When a family is forced give up their dog, their daughter writes a note to the Humane Society
It is sad when someone has to give up their dog, regardless of the reasons behind the decision. Many times, it is because the dog’s owner has moved somewhere that doesn’t allow pets, they can no longer afford to care for the dog, or the dog is just too much for the owner to handle.
And while their former owners usually give them up out of love, their loss still leaves broken hearts behind.
Rhino’s family sadly had to surrender him
When a dog named Rhino Lightning was surrendered to the Humane Society of Utah, he came with a little notebook. The dog’s family could no longer keep him, but that didn’t stop the little girl in the family from missing him. She loved Rhino very much and wanted to make sure he was well taken care of.
“They felt that he was a little too rambunctious with their small children,” Deann Shepherd, director of marketing and communications for the Humane Society of Utah, told The Dodo. “Sometimes a family is just not in a position to provide the care the animal needs.”
Rhino arrived at the Humane Society of Utah with a note
The little girl had written a note for Rhino’s future owners in a little notebook. Staff at the Humane Society of Utah read the letter, and it was heartbreaking. It started simply enough.
“Hi, if you are reading this, you must own Rhino now,” the little girl wrote in the little notebook, with multi-colored dots on the front. “He was my puppy. I really hope he is in a good environment. I really miss him. I wish he knew that he was a pretty puppy.”
“Rhino is a really intelligent puppy,” she continued. “He is a very amazing puppy. Rhino needs lots of attention. He loves people.”
The little girl also gave Rhino’s future owners some advice on dealing with him.
“Rhino is a good dog, and he loves cuddles. Just don’t tease him with treats — he will start to bark like crazy, then you have to just try and calm him.”
“He likes sleeping under blankets. Rhino also hates kennels. Sometimes he gets really happy and runs around you.”
She finished by telling whoever adopted Rhino his full name and to please not to change it. She finished by asking them to tell Rhino that she loved him.
“His full name is Rhino Lightning, then your last name,” the girl wrote. “Please don’t rename him.”
“Rhino is a striped dream. His cheeks make a lot of slobber. Please tell Rhino that I love and miss him every night.”
Rhino finds a new home
This story, while sad, does have a happy ending. Soon after arriving at the Utah shelter, Rhino Lightning was adopted by another family. And while the family had kids, they were older and better be able to handle Rhino and his energetic nature. The family promised the staff that they would follow his former owner’s suggestions.
“The family did take the notebook, and they are going to try and abide by the guidelines that the girl set out,” Shepherd said. “They’re going to keep his name Rhino Lightning. They’re going to make sure they give him a bath and daily runs and everything that she said. It’s really cute.”
For more about the Humane Society of Utah and how you can adopt or donate, visit its Website or Facebook page. Watch the video below from the Human Society staff as they worked to get him adopted.
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H/T: Paw My Gosh, The Dodo