Oklahoma Man Left Speechless After Finding What’s Inside A Bag Left At Shelter Door
Stories of pets being abandoned are sadly all too common.
While some owners responsibly surrender their animals to shelters, others take far more distressing routes.
For Scott Lockard of the Oklahoma Humane Society, such heartbreaking situations have become a grim reality of his work.
One morning, though, he faced a discovery that would stay with him for a long time.
As Scott walked up to the shelter to start his day, something caught his attention immediately. Dangling from the door handle was a black bag.
At first, it looked like it might be trash, but instinct told him to take a closer look.
When he peered inside, his heart sank. Curled up at the bottom was a small brown dog, frightened and confused.
Sadly, this wasn’t the first time Scott had found animals left at the shelter, as he said in an interview:
“This wasn’t the first time I have arrived at the adoption center to find animals waiting there, so I can’t say I was super surprised. I was happy to get her in and fed and watered, so I was mostly just thinking about getting the little dog comfortable.”
Though shy at first, the little pup seemed healthy and safe. Still, the way she had been left there, alone in a bag, tied to a door, was heartbreaking.
As Scott inspected the bag further, he discovered a folded piece of paper. The note read:
“Her name is Maris, find her a good home.”
The words were simple, but they revealed so much. Whoever had left Maris behind hadn’t wanted to see her harmed.
Maybe they loved her, but couldn’t provide for her. Or maybe they didn’t know what else to do. Either way, Maris’s future was now in the hands of the shelter.
While Maris was safe, her story is just one example of a much larger issue. Shelters across the U.S. are overwhelmed.
Adoptions have slowed in recent years, while the number of abandoned animals continues to climb.
Roshelle Anderson, the shelter’s marketing manager, explained why they shared Maris’s story publicly:
“We didn’t post the photo to specifically call out the people who left the pet, but rather, to bring attention to a greater problem facing our community.”
With too few foster homes and limited space, shelters like theirs are pushed to the limit. Every animal left at their door is another life they must fight to protect, often with fewer resources than they need.
That’s why they’re asking people to step up, whether by fostering, adopting, or spreading the word.
For every dog that finds a forever home, space opens up for another animal in desperate need.
As for Maris, she is now under the shelter’s care, surrounded by people who want to make her feel safe and loved again.
Staff members are hopeful that her story will touch the right family’s heart and lead her to a forever home where she’ll never again know the fear of being abandoned.
