A young man showed up at a homeless animal shelter with a dog he was considering abandoning. The director and staff of the establishment could not stop crying when the teenager told them his story. Thanks to the help of strangers, the life of a 17-year-old in difficulty can return to normal.
The 17-year-old wanted to entrust the dog to a shelter. Sam needed help
Giving up the care of a four-legged friend is not an easy decision and sometimes it depends on the difficult life situation of the owner. Kris Robinson, interim director of the Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter in Mississippi, found out for herself. One day, the woman was taking care of routine business at the office when she noticed a person walking in the courtyard of the establishment. Right behind her was a medium sized puppy. The boy was invited inside and questioned about the reason for his visit. Then, with tears in his eyes, he revealed that his family had kicked him out of the house and that he was no longer able to care for the animal.
“I wonder if you could take my dog,” he asked shyly, then lowered his head and continued speaking. – I have nowhere to go. I live under a bridge now and I just can’t afford to take care of her… When I go out and try to find a job, I hope she stays there, but I just worry about her – said the boy, who is only 17 years old.
A homeless teenager was struggling to make ends meet. He wanted a better life for his dog
The story of the homeless teenager almost broke the woman’s heart. The manager of the establishment immediately noticed that Jada, a mix of Rottweiler and German Shepherd about 4 months old, was well-groomed, relatively well-behaved and above all very attached to his owner. Although there is no room at the shelter for additional dogs, Robinson adopted a female dog. His owner was not a bad person, and at the same time he had no influence on the family he was born into.
Although deep in his heart the boy did not want to abandon Jada, he realized that this was the only chance to give the dog a happy life. The teen left a bag of dog food at the shelter, and as he walked away, Robinson saw him wiping away tears with his sleeve. After the 17-year-old was out of sight of the dog, Jada climbed onto one of the chairs and stared longingly out the window. Robinson knew that no one could take the boy’s place in the dog’s heart. So, she shared a post on Facebook in which she told their touching story.
Almost immediately, the homeless animal shelter began receiving messages from people offering help to a homeless young man and his dog. Some of them expressed their willingness to adopt Jada, while others asked not to separate the animal from its guardian.
People did not leave the boy without help. A teenager and his dog found a place where they can live together
Although units specializing in the care of stray or abandoned animals are good at finding homes for their animals, it is rare that they are forced to look for a home for a human. This time it was decided to involve the authorities in this matter and together help the 17-year-old with his homeless crisis. Based on the data from the declaration of waiver of custody of the dog, it was possible to find the boy and subsequently arrange accommodation for him.
Soon, the family contacted shelter employees and agreed to take the teenager and his dog under their roof. Additionally, the volunteers welcomed the unknown boy with open arms, treating him like their own son.
The support from the local community has exceeded the shelter staff’s expectations. Thanks to money raised by First United Methodist Church, a young boy and his four-legged friend don’t have to worry about what tomorrow brings. The 17-year-old received basic medical care, including scheduling his first dental visit, as well as food and resources to continue his education. A few days later, the boy was invited to the establishment to meet Jada again, during which it was difficult for him to hold back his tears of emotion.
“She ran and jumped on him. He had a big smile on his face”, the shelter worker said.
This inspiring story reminds us that not all decisions to part with a beloved pet are dictated by selfishness and convenience. If necessary, let’s avoid judgment and lend a helping hand. Perhaps with an altruistic gesture, we will save a dog from living in a shelter, but we will also save children and adolescents in difficult life situations from having to wander the streets.
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