After experiencing numerous incidents of animals being abandoned at the front entrance, the Harbor Humane Society in Michigan took a strong stance against this behavior by posting clear signage to inform the public that dumping animals was unacceptable.
They erected a sign stating: animal abandonment is strictly forbidden!
“Do not leave an animal here. Wait until business hours. There is no fee for surrendering an animal to HHS. For the sake of the animal, please act humanely,” the message on the sign warns.
A similar sign was placed behind the shelter near a picnic table for staff breaks.
Most of the time, these visible notices were honored—until one particular day.
A Heart-Wrenching Discovery
As a staff member arrived one morning to unlock the shelter, everything seemed normal at the front entrance. However, a different story unfolded at the back.
Upon exiting from behind, they discovered a small puppy tied at the base of the “do not abandon animals” sign. It appeared that the puppy had been left there the night prior. A review of the security footage confirmed their suspicions.
The video captured the moment the dog, affectionately named Trixie, was abandoned around 9 p.m., and she remained unattended until she was found at 7:30 a.m. the next day. That means she was left outside for 11 hours, patiently waiting for help.
“At first, she was frightened and barked at me. But when I crouched down and gave her some time, she quickly warmed up and crawled into my lap. Since then, she has been incredibly friendly!” stated Jen Nuernberg, director of marketing and strategic initiatives at Harbor Humane Society, in a conversation with The Dodo.
Spending an entire night alone understandably affected Trixie, as she was left wondering why she had been separated from her previous owners.
However, when she encountered her new caregivers, her spirits lifted. They hurried her inside to enjoy a warm meal and some loving care.
As other staff members arrived, they were deeply saddened by Trixie’s ordeal.
After conducting some health checks, they were relieved to find that she was in good health—though a little bewildered.
“When animals are abandoned without any prior information, we are left to make assumptions. We estimate her age to be around 3 to 4 years, but we don’t know her past, her name, or what she enjoys. This is the kind of information we attempt to gather when animals are surrendered to the shelter,” explained Jen Self Aulgur, executive director at Harbor Humane Society, to The Dodo.
The staff at the Michigan shelter hopes Trixie’s previous owners might come forward to provide more details about her before she is placed for adoption, which would greatly aid in finding her the ideal home.
“This pup deserves to have her story and history known. We do not want to shame or punish anyone; we simply want to assist this unfortunate dog,” said Self Aulgur.
Currently, Trixie is safe with kindhearted humans who ensure she has everything she needs. After some time, she will be ready for adoption, but for now, she’s relishing her stay, soaking up all the affection she can get from her caregivers.
A Final Note
This narrative underscores the importance of not abandoning pets.
Pets become attached to their owners and their environment, and a sudden change can lead to significant distress for them.
If you find yourself unable to care for your furry companion, please refrain from leaving them behind. Instead, take them to your local shelter, introduce them to the staff, and help them secure a second chance at life.
They truly deserve it!
