A puppy was left cold and alone on Christmas Eve after being abandoned at the side of a Los Angeles freeway.
Finley the German shepherd pup might well have perished that night had he not been spotted by a woman who contacted a friend from a local shelter.
Robin Jampol from Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles told Newsweek: "She saw a car pull over to the side of the road, dump out a box and take off. Thankfully, she realized it was a puppy and stopped."
It's impossible to know the circumstances that led to Finley being abandoned at the roadside but, given the time of year and her own experiences, Jampol has an idea.
"Was Finley an unwanted Christmas present? We can only imagine. But by Christmas Eve he was alone, in the dark on a freeway, so terrified," she said. "Sadly, this is a scenario that is happening over and over, and there is nothing any authorities could do."
There's no getting away from the fact that the number of pets entering animal shelters each year is on the rise.
Each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet "Shelter Watch Report" found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year.
Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
However, Jampol said that shelters like Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles are witnessing an "epidemic" of animals being discarded by their owners.
"They are found in every situation," she said. "Left in hotel rooms; left in the desert to fend for themselves; litters of sick puppies left in alleyways; it's so disillusioning to see such cruelty over and over."
Despite this, Jampol and her staff remain determined to keep reaching out to help dogs like Finley find the owners and the forever homes they not only need, but deserve.
"We still keep trying our best, because we know all together we are still saving countless precious lives," she said.
This may yet end up being a Christmas miracle for Finley too, with Jampol confirming that the young puppy is currently staying with a new owner in a "potential forever home."
After experiencing the worst kind of cruelty, it's the least he would deserve.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
