When Roxxie, a gentle 5-year-old pit bull, was adopted from the Huntington County Humane Society in Indiana, everyone thought her story had found its happy ending. Sweet, friendly, and great with both kids and cats — she seemed like the perfect match.
But just two weeks later, Roxxie was back at the shelter. The reason? Her family said she was “too affectionate.”
“Roxxie wanted to snuggle in bed at night, and they just didn’t want to deal with that,” said Katy Hudson, board president of the shelter. “We offered to help them train her, but they weren’t interested.”
Hudson and her team were stunned.
“We’ve heard almost every reason under the sun for why animals get returned,” she said. “But being too loving? That one broke our hearts.”
For Roxxie, the return was devastating. Gone was the happy, wagging pup they’d known.
“She was just broken,” Hudson said. “She curled up in a ball and barely moved. It was a struggle to even get her out of her kennel. She was so sad.”
Hoping someone out there would see the beautiful soul behind Roxxie’s heartbreak, the shelter shared her story online — and it went viral. People all over the country sent messages of love and outrage, wanting to help the dog who just wanted to cuddle.
Hudson explained how pit bulls are sometimes generalized as aggressive dogs, so Roxxie’s story offered a fresh perspective on the misunderstood breed: “It helped to educate people that pit bulls come in all different personality styles, and it’s a spectrum, just like with every other breed.”
Soon, adoption applications poured in — nearly 30 in total. But one stood out.
The Chase family from Illinois had lost their beloved rescue dog, Lucy, nearly a year earlier. They weren’t sure they were ready for another — until they saw Roxxie.
“She reminded them of Lucy, who also loved to cuddle,” Hudson said. “They drove three hours to meet her. It was clear immediately that they were the perfect fit.”
“This is a family fully invested in their animals,” Hudson said. “It was very clear that they were the right fit for Roxxie.”
The shelter hosted a special sendoff for Roxxie’s big day. Staff members lined up outside, cheering as the overjoyed pup trotted out, tail wagging, to greet her new family.
“She jumped right into their van like she knew she was going home,” Hudson recalled.
The Chases gave Roxxie a new name fit for her loving heart — Lady Olivia Huntington, or Livvie for short.
The pup’s sweet, fun-loving personality was apparent to the family from the start.
“When we brought her home, the first thing she did was hop on our bed and cuddle,” said Jessica Chase, Livvie’s new mom. “We just laughed. That’s exactly what we love about her.”
Now, Livvie spends her days showering her twin sisters, Annaliese and Kirsten, with kisses and racing to the door to greet them after school. She sleeps with Jessica every night, snuggled up close — exactly where she belongs.
“I don’t think a dog can be too affectionate,” Jessica said. “I love how much she loves us.”
Livvie sprints to the front door every day to welcome the twins home from school.
“They love playing with her,” Chase said of her daughters. “They come in and snuggle with her, and she licks them, and they giggle. It’s really sweet.”
Livvie, who sleeps with Chase every night, is happy to have found a loving home that doesn’t think her cuddles are too over-the-top.
And Roxxie’s story didn’t just change her life — it changed many others. Inspired by her viral journey, 15 other dogs at the shelter were adopted soon after.
“There are so many loving dogs in shelters just waiting for someone to give them a chance,” Hudson said. “If you’re looking for affection, trust me — they’ve got plenty to give.”
To keep up with Livvie’s adventures, you can follow her on Instagram, or visit the Huntington County Humane Society to meet more dogs waiting for their own happy endings.
