‘No one wanted’ dog named Joe, NC shelter says. Then emotional post turned things around
An animal shelter shared a heart-wrenching post about a dog that “no one wanted” — then his situation took a turn for the better.
Dozens of social media users took to Facebook to express their support for Joe the dog as he went through a tough time. But his newfound luck didn’t end there, according to the Pender County Animal Shelter in North Carolina.
A rescue group also saw the post and decided to step in. It made a commitment to take Joe from the shelter so it could help him work on his behavioral and medical issues, officials told McClatchy News in an Oct. 27 email.
“This is truly the best outcome for Joe as the rescue groups can ensure he is fully medically cleared and custom choose what home Joe goes to next,” wrote Jewell Horton, manager of the shelter.
Joe came to the shelter Oct. 24 after officials believe his owner went into an assisted living program. When he got to the shelter, he was “so shut down” that he barely ate, despite being treated to a “buffet of items.” He used a basketball for emotional support, according to a Facebook post.
“No one wanted Joe,” officials wrote. “Judging by his condition and behaviors we think he has lived in a pen or on a chain. He is terrified inside.”
But Joe eventually started eating and relaxed once he was placed outside. The shelter thought Joe, a heartworm-positive dog in his “twilight years,” would need the care of a rescue group.
Though Joe eventually found an organization to help him, the shelter used his story to urge dog owners to talk to family members about pet care in case something happens to them.
“Tomorrow’s never promised,” a shelter representative said in a video posted to Facebook. “Try to make a plan for your animals.”
Pender County is along the North Carolina coast, in the Wilmington area.
This story was originally published October 27, 2023 at 11:57 AM with the headline "‘No one wanted’ dog named Joe, NC shelter says. Then emotional post turned things around."
