I can’t imagine taking my pet to a shelter and just leaving them there. Why would I want to abandon a family member I’ve loved for years and who loves me in return?
All around the country, people drop pets off at shelters. They’ve had them for years. They’re reasons for surrendering them are some of the most ridiculous and stupid of excuses.
One 6-year-old dog named Hunter thought he was living in his forever home with a family who would love him for a lifetime. Sadly, the pooch was wrong. Last week, Hunters former family signed him over to the Houston Humane society’s shelter. They told staff he wasn’t getting along with their new puppy.
Of course, Hunter didn’t understand this. But he eventually got the message. Randi Bertholet is a volunteer at the shelter. She’s been giving her time to the needy animals for the past seven years. She was the first to interact with poor Hunter.
“When I walked up to the kennel, at first I didn’t even see a dog in there until I looked in the corner. I saw him frozen in fear, trying to make himself invisible,” Bertholet told The Dodo. “I immediately sat on the floor, turned away from him, waiting for him to come to me. After a few minutes, he cautiously approached me.”
Hunter broke down when he realized he could trust her. She shared a video of the tender moment. She captioned it: “Ever wonder what a broken heart looks like? Well, there you have it.”
Hunter has a forever family! We posted a video so you all can meet them! https://www.facebook.com/78299858970/posts/10156450752778971/UPDATE: Thank you so much to everyone for sharing Hunter's story. At this time, we have a few wonderful applications in for him. As you can imagine, it has been an overwhelming few days for this sweet boy. We are working on scheduling meet and greets to find the best fit for him. We'll give another update over the next few days.One of our volunteers shared this heartbreaking video of Hunter today. He could use some help finding a new family!“Ever wonder what a broken heart looks like? Well there you have it. ???Hunter was surrendered to the shelter yesterday because…ready for it? He didn’t get along with their new puppy. Just when I think the human race couldn’t disappoint me anymore. I found him in the corner of his kennel, too afraid to move. Sometimes I have to stop walking dogs, and sit on the cold floor (the same cold floor these pups sit on) to give them some comfort that’s it’s not as scary as they think. If you’re interested in adopting sweet Hunter, then head to the @houstonhumane and be this guy’s hero. #adoptdontshop #adopthunter #houstonhumanesociety”
Posted by Houston Humane Society on Friday, August 3, 2018
There was only so much comfort she could give Hunter. “I was so heartbroken for him,” Bertholet said. “I cried that night while laying in my warm bed with my dogs, thinking about him in there alone and scared.”
This touching video will hopefully get Hunter a new forever home. One filled with love, companionship, and commitment a pooch like him deserves. It received thousands of hits; adoption inquiries for Hunter began flooding the shelter.
“I never thought my video would get the response it did,” Bertholet said. “But I’m so glad it did.”
Bertholet hopes her experience with Hunter will inspire those people considering surrendering their pets. She hopes they’ll have a change of heart.
“I’m hoping this sheds a real light on the reality of what dogs go through when their owners drop them off,” she said. “Perhaps it’s out of sight, out of mind for them. But I wanted them to see, so it was on their mind. They all are truly scared, confused, and devastated that the family, life, and home they once had is no more, and they don’t know why.”
Watch the video below for yourself. My heart goes out to Hunter and all animals like him who find themselves feeling lost and scared in these unfamiliar places. Consider rescuing dogs like him and giving them another chance at happiness.