Two 15-Year-Old Dogs Found Abandoned Together With Heartbreaking Note
Guest Contributor
When staff at New Jersey’s Bloomfield Animal Shelter arrived for work on Monday, September 16, 2024, they were met with a heartbreaking sight. Two elderly dogs were tied to the shelter’s fence, waiting silently with a handwritten note beside them. It was a moment that would touch the hearts of animal lovers far beyond the shelter’s gates, highlighting the emotional toll of the ongoing shelter crisis and the deep bonds between pets and their families.
The dogs, named Shadow and Tiger, are 15-year-old littermates. According to the note left by their previous owner, they had spent their entire lives together. The message, scrawled with raw honesty, explained that their family had recently lost their home to foreclosure and was now living on the street. “I am sorry, but my babies deserve to live their golden years happy and in a good, warm home for the winter,” the note read. “Please take care of them and don’t kill them.” The plea also asked that the dogs be kept together if possible, a request that would resonate deeply with the shelter staff and rescuers.
It’s difficult not to be moved by such a personal and painful act. I found this detail striking: the owner, despite their own hardship, prioritized the well-being of their pets and left them in a place where they might be helped. It’s a stark reminder of how economic hardship can affect not just people, but the animals they love.
Shadow and Tiger’s story is part of a growing trend across the country. As housing instability and financial insecurity rise, more families are being forced to make impossible choices. For shelters already stretched beyond capacity, these situations are becoming all too common. Bloomfield Animal Shelter noted that they had no open cages when the dogs were found, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
Despite the difficult circumstances, help arrived quickly. Christine Biggiani Bakelaar of Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission saw the shelter’s plea for an emergency foster and stepped in without hesitation. She was immediately drawn to the dogs, and upon reading their note, discovered a personal connection — the dogs’ birthday, October 12, is also her own. “This was meant to be,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
With the help of her rescue organization, the dogs were placed in a loving foster home on a farm, where they are now safe, cared for, and together. “They need to decompress,” Biggiani Bakelaar shared. “Certainly will with all the love that they are getting.”
Shadow, the black dog, and Tiger, the brown brindle, are described as friendly, non-aggressive, and good with both people and other animals. Though their full medical history is unknown, their rescuers are working to locate their previous family to learn more and, perhaps, offer some peace of mind. “If anyone on here sees this and knows the people,” Biggiani Bakelaar wrote in a Facebook comment, “please have them reach out to me. No questions asked… I promise never to separate them.”
For now, the dogs are thriving in foster care. Videos and photos shared online show the pair enjoying the outdoors, receiving affection, and adjusting to a new chapter in their lives. They are still awaiting adoption, but their rescuers are committed to finding a forever home that will honor the bond they share and the love their original family clearly had for them.
Sadly, Shadow and Tiger’s journey is not unique. The shelter crisis continues to strain resources and staff across the country. But in this case, a community came together to ensure that two senior dogs didn’t have to face their twilight years alone or afraid. It’s a story of heartbreak, resilience, and compassion — one that reminds us of the importance of supporting local shelters and rescue missions.
Anyone interested in adopting Shadow and Tiger or supporting their care can find more information through Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission. Donations and supplies are always welcome, especially as organizations like Bloomfield Animal Shelter and SDRM work tirelessly to meet the growing needs of animals in crisis.
“Shadow and Tiger want to say thank you to all of you for loving them so much on this beautiful sunny day,” Biggiani Bakelaar wrote in a recent update. Their gratitude, and that of their rescuers, is a testament to the power of kindness in even the most difficult of times.