Mother & Son Stood In Shelter Lobby Clutching Their Dog And Crying

Carolina and her teenage son stood in the lobby of a Phoenix animal shelter with tears streaming down their faces. The boy clutched a fuzzy black and tan dog to his chest, occasionally whispering reassuring words into the pup’s floppy ear. A counselor for the Arizona Pet Project noticed their distress and invited them to share their story. After 13 years in their home, Carolina and her family received notice that they must move out in just 30 days. The loving mom somehow managed to find an affordable place in the insanely competitive housing market; they even allowed dogs. But with first and last month’s rent and additional moving expenses, Carolina could not manage the additional pet deposit required by her new landlord. The decision was gut-wrenching: let go of the new place and risk homelessness while searching and saving for another pet-friendly rental, or give up Maggie, the dog her family cherished. Carolina knew she had to keep a roof over her children’s heads. So with a broken heart, she headed to the same shelter where she had joyfully adopted Maggie five years before. Luckily, the Arizona Pet Project was on the scene. Minutes after entering the shelter, Carolina’s heartbr...