Every dog dreams of a warm home with a loving family, but not all dogs are fortunate enough to experience this ideal. Many must make do with living in a shelter, which rarely provides the happiness they seek. It’s particularly hard for dogs accustomed to a family home to adjust to the confined space of a kennel, away from the frequent presence of people. Recently, shelter workers have increasingly witnessed the heartbreak of pets abandoned without just cause, a situation that staff find particularly hard to accept.

This was the case at the West Milford Animal Shelter Society (WMASS) in West Milford, New Jersey, where a dog named Diesel was surrendered in March 2024. Richard Adamonis, a volunteer at WMASS, was deeply moved by Diesel’s plight and felt compelled to share his story with Newsweek.

“Diesel was scared and confused like most animals who arrive at the shelter, three weeks ago,” he mentioned in an interview with Newsweek. Considering Diesel, an 11-year-old Pit Bull, had spent nearly nine years in a loving home before his surrender, his confusion and the circumstances of his abandonment particularly affected Richard and the rest of the staff.

“We feel bad for the animal, like in this instance with Diesel, as they have done nothing wrong,” Richard expressed. Despite the challenges, these situations inspire individuals like Richard to go the extra mile to help these animals and secure a better future for them. Extreme changes in environment can be traumatic for dogs, so Richard and his colleagues took great care with Diesel.

Thankfully, due to Diesel’s calm and obedient nature, he adapted quite well to the shelter environment and quickly became a favorite among the staff. About a month after his arrival, WMASS highlighted Diesel’s qualities in a Facebook post:

“Diesel seems ok with other dogs, he also is housebroken, He is friendly with a touch of a little shyness at first meeting you, enjoys being pet and massaged, Still loves life and play time!”

The post reflected the shelter’s hope that someone who appreciates senior dogs would notice Diesel and offer him the chance for a new life in a loving home. Despite his unjustified abandonment, there are countless reasons why Diesel deserves to find a warm home once more.

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Feature image courtesy of West Milford Animal Shelter Society/Facebook