Rescuer’s Message For Owner Who Abandoned Dog After 11 Years: “So Unfair”

A video of a shelter employee comforting a senior dog crying after being surrendered shattered viewers’ hearts.

Rebekah Muller, an employee of a Delaware animal shelter, recently shared the reality she faces when an owner surrenders their pets. About 5.8 million cats and dogs enter animal shelters each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), with nearly 29 percent being surrendered by their owners.

In Muller’s recent TikTok posted to her account @rebekahmuller, she held onto a dog whose owner of 11 years dropped him off at the shelter. The senior dog’s world turned upside down. Confused, he sat and looked around the room. Muller tried to provide comfort, but, being surrounded by unfamiliar faces in a stressful environment, he cried.

She told Newsweek via TikTok that he was surrendered on September 2. Despite the circumstances being “so unfair,” Muller did not want to dwell on the negative. Seeing any animal in distress is heartbreaking, she said, but the focus needed to shift to getting him a forever home.

“We understand that families make difficult decisions for many different reasons, and we do not pass judgment on those circumstances,” she said. “Our mission is to be here as a safe haven for animals in need, and to support both pets and people in our community.”

The senior dog came with an extent of medical issues that went untreated by the previous owner, Muller said. This made it difficult for the animal shelter to find a suitable adopter. Senior dogs also tend to be ignored—ASPCA estimated older canines are adopted at a 25 percent rate versus 60 percent for puppies and younger dogs—but she said he still has puppy-like energy.

And, thankfully, his wait for a forever home only took eight days. Muller said he was officially adopted on Wednesday.

The dog’s cries pierced people’s hearts, and as of Thursday, the TikTok video reached over 278,000 views and 40,300 likes.

“I don’t even like dropping my dog off at the groomer, vet or day care! I’ll never understand how people can do this!” wrote a viewer.

Someone else commented: “I’m sooo sorry, buddy. May you find trust and a loving family the rest of your days.”

Another…