7 days ago
Hearts Break for Dog Surrendered To Rescue With Wedding Ring on Her Collar
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A dog surrendered to a shelter came with a heartbreaking item attached to her collar—a wedding ring and no explanation.
A 1-year-old dog named Lotus first arrived at the county animal shelter before being brought into the care of a Charlotte, North Carolina, rescue. The previous owner surrendered her, along with a wedding ring, claiming they "no longer wanted her," an August 7 Instagram post under the account @forgotten_now_family_rescue stated.
A representative from Forgotten, Now Family Rescue told Newsweek that there was no explanation regarding the wedding ring, but confirmed that the shelter said it was attached to her collar when she arrived. The previous owner looped the gold band to the part of the collar where a name tag would normally hang.
While Lotus isn't the only canine surrendered to shelters—about 2.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescues across the country during the first half of 2025, according to the Shelter Animals Count—the wedding ring attached to her doggy collar proved a bit unexpected.
Screenshots from an August 7 Instagram post of a wedding ring attached to Lotus's collar; and a person holding the item.
Screenshots from an August 7 Instagram post of a wedding ring attached to Lotus's collar; and a person holding the item.
@forgotten_now_family_rescue/Instagram
Not only did a relationship end, but her life as Lotus knew it also turned upside down.
The dog came to the rescue, scared and confused. Nerves flooded her eyes, as seen in the photos posted to Instagram. She remained timid and unsure about her future, and, despite the turn of events, she remained "so sweet."
Thankfully, Lotus received several adoption applications since Forgotten, Now Family Rescue first shared her story. People instantly fell in love with her black, scruffy fur and hopeful face.
Lotus is now safe and sound with her adopters, unwinding from the turn of events in her life and regaining her confidence. The animal rescue said "she's doing amazing" in her forever home.
Viewer Reactions
The Instagram post instantly captured people's attention. Many felt heartbroken about the situation, but others stressed the importance of not judging the owners, as they might have removed Lotus from a dangerous situation.
"Discard the spouse if necessary. NEVER discard the dog," commented a viewer.
A second posted: "Wow, she's beautiful. I hope she finds a forever home soon. Thank you for rescuing Lotus."
A third person wrote: "Not saying this is the case, but just remember there can be various reasons people surrender their animals, domestic abuse, deportation from the US, etc."
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