Rocky is 8 years old, an American Pit Bull Terrier currently living in the medical wing of a shelter while dealing with a serious illness.
His body has become severely depleted, and his hind legs are growing progressively weaker. Moving around the kennel is becoming more difficult.
Rocky is being presented as a dog at risk of euthanasia. However, no exact deadline, shelter name, location, or specific medical diagnosis was provided with his information, so none of those details should be invented.
What has been observed is something Rocky repeatedly does with his favorite rubber ball.
When the ball is given to him, Rocky does not play with it.
He carries it to the kennel door.
Then he carefully pushes it underneath the bars and leaves it outside.
Rocky Puts His Favorite Ball Where He Cannot Reach It
The rubber ball is Rocky's favorite toy.
But when someone gives it to him inside the medical kennel, he does not spend his limited energy chasing it around.
Rocky takes the ball gently in his mouth.
Then he makes his way toward the front of the kennel.
With his weakening hind legs, even that short distance requires effort.
When Rocky reaches the gate, he lowers his head toward the narrow opening beneath the bars.
Then he releases the ball.
Sometimes he nudges it again with his nose until it rolls completely through the gap.
The ball ends up outside the kennel, sitting in the hallway.
Rocky remains inside.
Then he lowers his weakened body onto the floor immediately behind the gate.
His nose stays close to the exact place where the ball is resting on the other side.
There is now a row of metal bars between Rocky and his favorite toy.
And he leaves it there.
He Doesn't Chase It or Try to Pull It Back
What makes the behavior noticeable is what Rocky does afterward.
He does not immediately paw beneath the gate trying to retrieve the ball.
He does not become frantic when it rolls beyond his reach.