When the staff at Bloomfield Animal Shelter (BAS) in New Jersey arrived one morning, they were shocked to find two abandoned dogs at the entrance. The dogs gazed at their rescuers with an expression of deep sadness, their eyes revealing the heartbreak of watching their owner walk away.
As the staff hurried to comfort the distressed pups, they discovered the dogs were tied to a fence with a note left behind.
Their hearts broke when they read the note from the dogs’ owner, which said:
“Hi. I’m sorry, but my babies deserve to spend their golden years happy, in a warm home for the winter. I can’t care for them while living on the streets. Our home was foreclosed, leaving us homeless.”
The heartbroken owner begged the shelter not to euthanize the dogs and to keep them together.
As the rescuers continued reading the note, they learned that the dogs were named Shadow and Tiger, and that they were brothers born on October 12th, 2009. The note described the two as friendly with other animals and loving toward people.
The staff felt a sense of urgency and despair, knowing that their shelter was already full and they had no space for the abandoned brothers. Hoping for a solution, they quickly turned to social media, posting a plea for help to find a foster home for Shadow and Tiger.
Their efforts paid off when Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission (SDRM), an animal rescue organization in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, stepped in and offered to take the siblings in, giving them a new chance at finding a loving home.
Christine Biggiani Bakelaar, the owner of Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission, rushed to the shelter to pick up Shadow and Tiger. The moment she saw their photos and the sorrow in their eyes, her heart melted.
When Bakelaar arrived to take the two dogs, they began to smile, as if they knew that they would never be abandoned again. After reading the owner’s note once more, Bakelaar made a surprising discovery — she shared a birthday with Shadow and Tiger. Feeling this was no coincidence, she became even more convinced that their paths were meant to cross.
She found a perfect foster home for the heartbroken brothers on a peaceful farm, where they could begin to heal. Once they settled in with their new foster family, they were given the space and time to decompress.
Soaking Up Their Foster’s Love As the pups were showered with love and attention from their caring foster family, they began to understand that they were finally safe. They soaked up all the affection, gradually letting their guard down.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey rescue team is working to locate Shadow and Tiger’s original family to learn more about their medical history, hoping to ensure the best care for the two sweet brothers.
Bakelaar couldn’t help but feel sad about the difficult situation Shadow and Tiger’s owner was in. She deeply hoped they would get in touch, as she wanted to reassure them that their beloved dogs were safe and would remain together.
“If anyone sees this and knows the owners, please ask them to reach out to me. No questions will be asked. I just want to know more about the dogs and let them know their boys are OK. I promise never to separate them. I’d love for the owners to visit or at least allow me to send updates,” Bakelaar wrote in a heartfelt Facebook comment.
The team at the rescue is still waiting, hopeful that Shadow and Tiger’s former owner will eventually contact them. However, if no word comes, the two senior dogs will need to start a new chapter and look for a forever home.
In the meantime, the sweet brothers are flourishing in their foster home, enjoying life on the farm and soaking in all the love and care they deserve.
