On the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend, shelter workers at Harris County Animal Shelter found a shocking surprise waiting for them in their parking lot.
When they got to work after the holiday weekend, they found an abandoned crate sitting in the middle of the parking lot. Inside, they saw a dirty, matted, and scared poodle.
There was a heartbreaking note attached to the crate explaining why the one-year-old dog’s former owner had abandoned him. It said:
“Can you please take care of my dog? He’s a great puppy, I just couldn’t afford to keep him. His name is Lee. He will listen, he will bark, and will not bite. Please don’t put him down I love him, but can’t afford to keep him. I haven’t shaved him yet, I apologize, but please care for him and find him a home. Thanks.”
The shelter workers took Lee in and gave him lots of food and water. Then, they shaved off his matted fur.
Soon after that, Lee’s true personality started to come through. The dog was smart, and he loved cuddling with his rescuers and playing fetch. He was also a big fan of Starbucks’ Puppuccinos!
Lee wasn’t the only dog abandoned at Harris County Animal Shelter on Memorial Day weekend. The shelter received a huge influx of animals during these three days. In total, around 200 animals were left at the shelter.
The shelter thinks that many people were forced to abandon their pets because of financial hardships caused by Hurricane Harvey. Many people had to move to smaller apartments or houses, and they couldn’t think of a way to keep their pets with them.
“We certainly understand financial hardship, but if there is some small way that we can help keep pets with their people, we want to do that,” Harris County Animal Shelter wrote on Facebook. “Before making that decision to give up a pet, talk to us about your circumstance to determine if we can link you with a resource.”
Thankfully, Harris County Animal Shelter is making good progress at finding homes for their animals. In just the past week, they’ve found homes for hundreds of their dogs, including little Lee.
On June 1, 2018, Lee left Harris County Animal Shelter and went to his new forever home. His former owner’s wish came true—Lee is going to have a good life with people who will care for him and love him.
Lee found a great home, but there are still many animals in Harris County Animal Shelter looking for their forever home. If you live in Harris County and are interested in fostering or adopting a dog, you can learn more here. If you’d like to help the shelter buy food and supplies for their animals, consider donating to their organization.
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