Dog left abandoned with devastating note attached to collar
At the end of August, a puppy named Chase was found skittish and scared in the Treos lanes, Bridgend. Attached to his collar was a heartbreaking note, appealing for the finder to help him. Fortunately for Chase, he found safety at Hope Rescue in Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The note read: "HELP ME!! My name is Chase. I am 1 yr old November 16. I am very friendly and kind, good with kids. I need a new home as my owner cannot take care of me. Please help me. Thank you."
Hope Rescue said that Chase was "very nervous" when he arrived at the centre, having been running loose for some time. However, after spending a few weeks at the centre, the young dog began to trust the team and is well on his way to finding a forever home, having now been placed with a loving foster family.
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Hope Rescue explained: "He was very shell-shocked when he arrived to us. He spent a lot of time just hiding away in his kennel. He was very nervous and didn’t want to go on walks, interact with toys or other dogs. We gave him a lot of TLC to try and build his confidence.
"A foster home came forward and he went out on Monday. They’ve got two little dogs that he’s really enjoying the company of and he’s already starting to show his playful side. Although he’s been through a really stressful situation, we’re hoping that now he is on the way up and will have a lovely life with his people."
They added it was "really frustrating" to see Chase come to the rescue in the way. They said: "We understand that sometimes people are in desparate situations, but this wasn’t the way to try and find him a suitable home. He had the trauma of running loose, he could have been hit by a car, anything could have happened to him."
Hope Rescue are inundated with dogs that need their help and are taking in more dogs than ever before. Last month, Chase was one of just 187 dogs that arrived at the centre. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
With most rescue centres running at capacity, Hope Rescue is urging struggling dog owners to contact charities for advice and support instead of just abandoning their animals. If dog owners are struggling financially, they can put them in contact with organisations who can help, or for those who are looking to give up their dog, add you to their waiting lists.
More advice and support can be found on Hope Rescue's website, where there is also information on how to adopt a dog and support the organisation.