Atlanta Shelter Posts Heartfelt Response To Owner Who Left A Handwritten Note Alongside Abandoned Dog

Life is tough and there are times when you must put the needs of others above yourself. This is exactly what a loving dog owner who has fallen on hard times did for their beloved puppy.

The puppy was found outside of LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta on August 17 with a handwritten note from his owner.

It read, “Please do not judge me on this single act alone. I am simply a human being trying to do what’s best for my puppy. I am homeless and cannot fulfill the duties needed to care for him. I have tried rehoming and searching for fosters. I cannot support him and myself. This is the only way. I know you will take him, and he’s safe.”

The owner only wanted what was best for the dog, so they shared as much information as possible, including his name “Milo”. The 8-month-old pup gets along with cats and other dogs and loves to cuddle. The letter went on to say, “He’s a sweetheart and very well-mannered and trained.”

The shelter team was moved by the selfless act and posted a response on Facebook.

“An open letter to Milo’s owner. We found your dog right where you left him in a space where he wouldn’t get hit by a car or harmed when wandering freely in search of sanctuary.

Our shelter team found him as they came into the shelter for the morning shift and brought him into the building while he waited for his turn for his intake exam. After intake, he joined the hundreds of other dogs in our shelter. We also found the note you left. Reading the opening lines, we thought of how it must have felt for you to write that message as you left your loved one behind. What a brave act of self-sacrifice to risk scorn and judgment while trying to do what was best for Milo, to make sure that he would be safe, would be able to get veterinary care, and would have food, water, and a roof over his head.”

They wanted to try and reunite Milo with his owner and help both find a safe place to live.

“We love him, too, and will do everything in our power to help him go home. If you are reading this and there’s any chance that we can help reunite you with Milo and support both of you, please reach out to our team at pethelp@fultonanimalservices.com. You will be met with compassion and understanding. Milo deserves the safety and security of a home, and so do you.”

But to no avail.

“His post has been shared far and wide and we are grateful for everyone’s efforts to help us find his owner. After exhausting every option at hand, we still weren’t able to find his owner.”

Milo’s health and happiness was the shelter’s first priority, so they placed him up for adoption. It didn’t take long for him to find a loving home.

In an update posted in the comments of the original post the shelter shared, “An incredible family came to the shelter and they fell head over heels for this sweet boy. Shelters are very hard on dogs, especially big, young pups with lots of energy and love to give. We felt the chances of reuniting Milo at this point were very slim, especially after all the coverage, and didn’t want him to deteriorate in the shelter without a family to spoil him. We’re happy to report that Milo is now adopted, loved and in a fantastic home with his new family.”

The shelter is in crisis mode and urges people to foster or adopt to help hundreds of other dogs get the love and care they need. “Milo is just one of the many dogs in our care who have loving families who are facing tough decisions and are trying to do what is best for their beloved pets. The struggle animals face is directly tied to the hardships their families face.”

The goal is to always try and keep pets with their family, so the shelter started the Stay Together Fund. This fund helps cover veterinary costs for families facing hard times. Learn more here.