These are challenging times, and many people are forced to make difficult decisions. Unfortunately, some of those decisions are having an adverse impact on our furry friends: Dogs are increasingly being relinquished to shelters or dumped in the streets.
Shelters across the country are full of surrendered and abandoned pets. Some of this is due to the overall uncertainty we are feeling, but a significant reason is that people are losing their jobs — or fearing that they will.
It’s really sad to think about, but some people feel they can’t care for their pets anymore. The story I’m about to tell best explains this struggle.
An Orlando, Florida, man had fallen on hard times, and it came to a point that he could no longer afford to take care of his beloved pit bull, Lincoln.
Frustrated, he decided to shackle Lincoln to his neighbor’s tree during the night.
In addition to this terrible action, he left a note detailing his plight and asking the neighbor to look after his baby:
“I am going to California to be with my mother and brother during this pandemic. Make sure to take care of Lincoln or get him a good home. I trust you with my baby. I’m sorry.”
Sadly, the neighbor was unable to care for Lincoln, so a local rescue called The Pittie P arty of Central Florida (TPPCF — print) stepped up to help!
Mayson Jones, a volunteer, stepped up and brought Lincoln home, giving him love and playtime. Lincoln had missed his owner but still carried a wagging tail and a playful spirit.
Fortunately, this tragic tale has a silver lining. Melanie Anderson felt sorry for Lincoln and voluntered to fos ter him until he finds a forever home. He now enjoys boat rides and sunbathing naps with his foster family.
Lincoln’s experience is hardly unique, unfortunately. Shelters are struggling to keep up, and the dogs are either being abandoned or surrendered.
TPPCF, along with other rescues, needs help. They seek foster families to open their hearts and homes to homeless dogs.
The rescue organization supplies the foster family with all that is needed to care for the dog and pays all the expenses. As they shared on Facebook:
“We could never, ever do what we do without the dedication and com itment from foster families. These are really the heroes in rescue!”
When you foster a dog, you’re not only giving a pet a safe place to stay, you’re helping shelters clear out space for more animals to be rescued. Best of all, you might fall in love, and provide a dog with a forever home!
