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‘Please do not think poorly of me.’ Heartbreaking note found with puppies at NC shelter

An emotional note was found with puppies at a North Carolina shelter, photos show.
An emotional note was found with puppies at a North Carolina shelter, photos show. Screengrab from the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society on Facebook

“I’m sorry for leaving them like this but I myself am homeless and cannot afford to care for them.”

Those words filled a heartbreaking note left with puppies at a North Carolina animal shelter, photos show.

The writer — only identified as “nameless man” — said he brought the stray pups to the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society after their mother’s death. He often fed the mama dog before she was hit by a car, setting off his search for her babies.

“I just want them to be given the chance their mother like myself, was never given,” the letter continued. “Please do not think poorly of me but it felt wrong leaving them alone in the cold waiting on a mother that would not be coming home.”

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society in a touching Facebook post praised the man for saving the tiny animals, saying his “kindness has not gone unnoticed.”

“We promise to honor your selfless gesture by providing these puppies with the love and care they deserve,” the animal organization wrote Jan. 15. “If you’re up for it, please swing by the shelter to visit the puppies and to get a proper thank you!”

The shelter in its post shared a photo of the five adorable animals — two males and three females.

“Their mom seemed to really have taken care of them considering they were on the street,” the shelter told McClatchy News in an email. “Normally, puppies can be adopted as early as 8 weeks old but because we need to vaccinate, deworm, and microchip them, it will be a few weeks until we’re comfortable accepting adoption applications.”

Within 24 hours of being shared on Facebook, the post about the pups had more than 600 reactions and dozens of comments. Many social media users said they couldn’t get enough of the man’s good deed.

“We experienced a moment that simultaneously broke and uplifted our hearts,” the shelter wrote. “This story is a testament to the kindness that still exists in the world, even in the most challenging times.”

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society is roughly 60 miles south of Raleigh.

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This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 9:34 AM with the headline "‘Please do not think poorly of me.’ Heartbreaking note found with puppies at NC shelter."

Simone Jasper
The News & Observer
Simone Jasper is a service journalism reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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