The story began with a phone call. She rushed to her local humane society, even though Judy Obregon was dripping wet having just stepped out of the shower.
That one call that no animal rescuer wants to receive ever!
A dog whom Obregon saved four years ago and adopted by a family has been dumped at the shelter. The dog,
Benji, was left in a cage on cold cement floor. Although Obregon made sure that every adopter promises to return the animal back to the shelter if they no longer want it, this didn't happen in
Benji's case.
Obregon, the founder of
The Abandoned Ones "Saving Animals in Danger" (TAO) rescue in Fort Worth, Texas, right away rushed to the
Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT), and went inside.
"I knew he was shutting down," Obregon told The Dodo.
HSNT knew information about the dog when they found a microchip. Although the people who adopted
Benji didn't register the microchip in their name, they still found information about the dog, because Obregon has chipped all her shelter animals to her organization.
"When I got there it was really devastating," Obregon said. "I really just wanted to fly through the lobby so I wouldn't see the sadness, so I wouldn't see the dogs waiting at the front counter. There were at least 10 of them being surrendered."
Obregon went to the back with a
HSNT worker and kept her focus on finding
Benji. After searching, she finally saw him.
"When I called his name he barely lifted his head," Obregon said. "He shook as he was so afraid."
She looked at him,
"Benji, it's me," she said.
"I'm here to rescue you again, and I'm taking you home."
"Yeah let's take him out, put him on a leash, take you upstairs and get you both out of here," the worker said to Obregon.
Benji was surrendered without a collar or a tag!
"Our contract states we are to be contacted if they can no longer care for the animal," Obregon said. "It's not only in the contract that they sign, but it is also verbally stated by me or by whoever (from her organization) does the home visit."
Benji is saved again, when a TAO foster took him.
"I think he was looking for his owners and that's why I cried too," she said, referring to the photo she took of herself in tears. "I cried not just for Benji but because I saw a line of dogs being surrendered, knowing I cannot save them all."
Share this story with your family and friends!
If you would like to give Benji a loving, forever home, please contact
taoanimalrescue.com.
