Family dumps 15-year-old dog and takes home younger puppy

This story really makes my heart break. How anyone could do this to their beloved pet is beyond me.

Many of us see our pets as family members and they deserve to be treated so.

The thought that someone could abandon a member of their family like this is unthinkable – why should it be any different with a dog?

But for this family, there was no hesitation in abandoning their elderly pet.

In 206, Cookie, a 15-year-old cocker spaniel, was found wandering the streets of San Bernardino, California alongside a one-year-old labrador.

The two dogs were taken to the San Bernardino City Shelter and staff began the search to find their owners — they soon discovered that the two dogs were owned by the same family.

SURRENDERED BY HER OWNERS 1/2/16 #A489703 "COOKIE" Rescue only!I am a female, red and buff Cocker Spaniel. Shelter…

Posted by Lois Chisholm on Thursday, December 31, 2015

Traced the owner

They managed to get hold of the owners who promised they would come by and get both dogs, according to the Sacramento Bee reported.

But when the family appeared, they did something that left staff shocked and upset — they chose to leave Cookie, the older dog behind, and return home with the younger pup!

On seeing her family take the younger dog, her best friend, and leave her alone at the shelter she cried and whimpered, staff said.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case; many pet owners dump their four-legged friends because they are old — people can be so cruel. It’s heartbreaking to imagine this poor dog sitting there alone.

Just because a dog is old, it’s no less worthwhile. And if you’ve had a dog for that many years, you can’t just dump it because it has reached its senior years!

Thankfully there is a happy ending to this story and cute Cookie was given a second chance.

When the news of what happened to poor Cookie spread, many animal lovers were upset and wanted to help. A volunteer group working to save animals heard of her plight and found her a foster home!

”She will stay under the care of the rescue for the rest of her life in a local forever foster. She also will be under the care of our vet who has already done her first surgery. She is covered and we will be updating as we go along with her,” OC Small Paws wrote on Facebook.

LIFE IS GOOD! Rescued! Cookie, our SBC senior surrendered was rescued today! Thank you Pat Kurtz, Little Angels Pet Rescue and special thanks to Brittany Place for fostering 😉

Posted by Save SBC Shelter Friends on Sunday, January 3, 2016

Although Cookie’s story has a happy ending, not all animals that are dumped have the same good fortune.

Share if you also think that ALL dogs deserve a loving home.