Ten-year-old Roofus had been at the Bishop Animal Shelter in Bradenton, Florida for more than half his life when staff members were surprised to discover a piece of his history from their old friend’s former life.
While sorting through his file, a letter was found from his original family, which must have been dropped off with the Weimaraner mix back in October 2010. It gave staff members a snapshot of the life he was forced to leave, almost six years back.
It was written as if a former family member was reading his thoughts. It said:
My name is Roofus. My family loves me very much but they have fallen on hard times. My daddy lost his job a year ago and can’t find a new one. My mommy tells me they have to downsize to a smaller apartment and can’t afford to keep me. I will miss my two-legged siblings so much. They keep crying and hugging me, begging mommy and daddy not to take me back to the shelter. I remember being at the shelter before. Your staff is very kind and nothing compares to a family. My family is very sad to give me back to Bishop but they know you’ll find me a new family that will love me just as much. They’re including my bed and favorite toys. Please find me a good home.
Love,
Roofus
Although he’d been adopted by two families since he was surrendered, both had taken him back to the shelter for reasons pertaining to his age and claims that he was not a good fit for the household.
Those at the shelter who have cared for Roofus said that this sweet senior boy has great energy and loves people. They have grown quite attached. “We love him. He’s been here so long too, it’s kind of hard not to,” said staff member Megan Mayer in a news story by WFLA News Channel 8.
In an article by ABC News, fellow staff member Samantha Dominis said that when the letter was uncovered, everyone at the shelter was touched.
“We couldn’t believe it. It showed he was previously very loved…. I personally felt like we had failed him, because the letter said ‘they know you’ll find me a family’ and we hadn’t found him a good home yet,” she admitted in the ABC News story.
Hoping that the right person would hear Roofus’ story and finally welcome him into their forever family, Dominis put the letter in a press release, and the story aired on a local news station.
The next day, an interested viewer contacted the shelter…and Roofus was adopted!
There’s no doubt that saying goodbye to the mild-mannered mutt was bittersweet for the folks at the Bishop Animal Shelter.
“We call him a little gentleman…He’s very mellow and laid back. He’s older, so he doesn’t have that puppy energy, but we always said he’d be perfect to lay by somebody’s feet,” Dominis said in the ABC News article.
After becoming something of a local celebrity, Roofus’ story tugged at many peoples’ heartstrings… and he was finally adopted!
We’re so glad that this patient pup FINALLY got the loving home he deserves! Best of luck to Roofus and his forever family!
(Featured images adapted from the Bishop Animal Shelter.)
