A stuffed animal and a heartbreaking note accompanied a pit bull puppy named Rene left outside an animal shelter in Michoacan, Mexico.
The note was signed by a 12-year-old boy named Andrés.
“My name is Andrés and I am 12 years old,” the note reads. “My mom and I decided to leave my dog in your hands, hiding it from my dad because he is thinking about selling him. But he mistreats and kicks him. One day he kicked him so hard that he hurt his tail. I hope you can help and take care of him.
“I left him a stuffed animal so he won’t forget me.”
At Refugio Xollin, Rene will be kept safe and given the care he needs to recover until he is adopted into a new home. As quickly as the story was shared on Facebook, many people from all over Mexico contacted the shelter, hoping to take Rene home.
“How I wish this little boy could know his dog is safe now and how brave and generous of him to think of the puppy first. I wish I could hug this little boy – and pray his father changes,” wrote Carolyn Gray.
Many commenters expressed further concern for the boy’s environment and potential abuse from his father. But the family has not been heard from since dropping off the dog.
Rene has been given a clean bill of health from Refugio Xollin. As his tail heals and his story makes its way around the internet, there’s little doubt that this puppy will be placed in a caring new forever home soon.