Exact moment pup realised she was being left behind captures hearts

The sadness in Electra's face when she realises she has been left in a shelter has captured people's hearts. Photo / Lolys Menchaka

Electra is a beautiful dog, who has had a tough life.

The four-year-old pit bull mix was surrendered to a dog shelter by her family. There is nothing new about dogs being given up for adoption and in some cases, to be put down. But it is the visceral reaction Electra had when she realised she has been left behind that has thousands of people weeping.

She was left at the Inland Valley Humane Society in California on May 17.

A video taken and shared on Facebook of the pup's face the moment she realised her family was not coming back for her has gone viral.

ADOPTED ELECTRA IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR PUBLIC ADOPTION. PLEASE KEEP SHARING ELECTRA represents the face os sadness and reality in the shelters. Sometimes I would like to understand owners surrendering their animals and I don't like to judge them but when you see how the dogs come to the receiving department with their happy faces and they stand all proud I just can't understand.. (I'm speaking in general, not sure if she was found as stray or she was an owner surrendered) ELECTRA is available now for public adoption. Hopefully she can leaves soon. Please share so people know she is there. ELECTRA Pit Bull Terrier Mix Age (approximate): 4 years Sex Female Color BLU/WHT Available on: (Subject to change) May 20, 2017 Rescue Date: (Subject to change) May 30, 2017 Control Number: #I1272440 http://ivhsanimals.org/#/animal/978566 The shelter does not disclose updates to me after the dogs are no longer in their care. Please contact them for any INFORMATION and/or UPDATES. Adoptions have to be made in person. Potential adopters have to bring their other dogs (if any) for a meet and greet. Im only a net-worker therefore, i do not have pulling rights. I name the dogs for my personal references, the shelter doesn't know those names so always make sure to ask for a dog by their control number not by their name to avoid confusion. INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY POMONA CA 909 623-9777 VIDEO THREAD https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1839944282992583&set=a.1454924388161243.1073741829.100009310861488&type=3&theater

Posted by Dolores Menchaka on Wednesday, 17 May 2017

There are thousands of comments about the impact Electra had on the public such as "Her sad eyes made my heart hurt" and "this kills me. Those eyes. She's so scared. The wagging tail. She's still wants to give love. Dogs are so selfless."

The video was uploaded by Lolys Menchaka, an animal activist in California who has kept the public updated on Electra including the fact that she has been adopted.

Electra is not the first or the last pup that will face life in a shelter. But she is the one that has put a face to the sadness and realities of shelter life for so many dogs.