Terrified Senior Dog Surrendered To Shelter After Owner Gravely Ill With Stage 4 Cancer
When Duke and his bonded companion were surrendered to the Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, Florida on January 25, their world fell apart. Their owner has been gravely ill with Stage 4 cancer, and no one in the family would take on the responsibility of the dogs – so off they went. Although shelter life was devastating without anything or anyone familiar, the dogs still had each other and slept intertwined in each other’s arms.
And then a tragic turn of fate occurred on Wednesday. Duke’s brother died last night a shelter volunteer revealed early this morning on Facebook. And if Duke could speak, this is what he likely would have told us:
“The worst part is that my brother died last night. I was by his side when he died, but I watched him die and no humans were around to hold him when he died to tell him he was a good boy. I loved my brother so much and told him I loved him before he died, but I had to lay next to him until the shelter people got in this morning and found him dead. He is now safe at the Rainbow Bridge, but now I am all alone in a concrete kennel surrounded by noise and terrible memories of what happened overnight.”
Someone is needed to reassure Duke that he is indeed a good dog and is loved and still has a reason to live. He is described as loving people, but gets excited when someone approaches his kennel cage and barks. Volunteers think Duke just wants to make sure people see him – even though he is a senior pup wearing a black coat with streaks of gray and white.
Click here for more information. “Hi, my name is Duke. I am an approximately 9 year old black neutered male. I tested heartworm Positive. I weigh approximately 65 pounds. I have been at Orange County Animal Services since Wednesday, January 25, 2017. If you are looking for me, please come to Orange County Animal Services at 2769 Conroy Rd., Orlando, FL.” The phone number is (407)836-3111. Make sure to reference #A137276.
Duke needs pledges to cover his medical expenses (heartworm treatment plus he has some skin growths that need to be addressed). He also needs a foster home before a rescue can save him. His life literally depends on us to help. Share his plight with approved rescue organizations, family, friends and social media contacts. An additional link for Duke can be followed here.
Photos and video of Duke via Facebook and Brittany Young.
And then a tragic turn of fate occurred on Wednesday. Duke’s brother died last night a shelter volunteer revealed early this morning on Facebook. And if Duke could speak, this is what he likely would have told us:
“The worst part is that my brother died last night. I was by his side when he died, but I watched him die and no humans were around to hold him when he died to tell him he was a good boy. I loved my brother so much and told him I loved him before he died, but I had to lay next to him until the shelter people got in this morning and found him dead. He is now safe at the Rainbow Bridge, but now I am all alone in a concrete kennel surrounded by noise and terrible memories of what happened overnight.”
Someone is needed to reassure Duke that he is indeed a good dog and is loved and still has a reason to live. He is described as loving people, but gets excited when someone approaches his kennel cage and barks. Volunteers think Duke just wants to make sure people see him – even though he is a senior pup wearing a black coat with streaks of gray and white.
Click here for more information. “Hi, my name is Duke. I am an approximately 9 year old black neutered male. I tested heartworm Positive. I weigh approximately 65 pounds. I have been at Orange County Animal Services since Wednesday, January 25, 2017. If you are looking for me, please come to Orange County Animal Services at 2769 Conroy Rd., Orlando, FL.” The phone number is (407)836-3111. Make sure to reference #A137276.
Duke needs pledges to cover his medical expenses (heartworm treatment plus he has some skin growths that need to be addressed). He also needs a foster home before a rescue can save him. His life literally depends on us to help. Share his plight with approved rescue organizations, family, friends and social media contacts. An additional link for Duke can be followed here.
Photos and video of Duke via Facebook and Brittany Young.