Virginia Rescuers Struggle To Hold Back Tears After Finding Senior Poodle Dumped In Parking Lot
Sadly, too many dogs, especially seniors, are abandoned once they start showing signs of aging. After years of loyalty, they’re treated like a burden and left behind as if all that love meant nothing.
That’s exactly what happened to Princess, a 16-year-old Poodle from Virginia. She had spent her life devoted to her family, only to be abandoned when she needed them most.
Princess’s story took a heartbreaking turn in the parking lot of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
Shelter staff discovered her lying next to a pile of her belongings: her bed, toys, and other items that once made up her home.
She was waiting, confused and heartbroken, for an owner who would never return.
Beside her was a note that crushed the team’s hearts. Her former owner asked that Princess be put to sleep and her belongings donated to another dog.
But the staff refused to let that be her story. Instead, they scooped her up and carried her inside, promising her the care and compassion she deserved.
A vet exam revealed she was about 16 years old and living with advanced kidney disease.
The shelter didn’t have the resources to manage her needs, so Princess was transferred to Miri’s Haven Senior Dog Rescue, a place known for giving older dogs a chance to live out their days surrounded by love.
At Miri’s Haven, Princess’s life finally began to turn around. The staff treated her with patience, affection, and kindness, slowly helping her believe in love again.
Despite everything she had been through, Princess responded with affection and showed that she still had so much love to give.
Her kidney condition meant she was placed in hospice care, but to everyone’s surprise, she wasn’t in much pain.
What she carried most heavily was the emotional weight of being abandoned. The staff made it their mission to lift that burden by surrounding her with warmth and comfort every single day.
Little by little, Princess began to blossom. Her tail wagged more, her eyes softened, and she soaked up every cuddle and kind word.
Princess soon settled into her hospice foster home, where she began to thrive. The more her personality shone through, the more the staff began to think she might not need hospice at all.
Her spark had returned, and it became clear that this sweet senior still had more life to live and love to give.
She had survived heartbreak, but now she was proving her resilience and reminding everyone that seniors are just as deserving of forever homes as any puppy.
Princess’s journey is far from over. Knowing that she is safe, cared for, and finally cherished is a gift in itself.
But I can’t help but hope that her story ends with a family who sees her worth and gives her the golden years she deserves.
