Houston Human SocietyLook, full disclosure, I really didn’t want to write this article. It’s hard enough knowing pets sometimes get abandoned but when you can see the animal themselves realising it, it’s heartbreaking.
Hopefully, at least, this might show some people that looking after a dog is not to be taken lightly. Being responsible for another being’s life is a big challenge and should only be undertaken by people who know they can care for the animal appropriately.
A six-year-old dog was sadly returned to an animal shelter after his owners said he wasn’t getting along with their new puppy. So they had decided they didn’t want the older dog anymore.
And if you’re wondering whether dogs can understand what’s going on, watch the heartbreaking footage for yourself:
Sadly, the dog, named Hunter, was taken to the Houston Human Society after his owners made the difficult decision.
In a post on Facebook, the society said:
Ever wonder what a broken heart looks like? Well there you have it. Hunter was surrendered to the shelter yesterday because…ready for it? He didn’t get along with their new puppy.
Just when I think the human race couldn’t disappoint me anymore. I found him in the corner of his kennel, too afraid to move. Sometimes I have to stop walking dogs, and sit on the cold floor (the same cold floor these pups sit on) to give them some comfort that’s it’s not as scary as they think.
If you’re interested in adopting sweet Hunter, then head to the @houstonhumane and be this guy’s hero. #adoptdontshop #adopthunter #houstonhumanesociety”
However, if there’s a glimmer of hope, it’s that the shelter are specialists in re-homing dogs and finding new loving owners for their animals.
So, fingers crossed that Hunter’s future is bright. I mean, just look at that face. How can it not be?!
One day, he’ll be riding the waves, happy as Larry like this little fella:
The surfing dog, named Jojo, began surfing after a serious attack from another dog left him with physical and mental scarring. Now he uses surfing as a form of therapy.
Jojo’s owner Josephine Zosa said:
I got attacked on my hand and Jojo almost didn’t make it alive. We had to rush him to the emergency vet and did tons of rehab, after his operation we started with hydrotherapy.
When my husband came home from deployment, he took Jojo out to the beach and did therapy there.
[For] Jojo, surfing is therapy and it had helped him to be healthy again. He got his strength and mobility back.
Talking about his successes in surfing, Josephine said:
He won at the Purina challenge dog competition and was 3rd place in Huntington surf dog competition in 2016.
He is also a therapy dog. He volunteers for the military, Scripps Memorial hospital, rehabs and elderly homes.
As well as being incredible at water sports, Jojo also goes to the city library where kids read books to him.
Here’s hoping Hunter comes out of this as well as Jojo has! I have a feeling he will.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.