The Tears of Abandoned Pets: A Viral Rescue Story and a Call for Responsibility
The number of pets left by their owners at shelters, confused and distressed, is staggering.
Around 6.5 million pets are abandoned like trash every year in the U.S., with dogs accounting for half of those animals, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Thankfully, while many of these animals find new homes, only about half do. The other half face a lifetime alone, cooped up in a small space, or worse still, are euthanized to make way for other abandoned animals that have a better chance of being adopted.
The life of a shelter animal is far better than if they were roaming the streets, but they still don’t receive the attention, love, and exercise they deserve. So many of these dogs could bring immense happiness to another family.
An image of a dog waiting to be adopted at a shelter in New Mexico went viral, with many calling it the saddest picture they had ever seen.
Looking utterly broken by her situation at the High Plains Humane Society (HPHS) in Portales, New Mexico, the image captured the hearts of animal lovers worldwide.
The photo of the sad dog truly conveyed the feeling of loneliness these animals experience when they are left with strangers at a shelter.
It appears a tear is forming in her eye as she grips the bars of her cage and looks up at the camera.
Animal experts pointed out that this could not be a tear, as dogs do not shed tears when they are sad; instead, they make a whimpering or whelping noise. Nevertheless, her picture was shared by thousands who were moved by her plight.
Offers of adoption came flooding in, and in just one day, this depressed dog was adopted by a loving family. Her apparent tears were replaced with a look of pure joy.
The shelter shared a before-and-after adoption picture, giving everyone hope that some of these abandoned pooches do get happy endings.
We all need to remember that owning a dog is a significant responsibility and not one that should be taken lightly. No animal should have to experience the distress of being abandoned.
