There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than a dog experiencing the loss of their parent. Some dogs show physical signs of grief as they are mourning, while others display behavioral changes.
Regardless, it’s a tough time for a pup filled with big changes to face. Sammy is a 14-year-old dog who lost his littermate and became homeless following the passing of his elderly parent four months after. Coping with the loss was undoubtedly difficult for him, but his spirits were soon lifted by his new family.
Monmouth County SPCA shelter took Sammy, a senior dachshund, under their care. His caretakers noted that he would look for his recently deceased parent every day at the shelter. Most of his days were spent sitting at a window staring outside and waiting for his parent to come. He’d brighten up at the sight of a passerby but quickly lower his head when he realized that they were just a stranger. Seeing that Sammy has been through so much in such a short space of time, the shelter felt compelled to find him a loving home to spend his golden years in.
Soon after taking to social media with a picture of Sammy, someone came forward to adopt him. While it was fascinating news that Sammy was getting adopted, the shelter encouraged their followers to adopt dogs from their local shelters and also brought attention to the challenges senior dogs face in shelters. They highlighted the fact that senior dogs make great adoptees as they know basic commands, how to walk on a leash, and still have so much love to give.
Image Credit: Monmouth County SPCA