Seeing lost or abandoned pets has become alarmingly common in many communities.
Some owners bring their dogs to shelters when they can no longer provide care, hoping the animals will find a safer future.
But far too often, dogs never make it through the door. Instead, they are left to fend for themselves with no help at all.
A Troubling Discovery Outside The Shelter
While heading into work at the Oklahoma Humane Society, Scott Lockard noticed a black bag tied to the handle of the adoption center’s front door.
When he opened it, he found a small brown dog curled up inside. Sadly, this was not unusual. Scott explained to The Dodo:
“This wasn’t the first time I have arrived at the adoption center to find animals waiting there, so I can’t say I was super surprised. I was happy to get her in and fed and watered, so I was mostly just thinking about getting the little dog comfortable.”
Scott brought her indoors and spent time with her. She seemed a bit unsure at first but otherwise appeared healthy.
While examining the bag further, he discovered a handwritten note.
It read, “Her name is Maris, find her a good home.”
The short message made it clear that whoever left her cared enough to hope she would be safe, even if they could no longer keep her.
An Issue Shelters Cannot Ignore
To shed light on the growing number of animals being abandoned in similar ways, the humane society shared Maris’s photo on social media.
Roshelle Anderson, the marketing manager, explained to The Dodo: “We didn’t post the photo to specifically call out the people who left the pet, but rather, to bring attention to a greater problem facing our community.”
The shelter is facing significant challenges. Adoptions have slowed down, yet more dogs continue to arrive at their doors, creating a shortage of space, supplies, and staff capacity.
They continue to encourage the public to adopt, reminding families that choosing a shelter dog gives an animal the fresh start it deserves.
At the time this story was shared, Maris was still at the shelter waiting for someone to choose her. With her calm and gentle personality, staff remain hopeful she will soon find a loving home.