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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A South Carolina shelter has shared the story of a dog named Queeni, who was left behind with a handwritten note from an owner who said they could no longer care for her.
The Darlington County Humane Society posted about Queeni’s arrival on Instagram, where the emotional circumstances surrounding her surrender quickly captured attention.
According to the shelter, staff found a crumpled note explaining why the dog had been abandoned.
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In it, the writer apologized for leaving Queeni and said they were no longer able to provide for her. They described Queeni as “good in the home,” someone who loves going outside, playing with her plastic bone, and watching TV. The note added that she had not been around young children or other dogs but is a “loving dog” who simply needs someone who can take care of her.
The shelter shared photos of Queeni settling into her kennel and asked supporters for “positive vibes” as she adjusts to the new environment. They said she will undergo heartworm testing and later be evaluated with other dogs once she feels secure and comfortable.
According to Shelter Animals Count, in the first half of 2025, approximately 2.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues, a 4 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024.
Despite this dip, shelters remain over capacity, with 175,000 more animals arriving than leaving during the first half of the year. Non-live outcomes, such as euthanasia and deaths in care, reached 366,000 animals, a 2 percent decline from 2024.
Adoptions have declined slightly, with 1.9 million dogs and cats adopted nationwide in the first half of 2025, down 1 percent from 2024.
Internet Reacts
Queeni’s story captured hearts online where an Instagram post about her has more than 14,000 likes and comments from animal lovers.
“This breaks my heart but I know it wasn’t easy for them to come to this decision and now she has a shot at finding her forever home,” one commenter said.
Another wrote: “That note is so heartbreaking. OMG. You can tell that this is a very loved dog.”
“Queeni, happy days ahead. There is love in this letter, I can tell,” said another Instagram user.
For now, the shelter is asking for potential fosters, or people who may be able to visit and spend some quality time with Queeni.
“If you might have a bit of time to volunteer, to just sit with a Darling and love on them, we are sure Queeni and her new friends here would appreciate that,” the shelter said on Instagram.
Newsweek reached out to Darlington Humane via email for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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