When the staff at Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS) agreed to rescue a senior black dog found in a park earlier this month, they expected the mission to end with a happy reunion. The pup had a collar on with tags, which suggested that he had a loving home somewhere. But when the rescuers arrived, they quickly realized that he wasn’t being cared for, and that he wasn’t a stranger.
The 10-year-old dog, whose name tag read “Rigsby,” was a previous MCAS resident, adopted by a seemingly loving family six years prior. The MCAS staff were happy to find Rigsby a forever home all those years ago and were horrified to learn that it wasn’t the happily-ever-after they thought it would be.
“His owners were called, and they do not want him back,” MCAS volunteer Madeline wrote on Instagram. “He is the sweetest guy and must be confused [about] why he’s back at the shelter he was adopted from in 2019.”
Along with his name, Rigsby’s collar sported tags that read “#SWEETHRT” and “#ICHASECATS.” Despite the trauma of being dumped, Rigsby instantly lived up to the “sweetheart” tag and quickly bonded with his rescuers.
“He’s such an easy dude,” Madeline wrote. “I feel [so] badly for him and hope he can get a second chance for real this time.”
You can see more pictures of Rigsby at the park here:
Rigsby joined his rescuers on a ride back to MCAS, where he made a new friend and showcased the skills he had learned during his time away.
“He is potty trained, has been quiet in his kennel and knows ‘sit’ and ‘shake,’” Madeline wrote. “He’s sharing his kennel with another old man and does very well.”
Rigsby soon received a medical checkup, where it was determined that the sweet old boy would likely need a hospice foster home. Finding a family to take in a senior black shelter dog was already a daunting task, let alone a hospice pup. But, thankfully, there was someone out there looking for a guy just like him.
Shortly after his rescue, an organization called The Forgotten Pet Advocates (FPA) received a message from a longtime volunteer, Linda.
“[FPA] had a hospice foster [parent], just a few days ago, call and ask for a 10-year-old or older black lab,” FPA wrote on Facebook. “I saw this boy come up on the feed, and it was [a] ‘meant-to-be’ moment. I knew he was the one.”
Linda fell in love with Rigsby at first sight of his pictures and soon showed up with her other senior pup, Bentley, to meet him. The trio hit it off instantly.
After signing some paperwork, Linda, Bentley and Rigsby drove home and began their journey as a family of three.
“Rigsby has settled right in perfectly, and Bentley is so happy to have him there! They sleep side by side, and Rigsby just wants to be near both his brother and his Mama!” FPA wrote on Facebook. “We couldn’t be happier for this sweet boy!”
You can see Rigsby with his new family here:
As heartbreaking as it was to find one of their previous residents abandoned in a park, the folks at MCAS and FPA feel satisfied knowing that Rigsby now has the perfect home. As a hospice dog, every day counts for Rigsby — and he’s finally able to enjoy them to the fullest.
“The stars [have] finally aligned for Rigsby,” FPA wrote. “[H]e will never have to worry again.”
