“We don’t want it anymore.” This is the chilling response from the owners of Sophie, the 11-year-old dog they abandoned ten years after adopting her. Identified by the microchip, they have not had any second thoughts. This story has aroused much emotion and indignation. Told by Albert Harris of the Orange County Animal Shelter, it has been making the rounds on social media and has achieved hundreds of thousands of views.
A shared video on TikTok by Aharrisphoto of Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, Florida, explains that Sophie, as she appears in the video walking around the shelter, was there a long time ago, but then sadly her family left her again. A caption explains: ‘Meet Sophie, an 11-year-old stray who was adopted by us in 2013 but sadly returned here 10 years later. We contacted her owner via her microchip but they said they didn’t want her anymore. How can you see, she’s an old woman, so she’s struggling to get a house because nobody wants it. Let’s change that.”
After years alongside her owners, when she became an elderly dog, she was left on the street. She was deliberately abandoned by her owners, as Newsweek reports. Albert Harris hoped for only one thing: that social media would help him make Sophie’s dream come true: “Let’s do everything we can to change that. This dog deserves to end his life in a home, not a shelter! If you want to help him, please share this video as much as possible.”
Fortunately, thanks to the mobilization of internet users, Sophie has been adopted by a new loving family who will give her a new home and a second chance to enjoy life despite her advanced age. This story demonstrates the power of social media to spread messages of hope and change the lives of abandoned animals. It also highlights the importance of raising people’s awareness of the importance of caring for pets throughout their lives and not abandoning them when they get too old or have health problems.
The video has so far received over 150 thousand views and 20 thousand likes. One user commented: “Older people are the best ever! This little lady will be the perfect companion!!! let’s take her home forever!” Another: “The elderly are the greatest blessing”; “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who don’t want their dogs anymore when they get older and those who would give anything for another five minutes with theirs.”
