Shelter Reunites Dog Found With Heartbreaking Note On Collar With Homeless Owner

An animal shelter in Tennessee helped reunite a homeless woman with her dog, Lilo.

In a Facebook post from McKamey Animal Center (MAC) late last month, staff at the rescue center took Lilo into their care after a Good Samaritan found her wandering around Chattanooga. Lilo had a note attached to her collar. Her owner said in the note that she couldn’t afford to keep her.

This is the heartbreaking note:

“My name is Lilo. Please love me. My mom can’t keep me and is homeless with 2 kids. She tried her best but can’t get help. I cost too much for her. She really loves me & I’m a great dog & love to be loved on. Please don’t abuse me.”

Though Lilo was now in good hands, the staff at the rescue center were touched by the note. They decided to post a reply online intended for Lilo’s owner.

“We are so sorry that you had to make the decision to leave [Lilo] behind. We know many folks are struggling to care for their pets right now. We know how hard it must be to give up an animal you so clearly loved because you can’t provide the care she needs. We understand,” the shelter wrote.

McKamey Animal Center promised to help Lilo’s mom “with whatever you need to care for her, to the best of our ability.”

“Lilo definitely misses you, and we would like nothing more than to see her go back to the family she loves,” the post continued. The center wrote that they understand what she did, adding “we will not judge, and we are here to help in any way we can.”

A few days later, the shelter heard back from Lilo’s mom. She was then invited to reunite with her beloved dog. The rescue shared the reunion with readers who were also concerned with the dog and her homeless family.

Though the animal center said they “can’t share a lot of the details yet”, they assured that they are doing the best they can to find the family “a safe haven, shelter, and resources to stay together and tackle homelessness.”

The center also expressed gratitude to people who showed support for the family and shared their story.

“We are amazed at the outpouring of support. It truly takes a community, and you all have certainly shown us how powerful ours is – thank you so much,” the rescue wrote.

The McKamey Animal Center encourages people who are struggling to seek out help reminding them of nationwide programs like Feeding Pets of the Homeless and local shelters.

“We want Chattanooga to be a community where pets are truly family, not just for the economically privileged, but for everyone. That means reaching out a hand of support to your neighbors, donating to emergency care funds like MAC’s Angel Fund, spreading the word about low-cost and free services, and supporting the lifesaving work MAC and other local organizations are doing every day,” the shelter wrote.

Source: The Dodo