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17-Year-Old Senior Pup Dumped at High Kill Shelter Because She Was “Too Old”

At the Lancaster Animal Services shelter in Lancaster, California, dogs living in small confined kennel spaces pray for the day they will once again enjoy the freedoms they rightfully deserve. The high kill, cash-strapped facility managed by the Los Angeles County Animal Services is a dark place, with a notorious record for euthanization rates as shelter staff at grapple with overcrowding and limited resources.



For one dog named Madison, she could tell you all about the lows of her new life at Lancaster Animal Services if she could talk. Her family didn’t want her anymore after 17 long years of love, loyalty, and devotion.

And so one day, they packed her belongings into a small plastic crate, loaded her into the back of a car, and drove her to the Lancaster animal shelter knowing full well that there was a high chance she may be put down.

Shockingly, the family had the gall to write a heartless letter, explaining, irrationally, why they decided to do give up on Madison, writing to staff:

“My former family who owned me for “more than 5 years” gave me up because they “thought I had gotten too old”. They said that I spend most of my time indoors. I have begun housetraining, but I still need some work. I am good on a leash. I am just learning obedience skills I seem to get along well with dogs and cats.”

SpeakUp, a kill shelter is no place for a senior pup in the golden years of her life. Madison should be out there playing on a field somewhere, enjoying the treats, and toys a dog’s life has to offer. If you or someone you know is interested in giving this precious pup the forever family she rightfully deserves, please contact the Los Angeles County Animal Control – Lancaster at (661) 940-4191 and reference the shelter ID #A5031407.

Additionally, please share this story on Facebook or Twitter, so we are closer to finding Maddison a forever family.