Update: Lucky Rocky was adopted! Here is a link to his new photo, snuggling on a soft dog bed. Happy dog, indeed!
Worrisome update: Several witnesses saw Rocky’s kennel mate, Dean, attack him and grab him by the neck. Those who saw it screamed and shouted at Dean, and he let Rocky go. One witness asked a kennel worker to separate the dogs because Dean might hurt or even kill Rocky, but the worker responded that Dean will be gone tomorrow so no action was taken.
That witness emailed the shelter to explain what she witnessed and to ask them to separate the two dogs as it is a dangerous situation. After the attack, Rocky cowered in the corner of the kennel. Another dog, Randy, is at the shelter with a huge laceration on his face. From a fight with another dog? Many dogs are allegedly injured at the shelter from fighting with other dogs. Let’s hope the shelter acts quickly so Rocky is not injured further from his kennel mate.
When you look into Rocky’s eyes, the light is gone. All that is left is a soul-deep sadness that permeates his being. He is a dog who has lost everything that was important to him in life — his family.
Rocky lived with a family for a decade — ten years — before they decided they didn’t want him anymore. Did he get too old to play with them? Did they get tired of feeding him? Did they simply decide that they wanted a puppy?
Whatever the reason, Rocky is the one who is suffering. He is obviously suffering from the loss — he is sad and listless in his kennel. He gets along with other dogs, but his kennel mate, a sweet dog named Dean, is hogging all the attention, leaving Rocky in the back. Rocky is sweet but very confused.
Rocky has all the handsome good looks of a Rottweiler, but he is a mini-version. He is only about 45 pounds. Ironically, he probably lived in a home with a family, and that’s why he is so heartbroken. He’s lost everything that he loved, and he doesn’t know why. He doesn’t know what his future will bring, and he certainly doesn’t know that he is in a shelter where dogs can be labeled “aggressive” and killed without any real reason. (See ‘Miami Dade Animal Services labels dogs “aggressive”‘…)
Rocky should be considered urgently in need of rescue or adoption. He will be passed by for several reasons. He is a senior dog and most adopters want young dogs, if not puppies. Rocky is a black dog, and black dogs are killed more in shelters than dogs of any other color. And last, Rocky is depressed and doesn’t jump up when he sees people to greet them. He doesn’t wag his tail. He looks like a sad dog, and most people want a happy, playful dog.
Rocky is calm and gentle. He would fit into almost any family situation. He enjoyed the petting by a visitor, but he needs to be out of the shelter and back into a family setting. Because he is an owner surrender, there is no waiting period and he can be killed at any time. Please share his story with family, friends and social media contacts. He can be pulled by rescue or adopted.
There may be more information on his Facebook thread. Rocky is ID #A0903464. He is at Miami Dade Animal Services, 7401 NW 74th St, Miami, Florida 33166. The shelter is open weekdays from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm and weekends from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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