Rescue Stories

Dog Abandoned in Snowstorm with Heartbreaking Note from Former Owner

Dog Abandoned in Snowstorm with Heartbreaking Note from Former Owner

Jheremia Macatiag

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Jheremia Macatiag

When the snow started falling in Atlanta in late January, most people rushed to the safety of their homes. But for one dog, the cold marked the beginning of an uncertain and heartbreaking journey. Andre, a pit bull and boxer mix, was found tied to a fence near Piedmont Park, shivering in the freezing wind with a note pinned to his collar.

Abandoned in the Cold

The note on Andre’s collar pleaded for kindness and understanding from whoever found him.(Photo credit: Tara Borelli via Facebook)

The handwritten note read:

“My dad is facing homelessness and has no one to take me. I am a really good dog. My dad’s heart is broken, and no shelter will take me. Please treat Andre with love and kindness.”

It was a gut-wrenching plea for help, left by someone with nowhere else to turn.

A Desperate Drive

When Tara Borelli, a nonprofit attorney, saw the desperate Facebook post about Andre, she knew she had to act. She jumped into her car, braving the icy roads and worsening snowstorm for the ten-mile drive to reach the abandoned dog.

“I wasn’t sure I would make it, but with perseverance and some grit, I finally got there,” Borelli tells PEOPLE. “At one point, I thought we might have to spend the night huddled together in my car, but then three Good Samaritans appeared out of nowhere to help.”

With the assistance of an Atlanta police officer and two other men who were pushing stranded cars, Borelli managed to get Andre to safety.

A Tough Choice

Andre was eventually brought to a shelter where he could find a permanent home.(Photo credit: Tara Borelli via Facebook)

After months of caring for Andre, Borelli faced another painful decision. Her own dog’s health issues made it impossible for her to keep Andre permanently. In April, she brought him to a Fulton County Animal Services shelter, hoping he would find a loving, permanent home.

Shelter volunteer Laura Hsiao, who had followed Andre’s journey since the initial Facebook post, made sure the pit bull mix settled in comfortably. Thanks to the support of the community and Andre’s friendly personality, the dog found a foster family in early May. If the arrangement works out, Andre will have a permanent home by next month.

“I’m relieved but so sad and worried for the next wave of dogs,” Borelli tells PEOPLE. “Each week, so many dogs come in, and I hope the community feels as invested as possible to help these dogs get into loving homes.”

Hsiao echoed this sentiment, adding:

“For every heartbreaking story that comes to light, there are 10 more that never get told.”

Finding a Forever Home

Andre finally found a loving home, where he could rest peacefully.(Photo credit: Kaitlyn Ross 11Alive via Facebook)

Andre’s story took a hopeful turn when Christy, a compassionate woman who saw his story online, decided to give him a second chance. Kaitlyn Ross from 11Alive shared in a Facebook post that Christy, the woman who took Andre home, said he fell asleep as soon as he got into her car.

“Andre slept the whole way home,” Christy shared. “At long last, this very good boy can rest.”

Christy is hopeful that Andre will get along well with her other dog and that they can all be a family.

“He finally felt safe. He finally could rest,” she added.

Andre’s journey from the icy streets of Atlanta to a warm, loving home is a powerful reminder of the difference one person can make.

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