One morning at Bloomfield Animal Shelter (BAS) in New Jersey, the staff was stunned to find two dogs left abandoned at their entrance.
The dogs gazed at the rescuers with sad eyes, showing the heartbreak they felt after seeing their owner leave them behind.
As the staff hurried to comfort the distressed dogs, they noticed that the pups were tied to a fence and accompanied by a note. The kind-hearted staff members felt their hearts break as they read the owner’s message:
“Hi. I am sorry, but my babies deserve to live their golden years happy and in a good, warm home for the winter. I can’t take care of them while living on the street. Our home was foreclosed on, putting us out in the street.”
The owner pleaded with the shelter staff not to euthanize the dogs and to keep them together.
Upon further reading, the rescuers discovered that the dogs were named Shadow and Tiger, brothers born on October 12th, 2009. The note described the dogs as friendly with other pets and loving towards humans.
The shelter staff felt overwhelmed because they didn’t have space for the newly abandoned dogs. They turned to social media for help, hoping to find a temporary home for Shadow and Tiger.
Luckily, Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission (SDRM) in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, stepped in to help. Christine Biggiani Bakelaar, the owner of SDRM, quickly went to the shelter to take Shadow and Tiger home.
The moment Christine saw their pictures and noticed the sadness in their eyes, she felt an immediate connection to the pups.
When Christine brought Shadow and Tiger back to SDRM, the dogs began to relax, seemingly understanding that they would no longer be alone.
As she reread the owner’s note, Christine realized that she shared a birthday with Shadow and Tiger. She felt it was fate that brought the dogs into her life.
Christine found a loving foster home on a farm for the two brothers.
Once Shadow and Tiger settled into their new environment, they took some time to adjust. Their foster family showed them lots of love and care, helping the dogs feel safe and loved.
The rescue team in New Jersey is now trying to find the dogs’ previous family to learn more about their health history.
Christine felt deeply saddened by the owner’s situation and hoped they could reconnect. She wanted the owner to know that Shadow and Tiger were safe and would stay together.
“If anyone on here sees this and knows the people, please have them reach out to me. No questions asked, other than I want to know more about them, and I truly [want to] let them know that their boys are OK. I promise never to separate them. I want them to visit them. Or at least allow me to send them updates…” Christine wrote in a Facebook comment.
A children's doctor had been evicted and had left items behind when she left. Among them was something alarming: a plastic storage bin, where a dog had been locked inside. If someone is this cruel to a small, defenseless dog, how can they continue to treat children as a doctor?
The shelter team is still waiting to see if the dogs’ former owner will get in touch. If the owner does not reach out, Shadow and Tiger will need to find a permanent home.
For now, the lovable older dogs continue to thrive in their foster home and enjoy life on the farm.
Toledo, United States.
