It’s always a tough pill to swallow when a dog gets abandoned. While some folks make heartless decisions, letting go of their pets for superficial or selfish reasons, others find themselves in more empathetic dilemmas necessitating such difficult choices.
Pets demand a tremendous amount of love and care, and sometimes, life takes unexpected turns, leaving individuals unable to provide for their furry companions, despite the profound sadness it brings. In a recent incident, a shelter came across an abandoned dog, accompanied by a heartbreaking note from its owner, leading to a truly touching response.
LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit no-kill shelter nestled in Atlanta, Georgia, became the new home for Milo, an 8-and-a-half-month-old dog who was left outside the shelter’s doors on August 17. Their story unfolded through a Facebook post that sheds light on this heartwarming tale.
While it’s heartbreaking to see a dog abandoned like that, Milo was left with a letter that explained that his owner was in a desperate situation.
“Please do not judge me on this single act alone,” the letter says. “I am simply a human trying to do what’s best for my puppy.”
“I am homeless and can not fulfill the duties needed to care for him. I have tried rehoming and searching for fosters. I cannot support him or myself. This is the only way I know you will take him & he’s safe. He’s a sweetheart & very well mannered and trained.”
Moved by the letter, LifeLine Animal Project replied with a kind “open letter” to the owner.
They said that employees found Milo in the morning and took him into the building for an intake exam. Though shelters discourage people from leaving pets outside their doors overnight, LifeLine said that the owner took precautions to make sure Milo would not be hit by a car or wander off.
In their response, the shelter expressed sympathy for Milo’s homeless owner and said that, all things considered, they did what was best for the dog.
“Reading the opening lines, we thought of how it must have felt for you to write that message as you left your loved one behind,” they wrote. “What a brave act of self-sacrifice to risk scorn and judgment while trying to do what was best for Milo, to make sure that he would be safe, would be able to get veterinary care, and would have food, water, and a roof over his head.”
They also thanked the owner for including important details about Milo, including his name, vaccination status, and behavior with cats and other dogs, all important things to know when rehoming a surrendered pet.
“He is very obviously loved,” LifeLine wrote. “We love him, too, and will do everything in our power to help him go home.”
LifeLine tried to track down and help Milo’s owner, saying they would be “met with compassion and understanding,” however, in an update the shelter said they were unable to find them.
But in happier news, an “incredible family” came in to visit the shelter interested in adopting Milo: “They fell head over heels for this sweet boy,” the shelter wrote.
“We felt the chances of reuniting Milo at this point were very slim, especially after all the coverage, and didn’t want him to deteriorate in the shelter without a family to spoil him,” they explained. “We’re happy to report that Milo is now adopted, loved and in a fantastic home with his new family.”
