A homeless teenager found shelter and was reunited with his beloved dog after a compassionate community stepped in to help, following a poignant story of surrender.
The then-17-year-old, who chose to remain anonymous, arrived at the Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter in Mississippi carrying a Rottweiler-German shepherd puppy named Jada, along with a bag of dog food.
“He walked in and asked if he could leave his dog here,” said Interim Shelter Director Kris Robinson in an interview with WREG News. “I told him, ‘Buddy, we are so full,’ and he responded, ‘I can’t take care of her anymore.’ He mentioned living under a bridge, which broke my heart.”
The young man explained that he had been living in a tent with Jada, but she had escaped when he went out looking for work. He admitted he no longer had a tent and could not afford to feed her.
Despite the shelter being at capacity, Robinson decided to take in Jada and posted about the situation on Facebook to raise awareness.
“This is where she laid after her owner surrendered her today, along with her bag of dog food and a blanket,” the post read. “She is devastated. I can’t be angry with her owner; he’s 17 and lives under a bridge in Tate County. He WALKED her all the way to the shelter, asking us to please take her because he can’t afford to keep her. She’s about four months old and stayed close to his legs while he was here. We are full, but how could we not take her in?”
Support for both the teen and his dog quickly poured in, moving Robinson to tears.
“For this young man to be just 17 and down on his luck, yet still take the time to walk her here and ensure she would be cared for, says a lot about his character,” Robinson expressed.
The teenager filled out a surrender form with some personal details, which Robinson used to connect him with people willing to help. While the town lacks an official homeless shelter, local residents, along with the Senatobia police, were able to locate the young man and ensure his safety. Various local churches also offered assistance, and he has since found temporary housing while he works on his situation.
In a heartwarming turn, he has been reunited with Jada.
A woman identifying herself as the teen's mother reached out to the news outlet after hearing the story. She revealed that he had run away from home and had been missing for a year, expressing her desire for him to come home. While the specifics of their family circumstances remain unclear, one thing is evident: the teenager made a selfless choice to ensure his dog was taken care of, even if it meant letting her go temporarily. This act of responsibility deserves recognition and praise.