An animal shelter has shattered hearts by sharing a clip of a senior dog moments after she was surrendered by her family.
In May, the Midwest Animal ResQ posted a video on Instagram of Daisy, an 8-year-old Great Dane who had been “unceremoniously dropped off” at the shelter because her family was “too busy” to care for her.
The video shows Daisy standing and staring out the window, whining and panting as a shelter member tries to comfort her. In the post’s caption, the shelter, under the handle @marqkc, wrote, “It’s been 30 minutes, and she just shakes, cries, and looks out the window for her people to return.”
Erin Morse, the founder and director of Midwest Animal ResQ, told Newsweek: “Sadly we have seen a huge increase in people giving up very senior pets. Just this week we had a 15-year-old dog [and] a pair of 17-year-old cats.”
Screenshots of an Instagram reel showing Daisy the Great Dane, who was left at a shelter after eight years with her family. Her owners were warned that it was unlikely she would be adopted and that she could die in the shelter.
Instagram @marqkc
“Shelter life is difficult on any animal, but it is a particularly difficult transition for seniors,” she continued. “Unfortunately, the stress of being in a shelter proves fatal to some of these animals, as they simply cannot cope.”
In the post, a staff member wrote that they had warned Daisy’s family that, because of her age, she was unlikely to be adopted. They also told her owners, “There is a real chance she may die here.”
Still, the family unloaded her kennel and drove away. “Everything she’s ever known, gone in an instant,” the shelter wrote. “My heart is broken, but not nearly as much as hers.”
Great Danes have a life expectancy of between 7 and 10 years, according to the American Kennel Club. Potential owners should be prepared to care for a dog of such height, weight and strength. Danes can grow up to 32 inches high and weigh up to 175 pounds.
Screenshots of an Instagram reel showing Daisy. The senior dog was heartbroken and confused at being left behind.
Instagram @marqkc
The rescue ended the post: “Our pets give us their unconditional love, the least we can do is return the favor when they are in the twilight of their life. I’m so so sorry sweet girl. The world failed you.”
However, Morse said Daisy’s story had a happy ending after all: She has been adopted and is now living out her twilight years in what is hopefully her true forever home.
Morse told Newsweek that all pet owners should “have a long-term plan for any animal that is part of their family, even as they get to be seniors and not as ‘fun’ as they once were.”
“There are resources across the country to help people keep pets in their homes, whether that be with providing low-cost veterinary care or supplies,” she said, adding that owners should “consider pet care as part of their estate planning.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
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