When Did We Lose Our Humanity?

In the animal rescue world, there's a moment, or several, if we’re honest, when you lose faith in humanity. It's not something we talk about often because we need to keep hope alive. But sometimes, the weight of the disregard, neglect, and apathy is simply too much to bear.

Within a 48-hour window this past week, I received two phone calls, just two out of many, that were hard to take.

The first was from a woman calling about her puppies. “The mom stopped nursing them,” she said. “They’re about 2 ½ weeks old, and I can’t help them anymore. I don’t want them to die like the other nine from the same litter.”That sentence alone was a punch to the gut.

She then told me that her local shelter had been "mean" to her, and that they tried to get her in trouble because the puppies had fleas. “But all dogs have fleas, right?” she asked casually.

No, ma’am. They do not. These babies were infested — crawling with parasites, suffering at just a few weeks old. And nine of their siblings had already died. To make matters worse, the flippant attitude about her boyfriend when I asked about spaying the mom left me angry. I even offered for her to take advantage of our Spay/Neuter Initiative, but so far, no one has applied. She casually mentioned that "her mother-in-law's dog has had litters regularly, and has had seven or eight litters.

The second call was from a man who found a cardboard box on the side of the road. Inside were six newborn puppies, so young their eyes hadn’t even opened. Someone had placed them there like discarded trash. Like their lives had no value.

In both cases, we called on other rescues to step in, since we are simply not equipped to handle puppies this young. Thankfully, two incredible rescues came through (Blazin' trail bottle babies and Imperfectly Perfect pups), no questions asked. I am beyond grateful for them. But I can’t help but ask myself:

What happened to us?

How does someone wake up in the morning, see helpless animals suffering, and feel nothing? How does someone see a nursing mom too weak to care for her babies and think, “She’s good”? How do you look into the eyes of newborn puppies and think, “Not my problem”? How does this level of indifference become normal?

Where are the laws that protect these lives? Where are the consequences for those who treat animals as disposable? Where is the outrage?

Meanwhile, here we are, doing everything we can to save the lives others throw away, and we have four incredible dogs sitting in our care, overlooked every single day.

Meet the Forgotten Ones

🐾 Soji – A soulful, striking beauty with a heart full of love. Soji is eager to please, quick to learn, and gentle with everyone he meets. He's the kind of dog that turns heads at the park — loyal, loving, and incredibly smart.

🐾 Ginger – Our sweet and sassy redhead. Ginger is vibrant, funny, and affectionate. She's that perfect mix of playful and cuddly. She wants to be someone’s shadow, someone’s best friend, someone’s everything.

🐾 Julia – Intense Intelligence. Julia is that smart, full-of-life soul who just wants to be near you. She loves to work and train. If you’re looking for a dog that will never let you down, Julia is your girl.

🐾 Winston – A total gentleman. Winston has all the qualities people say they want in a dog, he's house-trained, crate-trained, loves walks, and gives the best snuggles. But week after week, no one asks about him.

All four are just around a year old. All four would make incredible companions. And all four are being passed over, again and again, while people spend thousands on so-called “designer” mixes from breeders who don’t know the first thing about temperament, behavior, or ethics.

Why? Because they’re trendy? Because of some misguided idea about allergies? Let’s be clear: Doodles and “hypoallergenic” breeds are not guaranteed. It is guaranteed that Soji, Ginger, Hattie, and Winston are real, ready, and right here, waiting for someone to give them a chance.

We can't do this without you. Every share, donation, and adoption makes a difference.

Please, let’s be better. Let’s choose kindness. Let’s remember that these lives matter.

And if your heart is open to love, meet Soji, Ginger, Hattie, or Winston.

They won’t let you down.

Visit www.usdogcoalition.org to learn more.