Dogs are fiercely loyal, protective and provide the best friendships, which is why it is heartbreaking when they are abandoned by the people they trust.
For me, it’s incomprehensible a family would choose to leave their dog behind; a dog is so much more than just a pet – they’re part of the family unit.
Yet people continue to abandon their dogs in remote places or just by the side of the road, which is exactly what happened to one good boy in California earlier this year.
Larry the Lab was found abandoned by the side of the road by a delivery driver, who passed him every day on his drive to work.
According to The Dodo, the eight-year-old Labrador had been left behind by his family when they moved away and he had been living in a car park across the street from where he used to live ever since.
When the driver kept seeing Larry in the same position, looking hungry and in need, he decided to set up an Instagram account to see if anyone could help him.
His first post was back in June:
He called upon her followers to share the image, in the hope that doing so would help Larry find his forever home.
He wrote:
It breaks my heart and I wish I could help him but my situation simply will not allow me to bring him home. Im going to post pictures of him daily as he is until someone with the heart and position to give him a loving home.
The page quickly gained popularity, resulting in Larry’s story being heard by thousands of people – including Love Leo Rescue`, which is a foster based rescue located in Los Angeles.
Sasha Abelson, president of Love Leo Rescue, told The Dodo:
As soon as we saw [the posts] we said, ‘Just get the dog to us, we’ll take care of the rest,’
As soon as they took Larry in, it became clear that his health was suffering and so they made the decision to take him to the vets, who diagnosed him with Cushing’s disease.
According to Blue Cross, Cushing’s disease causes health problems such as hair loss, weight gain, changes to the skin’s appearance and abdominal swelling. This can be quite costly, with the rescue writing that it costs $180 a month (approximately £140) on their Instagram page.
Because of this, the rescue have spent thousands of dollars on his vet bills and boarding costs since taking him in a few months ago and they advise that anyone considering adopting Larry ‘will need to factor that expense into the equation’.
Larry has been cared for by the rescue ever since, but they are still actively looking for his forever home with a proper family.
In a recent post, the rescue described how the lab had been kicked out of three foster homes due to separation anxiety, in addition to having two potential adopters bail on him.
They wrote:
He deserves better than that… he’s a kind and gentle dog who really deserves a forever home to call his own. Please consider adding him to your family. He has been through so much and wants to spend his golden years being loved and adored.
Despite being let down so many times, Larry remains resilient and friendly but desperately needs a family of his own.
Abelson told The Dodo:
He’s been so resilient, doesn’t hold a grudge, and still loves people even though they’ve let him down in the past. He’s just a happy, grateful dog. He just wants someone to take care of him and be there for him.
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I hope Larry finds a loving, caring family soon who want to give him a forever home.
If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in adopting Larry, you can contact Love Leo Rescue for more information.
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to stories@unilad.co.uk.
A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).