When the team at Bloomfield Animal Shelter (BAS) in New Jersey showed up for work one morning, they encountered an unexpected and heart-wrenching sight. Waiting at the shelter’s gate were two abandoned dogs, their faces reflecting deep sadness and confusion as if everything they had known and loved had suddenly been taken from them. The staff hurried over to comfort the distraught pair and noticed they had been tied to the fence, left behind with no explanation. But what truly shattered their hearts was the discovery of a note left with the dogs.
It was from the dogs’ former owner, explaining the devastating reason for leaving them behind:
“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 note also begged the shelter to keep the dogs together and not to euthanize them. It revealed the dogs’ names—Shadow and Tiger—and shared that they were brothers, born on October 12, 2009. The owner described the two as loving and friendly toward people and other pets.
Faced with limited space, the shelter staff felt helpless. They knew they had to find a safe place for Shadow and Tiger, so they quickly turned to social media, posting a plea for foster care. Fortunately, Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission (SDRM), based in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, saw the post and stepped in without hesitation.
Christine Biggiani Bakelaar, the founder of SDRM, immediately drove to the shelter to pick up the two brothers. Their faces stole her heart after seeing the sadness in their eyes in their photos. But as soon as she arrived and greeted them, Shadow and Tiger’s spirits seemed to lift. They began wagging their tails, almost as if they knew they were finally safe.
While reading the note again, Bakelaar noticed something extraordinary—she shared the same birthday as Shadow and Tiger. This little coincidence convinced her even more that these two dogs were meant to find their way into her care.
Bakelaar found a loving foster home on a farm where the brothers could relax and begin their healing journey. In the peaceful farm environment, Shadow and Tiger were given time to decompress. Their foster family showered them with attention and affection, helping the dogs feel secure. Slowly, the brothers began to open up, soaking in every bit of kindness their foster family offered.
Meanwhile, SDRM made it a priority to locate the brothers’ original family, hoping to learn more about their medical history. Bakelaar empathized deeply with the former owner’s situation and wished to connect with them.
“If anyone on here sees this and knows the people, please have them reach out to me,” Bakelaar wrote on Facebook in the comment section. “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.”
For now, the rescue waits patiently, hoping the original owner will reach out. If they don’t, Shadow and Tiger will need to start a new chapter, and the search for their forever home will begin.
Merida is a senior who was found abandoned in a backyard with her sibling who had passed away. She was left to fend for herself as an 11-year-old with diabetes. Thankfully, Kanoa Rescue Foundation stepped in to save her, but she still needs your help!
In the meantime, the two seniors are thriving in their foster home, enjoying life on the farm and rediscovering what it means to feel safe and loved. Their story is a testament to second chances—and the kindness of strangers who refuse to give up on animals in need.
Toledo, United States.
