Each year, about two thousand animals end up in the shelter in Johnson County, Indiana. But the director Michael Delp said they had never come across an abandoned dog that way before.
The beautiful girl Roadie was found tied to a tree with a plastic bottle hanging from her neck. After closer inspection, the animal shelter workers noticed a note inside it. In a heartbreaking scribble, it said that Roadie’s “dad lost his job and his home from covid” and was no longer able to take care of her. Written in the first person, it also noted that Roadie is a dog full of energy, who used to be spoiled with food, her own couch, and a foam bed.
And there surely could have been a better and safer way to give up Roadie. With cases of people surrendering their pets during the pandemic soaring, the owners should have called the shelter. “Roadie could have been struck by a vehicle, could have been attacked by wolves or coyotes,” Michael warned, but admitted the note tugged at his heartstrings.
More info: JohnsonCountyAnimalShelter.com
This adorable German and Australian shepherd mix was found left abandoned with a plastic bottle tied to her neck
Image credits: Johnson County Animal Control
Upon closer inspection, the animal control officers found a note inside it
Image credits: Johnson County Animal Control
Written in the first person, the heartbreaking letter explained why the owner gave up Roadie
Image credits: Johnson County Animal Control
Luckily, she has been rescued by Johnson County animal shelter
Image credits: WTHR
As Michael Delp was reading the note, he felt torn by two emotions. “One, if it is legit, my heart goes out to that individual. If it was not legit, [I felt] anger that someone would manufacture an excuse to abandon their dog that was designed to elicit sympathy,” he told the press.
On the other hand, if the note is indeed true, Michael said that his heart would certainly go out to the person who wrote it.
But it doesn’t that mean the owner’s way of giving up Roadie is forgivable. Michael warned that releasing a dog out in the middle of nowhere could have ended very badly. “There’s all kinds of things that could happen to this animal. Struck by a vehicle or attacked by other animals,” he said.
He urged anyone who's considering giving up their pet to call their local shelter.
Image credits: WTHR
Image credits: WTHR
The note also said that Roadie is a playful dog full of energy and had the basic veterinary needs taken care of
Image credits: WTHR
Luckily, after Johnson County shelter staff put up Roadie for adoption, they received more than 20 requests from people touched by the story.
But Jeremy Pell, a reserve sheriff deputy and the chief of the fire department, was just looking for a four-legged companion to train for search and rescue missions. He told the press that as “I opened up the news and saw Roadie, I saw the breed and the story and the fact that she is literally in my backyard.”
Jeremy ran some tests on Roadie, which she passed with flying colors, and it turned out she was the perfect match. Now, the beautiful girl is happy with her new career and a loving forever family.
But the shelter's director Michael Delp said there could have surely been a better way to give up Roadie
Image credits: WTHR
Luckily, Jeremy Pell, the chief of the White River Township Fire Department, decided to adopt Roadie
Image credits: Jeremy Pell
It turns out, Jeremy has been searching for a dog to work in search and rescue, and this dog seemed perfect
Image credits: Jeremy Pell
And this is what people commented on Roadie's case
