When visitors to Destrehan’s Splash Park discovered a dog in one of the bathrooms, they contacted Louisiana Animal Services. They were surprised to see her there and believed that she had been abandoned. They also saw a note and a water bottle beside the dog.
The note was a bit ambiguous, but it claimed that the owner would return the next day and asked that the dog be given water. It further stated that the owners were stranded with no vehicle. There was no name on the note, or even a contact number.
The rescuers understood they could not simply leave the dog there. Therefore, they brought the dog to the local animal shelter. That would be safer for the dog.
The next day, as stated in the note, the owner returned to the park to get his dog. When he was unable to find her there, he contacted animal control. He was then informed of what had happened, what they did, and where to locate her.
The dog owner then went to the shelter to visit his dog and reported their predicament to the authorities. Evidently, the man and his dog, Ladybird, have been leading a nomadic existence. They had been traveling, spending all of their time traveling from location to location.
When they arrived in Louisiana, though, their vehicle broke down and they ran out of money. Ladybird and her owner were returning to their North Carolina relatives at that time. The man was attempting to find work and save money so that they could continue their journey. Because he was residing in a shelter, which prohibited pets, he was forced to leave the dog behind.
The personnel at the shelter were so moved by the story that they contacted one of their partners, a non-profit group, which helped raise funds so the man could adopt the dog. As word spread, strangers flocked to their aid.
The dog was transferred to one of the man’s cousins in North Carolina. The elderly dog is currently secure and safe.
Source: Suzy Haas Swims