately, not uncommon,” a spokesperson for the Michigan-based rescue told
.
“While every animal reacts differently to being surrendered, many experience deep distress and confusion—especially in the early days. They’ve lost the familiarity of their home, their routine, and most importantly, the people they trusted.
“No matter how much we work to create a calm and caring environment, a shelter can never fully replicate the feeling of ‘home.’”
They added, however, that Smokey is beginning to open up, warming up to staff members “as we give him space, patience, and gentle encouragement,” and he is “starting to show his sweet personality when he feels safe.”
There are myriad
reasons a pet owner might give up their animal
, the MATS spokesperson said—they may not have understood a breed or the long-term commitment when they first get an animal.
“I’d say this is the case for a lot of our surrender intakes at our facility. We have many animals at or under only a year or two old,” they admitted.
There are also, however, beloved pets
forced to be surrendered
due to “heartbreaking, unforeseen life changes—like illness, eviction, or
financial hardship
—that leave them with no other option.”
“We don’t believe in judging individuals for their circumstances. Our goal with the video was never to shame, but to raise awareness of what animals go through during such transitions. They are sentient beings who feel grief, confusion, and longing.”
Smokey’s video prompted a rush of support from animal lovers, who awarded the clip more than 355,000 likes, one writing: “It makes me even sadder cause he doesn’t understand why this happened.”
“This completely destroyed me eternally,” another admitted, as another asked: “How can someone just abandon their family member?”
And while many shared their anger at whoever gave Smokey up, or could surrender any animal, one pointed out the owner could have “had to give the cat up because of a terminal illness.
“Not everyone is cruel and cold-hearted when they give up a pet, sometimes they have no choice,” they wrote.
HATS believes society needs to “shift toward more responsible pet ownership”, from spaying and neutering to properly researching a breed, avoiding puppy mills and impulse purchases, and asking plenty of questions about an animal’s personality and quirks if adopting from a shelter.
“For those who do choose to go through a breeder, it’s critical to work with ethical breeders who conduct health testing, participate in titling, breed to breed standard—no ‘exotic’ or ‘rare’ colors or designer mixes—and require a return-to-breeder contract to ensure animals don’t end up in shelters,” they said.
“When rehoming is truly necessary, we encourage people to exhaust all other options first—such as arranging temporary care with a friend, seeking help for behavioral issues, or responsibly rehoming with someone they trust—before turning to a shelter.”
In 2024 alone, 5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues across the United States, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
An estimated 4.2 million shelter animals were adopted, including 2.2 million cats, however there is an ongoing capacity crisis limiting space for new animals.
“Our community plays a vital role in supporting this mission,” the HATS spokesperson told
.
“Donations, volunteer time, fostering, and advocacy help us continue to provide second chances to animals like Smokey every single day.”
For more information on Smokey, or any other of HATS’ animals, visit their
website
.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to
life@
with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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