Senior Dog Surrendered by Owner of 13 Years Because 'She Was Moving'

A senior rescue dog found himself surrendered by his owner of 13 years after she decided to move house and leave him behind.

Jake the dog was surrendered to Uncle Neil's Home, a farmed animal sanctuary in New Jersey, late last December in distressing circumstances.

Rian Feldman, founder and president of Uncle Neil's Home, told Newsweek: "I received a call one evening from a woman telling me that she needed rescue for her 13-year-old dog because she was moving and going to euthanize him if she couldn't find a home."

Feldman was in shock. "I was sickened to hear this and immediately put out an urgent plea across our social media pages calling on our community to help us find a foster home for Jake to save his life," she said.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of the network of dog lovers supporting the shelter online, they were able to find Jake a foster carer—Valerie, from Maryland, who offered to take him in and, as Feldman put it "save a life."

Foster carers play an essential role in helping to change outcomes for countless shelter animals and are much needed at a time when the number of animals entering these facilities is on the rise.

Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.

Foster care provides animals with a chance to get acclimatized to post-shelter life away from the hustle and bustle of the shelter and an environment that can prove intimidating to some dogs.

With a foster carer lined up, Feldman organized for Jake's departing owner to drop him off at the shelter. It was only then that she learned the true extent of Jake's situation. Feldman said it was far from a warm farewell.

"They barely said goodbye to him. They yelled out the window 'bye Jake' and sped off... after 13 years," she said. Seeing Jake in the flesh, Feldman also realized he was in very bad shape.

"It was clear that he was extremely neglected," she said. "He could barely walk, he couldn't get down from the car and we had to urge them to help him down. His eyes were tearing and infected and his nails hadn't been trimmed in over a year—they curled under."

Heartbreaking footage of Jake appearing weak and struggling to get around was posted to the Uncle Neil's Home Instagram account. It sparked understandable concern among followers.

Feldman continued: "My partner had to carry him around because he walked so poorly. It had to have been years since he had any vet care, and we weren't given any medical records for him either. He's not even neutered."

Feldman booked Jake in for a vet appointment 24 hours later, where the extent of his situation was laid bare. Jake was struggling with: severe unmanaged osteoarthritis of all four limbs, enlarged elbows, muscle atrophy, cracked teeth, dental disease, hearing loss, conjunctivitis, several masses below and on the skin, possible laryngeal paralysis, bladder stones, a mass on his testicle and neurologic deficits.

Thankfully, he's on his way to feeling much better already. "Within just two days on arthritis medication and eye ointment and pain medication, Jake was getting around on his own, exploring the backyard with a smile on his face, his eyes stopped tearing, and he now has a twinkle in his eye," Feldman said.

In the meantime, Uncle Neil's Home has been busy raising funds to cover the cost of Jake's treatment. "Jake is having surgery on January 25 to address masses, bladder stones, and have him neutered which will help with urinary issues as well," Feldman said. "He also has cracked teeth and needs a dental. He'll be getting monthly injections for his arthritis as well, and is on medication for joint pain and osteoarthritis."

There's already been an outpouring of support online. The shelter created a wishlist for Jake, raising money that has gone towards the purchase of toys, treats, an orthopedic bed, blankets, a new leash and collar, a car ramp, and other things designed to make his life that bit easier.

"He is doing amazingly well in his foster home," Feldman said. "We're hoping for a foster fail."

Ultimately, Feldman believes Jake's story is an example of how "love heals"

"Jake has never been so loved and adored and cared for in his entire life," she said. "He finally feels like he has something to live for."

Correction 01/16/24, 6:25 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this story identified Rian Feldman as "he" rather than "she."