An 11-year-old senior dog has found herself back in a shelter in Austin, Texas, where she waits patiently at her kennel door, “crying softly”, after being returned to the shelter following the death of her owner.
Adopted in 2015, Lori has spent nearly nine years in a loving home. Initially cared for by her adopter, Lori moved in with her adopter’s mother when life circumstances changed. She enjoyed a stable and happy life until October 2024 when her owner sadly died. With no one able to provide long-term care, Lori was brought back to the Austin Pets Alive (APA!) shelter on December 22.
Though she’s physically healthy, Lori has struggled emotionally since returning to the shelter. Accustomed to the quiet comfort of a home and the companionship of a family, she now finds herself surrounded by unfamiliar sights and sounds. Volunteers at Austin Pets Alive! have noticed Lori waiting at her kennel door, “crying softly,” as she wonders why she is back at the shelter.
In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent compared to the 2022 intake. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared to the same time the year before.
Pictures of 11-year-old Lori, who is searching for a new home after the death of her owner.
Austin Pets Alive! APA!
Around 850,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2023, a rise of 15 percent when compared to 2022. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Karen Hardwick, a longtime volunteer at APA! told Newsweek: “Lori is super sweet. She loves being around people, very affectionate and cuddly. She was the office pup and would greet all the people. I took her on a trial test, which she passed. She loves going on walks and sniffing and exploring.”
During APA!’s “Home for the Holiday” adoption promotion, Lori found a temporary family to stay with for a weeklong sleepover where she is being looked after and enjoying some home comforts.
While the break from the shelter has been good for Lori, the staff at the shelter said that “she urgently needs the stability and love of a forever home,” and is searching for the right person to adopt her and give her a forever home to enjoy her twilight years.
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