CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — There is a happy ending for a dog found wandering through the streets of Chattanooga, still wearing a leash and carrying a heartbreaking note on her collar from the animal’s homeless owner.
Thanks to the efforts of an animal center in the Tennessee city, Lilo and her owner have been reunited, WTVC reported.
According to a Facebook post by the McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, the organization is working with the dog’s owner to provide a safe haven and resources for the woman, her two children and the dog so they can “stay together and tackle homelessness.”
The big, fluffy dog was found with a note when she was brought into the McKamey Animal Center, according to WRBC-TV.
According to the note on Lilo’s collar, the owner said she was homeless and could not afford to keep her, the television station reported.
“Please keep my name. My name is Lilo. Please love me. My mom can’t keep me and is homeless with 2 kids,” the note stated. “She tried her best but can’t get help. I cost too much for her. She really loves me & I’m a great dog & love to be loved on. Please don’t abuse me.”
The center offers a pet food pantry, along with low-cost or free vaccines, WKRN-TV reported. But what center officials wanted most was for Lilo to be together with her owner.
They wrote a note to the woman on Facebook, urging her to come to the shelter and reclaim Lilo.
“She will be loved by our staff and volunteers, we will keep her name, and we promise you we will do our best to find her a wonderful new home,” the Facebook post stated. “But if you are reading this, we hope you will come forward to reclaim her. We will help you with whatever you need to care for her, to the best of our ability. Lilo definitely misses you, and we would like nothing more than to see her go back to the family she loves.
“Either way, please know that we understand, we will not judge, and we are here to help in any way we can.”
The note did the trick, as the woman came to the center and had a tearful reunion with Lilo.
“We are thankful for everyone who has advocated for the family, and shared our post,” the center wrote on Facebook. “We are amazed at the outpouring of support. It truly takes a community, and you all have certainly shown us how powerful ours is -- thank you so much.”
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