A little over two weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy walked up to a rescue shelter and shattered his own heart. He was surrendering his beloved Pitbull puppy in order to save his life, and it was likely the hardest decision this child has ever had to make.
Refugio Xollin, a Mexico-based rescue shelter operating out of the state of Michoacan, opened its doors on February 13th to find a cardboard box with a beautiful puppy curled up inside.
Accompanying the puppy was a note with one of the most heartbreaking confessions anyone at the shelter had ever read.
The note was clearly written by a kid, and he identified himself as a 12-year-old named André. As the note continues, the little boy explains what brought him to leave his dog in such a sudden and heartbreaking way.
“My name is Andrés and I am 12 years old. My mom and I decided to leave my dog in your hands, hiding it from my dad because he is thinking about selling him. But he mistreats and kicks him,” the boy’s note read.
After going on to describe how once his dad kicked the puppy so hard that it injured his tail, he asked the shelter workers to protect him in the way that he couldn’t.
“I hope you can help and take care of him. I left him a stuffed animal so he won’t forget me,” the note finished.
After the shelter read the boy’s sorrowful note, they decided to share pictures of the puppy to their Facebook page with an explanation of what happened.
“Someone left this dog at the door of the shelter, inside a box, with a plush toy and a note. The note was written by a kid and he explained his dad was always beating the dog and was planning to sell him. So, in such a state of despair, he left the dog here to save him,” the caption read.
Of course, the shelter was more than willing to oblige.
After learning from the letter that the puppy had been so abused, their first order of business was to take him to the vet to get his fractured tail looked at and get him some dewormer. After receiving medical treatment, they plan to put the handsome looking puppy up for adoption.
The good news is that this puppy will have no lack of choices when it comes to finding his forever family.
According to Refugio Xollin, they received an overwhelming 300 applications to adopt the puppy, who they named Rene, before he’s even been given the pass yet.
While it’s lovely that so many caring people are willing to open their homes to this abused puppy, the shelter can’t help but put in a good word for their other furry, four-legged residents as well.
After Rene’s story went viral, there was no shortage of potential adopters. The shelter can’t help but wonder why, then, is it the sound of crickets when it comes to all of the other dogs at their shelter in need of a forever home?
“If you all opened your heart and your home to all and not only to this dog, all our animals in the shelter would have been already adopted twice. Thanks to the few people who came to the shelter offering their help to protect other animals suffering abuse or being abandoned in our district and surroundings,” the shelter said.
It’s reassuring to know that Rene will go to a loving forever home, but Xollin has a point. Does a dog really need to go viral for their heartbreaking backstory in order to find a place in people’s hearts? We sure hope not.
If you’re looking to add a fur baby to your family, please, please consider adopting from a shelter or animal rescue. These dogs have already been through so much and could really use a whole lot of the love you have to give.