It’s always heartbreaking when people abandon their pet dogs. These poor animals go from having a home to being alone in a shelter, wondering what happened.
It’s especially infuriating when people do it for senseless reasons. That was the case for one family dog, who was ditched in favor of a new pet.
Hunter the dog was six years old when his life was suddenly uprooted. His family brought home a new puppy, and when Hunter didn’t get along with the new addition, they decided to just toss the old dog away.
People like that don’t usually consider the traumatic effect abandonment can have on a dog, but the shelter workers saw it all too clearly. When he arrived at Houston Humane Society, he was heartbreakingly terrified.
“When I walked up to the kennel, at first I didn’t even see a dog in there, until I looked in the corner. I saw him frozen in fear, trying to make himself invisible,” volunteer Randi Bertholet told The Dodo.
“I immediately sat on the floor, turned away from him, waiting for him to come to me. After a few minutes he cautiously approached me.”
She was outraged by his story, and made a video hoping to get his story out into the world.
“Just when I think the human race couldn’t disappoint me anymore,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Ever wonder what a broken heart looks like? Well there you have it.”
Her video with Hunter was shared by the shelter, and soon his story went viral.
Randi wanted to help the poor dog find a new home—she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“I was so heartbroken for him,” she told The Dodo. “I cried that night while laying in my warm bed with my dogs, thinking about him in there alone and scared.”
Luckily, her video helped Hunter find just the right home. A couple named Larry and David saw the post and immediately fell for the dog.
After meeting, they knew it was meant to be and adopted Hunter.
They had another pet for him to play with: a dog named Dolly, after Dolly Parton.
They decided to give him a new name to match, and fittingly named him Kenny, after Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton’s old duet partner.
You can follow Kenny’s adventures on Instagram. It’s clear that he’s found the right forever home with a family who will love him no matter what.
We’re so glad this poor dog got a happy ending and the good home he deserves!
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