Dog owners sometimes have to make tough decisions if they want the best for their furry friends.
When Ryan Hamilton became homeless, he had to do what’s best for his dog, Dakota. He loved Dakota a lot, but he was no longer able to take care of her. So he took Dakota to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
Ryan had to say goodbye to Dakota because he lost both his home and his job. Dakota was also heartworm positive and Ryan was no longer able to afford her treatment. He chose to surrender Dakota to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay because they were a no-kill shelter.
Ryan says goodbye
At first, Ryan planned to have Dakota stay at the shelter for only a few days while he searched for a job. However, five days passed and Ryan still wasn’t able to find employment. The poor guy had no choice. He had to fully surrender his dog.
Unfortunately, Ryan’s situation isn’t uncommon. The pandemic has made life hard for a lot of people. Many people lost their jobs causing them to surrender their pets to shelters. Experts estimate that shelters had to re-home 10 million pets during this pandemic.
Dakota and Ryan reunite
Fortunately for Ryan, he was lucky. He found a job and a home within a few weeks. Ryan immediately tried to find Dakota again. He called the shelter to ask if Dakota was still there and to his surprise, she was. Dakota is a sweet dog, but no adopters showed interest in her.
The staff at the Humane Society shared the good news with Ryan. When Ryan came to pick Dakota up, the dog squealed with happiness and delight. Dakota ran into her owner’s arms. The Humane Society gave Ryan and Dakota six months of heartworm preventatives, a new collar, and a new leash.
Credits: Humane Society of Tampa Bay
