An animal shelter in Chattanooga, Tennessee, shared a heartbreaking note that was found next to a dog wandering the streets.

The dog, Lilo, was brought to the McKamey Animal Shelter in Chattanooga after she was found by a local walking alone with her leash still attached. The note was attached to her collar and read,

“Please keep my name. My name is Lilo. Please love me. My mom can’t keep me and is homeless with 2 kids. She tried her best but can’t get help. I cost too much for her. She really loves me, and I’m a great dog and loved to be loved on. Please don’t abuse me.”

The McKamey Animal Shelter shared a picture of the note on their Facebook page and reassured the mother that the dog would be loved and looked after.

“We want you to know she is safe, and we will take the very best care of her,” the message read. “But if you are reading this, we hope you will come forward to reclaim her. We will help you with whatever you need to care for her, to the best of our ability. Lilo definitely misses you, and we would like nothing more than to see her go back to the family she loves.”

A few days after the post, the animal shelter provided an update and said that Lilo’s mom had been located, and they were now “actively working with the family to set them up with a safe haven, shelter, and resources to stay together and tackle homelessness.”

According to national estimates, approximately 6.3 million companion animals are abandoned and enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. If you happen to notice an animal on the side of the road, whether or not the animal is injured, safely put on the hazard lights and pull your car completely off the road before attempting to rescue them, says the Humane Society.

Here are the full rescue tips that just may come in handy one day, and while you’re at it, sign this petition to demand all states make all animal abuse a felony now.

The Best Things In Life Are Rescued by Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

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