Panicked, fearful, and withdrawn from people—those were the emotions that filled the eyes of June, a dog abandoned in Carolina, USA.
The pain of losing a loved one is devastating for humans—and we often believe we are the only creatures capable of such deep emotions. But animals feel loss too.
Almost everyone has heard the story of Hachiko—the loyal dog who waited at a train station for years after his owner had passed. The grief animals experience, especially dogs, may not look exactly like ours, but it can haunt them for life. That’s what happened to June, a dog abandoned at the rescue center of the Harley Grave Foundation, an animal welfare organization in the U.S.
On the day she was left behind, June had no idea it would be the last time she ever saw her owner.
As June watched her former owner walk away and disappear into the distance, her body trembled with fear—so much that she couldn’t control herself. She was placed in a new kennel, too panicked to lift her head or look around. Instead, she buried her face into the wall, curling tightly into the corner—frozen with grief.
Amid the unfamiliar barking of other abandoned dogs, each one seeming desperate to escape, June didn’t know where she was or who she could trust.
A medical examination by the shelter’s veterinarian revealed that June had a severe parasitic infection and no microchip. It was clear that her previous owner had never properly cared for her.
Though heartbroken by the abandonment—and likely unable to ever forget her previous owner—perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. June may take a long time to rebuild her trust in people, but now, she’s in a safe place with proper care and attention.
Thanks to weeks of dedicated treatment and gentle care, June’s emotional state has greatly improved. She no longer stares blankly into space or hides in the corner. Now, she interacts with people and is ready to be adopted by a kind, loving person.
In cases of abandonment, June is one of the lucky ones. Instead of being captured and euthanized like so many other stray dogs in the U.S., she found refuge with a compassionate rescue group.
Though she may adapt to her new life, the trauma of being abandoned is something June will likely never forget.
According to statistics, there are around 6 to 8 million dogs in the U.S. facing situations similar to June’s. Organizations like the Harley Grave Foundation believe every dog deserves the chance to live a happy life. That’s why they—and many others—encourage dog lovers to adopt from shelters instead of buying from pet shops.