When staff arrived for work at the Bloomfield Animal Shelter (BAS) in New Jersey one Monday morning in September, they were stunned to find two senior dogs tied to the fence — and a handwritten note left behind by their former owner.
The dogs, clearly confused but gentle, waited silently as the team approached. As the staff read the note left with them, their hearts broke.
“Hi. I am sorry, but my babies deserve to live their golden years happy and in a good, warm home for the winter,” the note read. “I can’t take care of them while living on the street. Our home was foreclosed on… Please take care of them and don’t kill them.”
The two dogs, named Shadow and Tiger, are 15-year-old littermates. Their owner described them as friendly, affectionate, and healthy. With gray-muzzled faces and gentle eyes, they were clearly well-loved — and now deeply lost.
The note ended with one heartfelt plea:
“Please keep us together if you can.”
Unfortunately, the shelter was already full and unprepared to take in more dogs, let alone a bonded senior pair. Still, the team knew they had to act fast.
BAS put out a call for help, and within hours, Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission (SDRM) stepped up. Christine Biggiani Bakelaar, founder of SDRM, rushed to bring the dogs into safety.
Bakelaar had already felt a deep connection to Shadow and Tiger — but reading their note revealed a coincidence that sealed the bond. Their birthday, October 12, is the same as hers.
“This was meant to be,” she wrote on Facebook.
Shadow and Tiger were placed in a peaceful foster home on a farm, where they’re getting the love and time they need to decompress. Bakelaar hopes to find their previous owner — not to blame, but to offer reassurance.
“If anyone knows the person who left them, please tell them to reach out. No questions asked,” she wrote. “I just want to tell them the boys are OK. I promise to keep them together.”
Shadow and Tiger’s story is one of many as shelters nationwide face the growing crisis of pet surrenders linked to housing instability and rising costs. But thanks to caring people like Bakelaar and organizations like SDRM, these two souls are safe.
“They’re being spoiled, getting love, and adjusting beautifully,” Bakelaar said. “They’ll never be abandoned again.”
The pair are still in foster care and looking for a forever home — together. In the meantime, they’re surrounded by care and compassion.
Shadow and Tiger are so happy to be in a safe, loving foster home, and their rescuers are just are grateful.
“Shadow and Tiger want to say thank you to all of you for loving them so much on this beautiful sunny day,” Biggiani Bakelaar wrote in a Facebook update. “Thank you so much again.”
You can inquire about adopting Tiger and Shadow here.
If you’d like to help Tiger and Shadow get the supplies they need to thrive, you can check out their Amazon wishlist here.
To help pets like Tiger and Shadow get the care they need, you can check out Bloomfield Animal Shelter’s Amazon wishlist here and donate to Scooby-Doo’s Rescue Mission here.
