Since the Harbor Humane Society, an animal shelter in Michigan, had its fair share of animals dumped in front of their main entrance, they made it a point to inform people that this was unacceptable.
They posted a sign clearly stating that animal dumping was not permitted!
“Don’t leave an animal here. Wait for business hours. There is no fee for bringing an animal to HHS. The sign reads, “Please be humane for the sake of the animal.”
Another one with the same message was placed behind the shelter, next to a picnic table where the staff would take their break.
Typically, these clear signs are respected. Until one day.
Heartbreaking Find
When a worker arrived one morning to open the Michigan shelter, they noticed nothing unusual in the front. The same could not be said about the back.
When they emerged from the back, they discovered a tiny puppy tied to the base of the “do not abandon animals” sign. They suspected that the pup had been abandoned the night before, and after reviewing the security footage, their suspicions were confirmed.
The video clearly showed that the dog, later named Trixie, was abandoned at around 9 p.m. and was not discovered until 7:30 a.m. the next morning. This means she sat outside for 11 hours, waiting for rescue.
“At first, she was nervous and scared, barking at her. However, once she crouched down and gave her some time, she quickly warmed up and crawled into her lap. She has been extremely friendly ever since!” Jen Nuernberg, the director of marketing and strategic initiatives at Harbor Humane Society, told The Dodo.
Spending the entire night alone took its toll on Trixie, who kept wondering why she wasn’t with her hoomans.
But when she met the new hoomans, everything was fine again. The rescuer immediately took her inside, where she warmed up and ate some delicious food.
When the other staff members arrived, they were completely heartbroken after hearing Trixie’s story.
They then performed some tests on this sweet girl, which, thankfully, revealed that she was in good health; she was just a little confused.
“When someone abandons an animal without providing any information, we are left to guess. So we can assume she is between 3 and 4 years old, but we don’t know her story, name, likes, favorite treats, or toys.
This is all the information we try to collect on animals when they are surrendered to the shelter,” Jen Self Aulgur, executive director of Harbor Humane Society, told The Dodo.
Employees at the Michigan shelter are hoping that Trixie’s previous owners will come forward and provide more information about her before she is adopted, as this information will help them find the perfect home for her.
Trixie is currently safe with her loving hoomans, who make sure she has everything she needs. After some time, she will be available for adoption, but for the time being, she is enjoying her stay and receiving as many hugs and kisses as her little heart desires.
Final Word
This story is an excellent example of why you should never abandon your pets.
Your pets become attached to you and their surroundings while living with you, and any sudden change can cause them extreme anxiety.
So, if you are no longer able to care for your pets, please do not abandon them like this. Take them to your local shelter, introduce them to the staff, and give them a second chance in life.
They deserved it!
