'Broken-hearted' 100-pound dog, Mashed Potato, surrendered to Florida shelter

Finding Mashed Potato a 'furever' home

A 100-pound pooch nicknamed "Mashed Potato" was surrendered to the Orange County Animal Services shelter after his family apparently had too many dogs to take care of.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A 100-pound dog nicknamed "Mashed Potato" captured hearts online after his story of sadness and resilience went viral.

Surrendered to Orange County Animal Services when his family could no longer care for him, the gentle giant struggled to adapt to shelter life, becoming withdrawn and fearful.

"During our holiday closure he seemed to shut down even more, refusing to eat," Animal Services wrote in a social media post. "This poor guy is just so broken-hearted to be here and undeniably stressed.'

Mashed Potato refused to leave the back of his kennel and would only venture outside when carried by staff. Recognizing his distress, shelter workers placed him in foster care, where he could feel more at ease while awaiting adoption.

"Mashed," as he’s affectionately called, is now adjusting to life in a quieter environment as he prepares for a new family.