Latest news with #RescueMeATL
Newsweek
a day ago
- General
- Newsweek
Dog 'Minutes Away' From Being Euthanized Is Saved, But It's Bittersweet
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 who was "minutes away" from being euthanized has been saved in the most dramatic circumstances, but his rescue proved bittersweet. Bruce first arrived at DeKalb County Animal Services after being abandoned as a puppy at just six months old. He was adopted shortly after, but within a few short years, he found himself back at the shelter. "Unfortunately, this isn't uncommon," Erica Perets, the Founder of RescueMeATL, told Newsweek. "Many dogs re-enter the system due to circumstances outside their control—like housing restrictions, financial hardship, or major life changes." RescueMeATL is a nonprofit set up to address the way Atlanta responds to what Perets describes as the "shelter dog crisis." "Through viral storytelling, grassroots action, and pressure on broken systems, we help at-risk dogs get seen, saved, and supported—empowering everyday people to be part of the solution," she said. That's how she discovered Bruce and why she decided to share his story on the RescueMeATL TikTok account. "Bruce was placed on the euthanasia list due to lack of space. He had no medical or behavioral concerns—he was simply out of time in an overcrowded shelter," Perets said. Euthanasia is an unfortunate reality for many shelters in the U.S. that struggle with space. According to Shelter Animals Count (SAC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on animal sheltering, in 2024, 334,000 dogs were euthanized. At the same time, shelters remain at a breaking point, with the SAC estimating that 103,000 animals were added to shelter populations last year. Peters believes that shelters too often face the brunt of criticism regarding shelter euthanization. She believes the real issues lie with the system they operate in. "Overcrowding, lack of spay or neuter enforcement and government funding, and the continued impact of backyard breeding have created conditions where even healthy, adoptable dogs are being euthanized simply due to space," she said. Peters also believes that the practice of "backyard breeding," where people breed dogs in careless or substandard conditions, has led to shelters being flooded with unwanted litters and surrendered pets. Bruce could so easily have become another statistic. Thankfully, RescueMeATL's intervention and the actions of one good Samaritan changed everything. Bruce the dog getting rescued from an Atlanta animal shelter the day that he was supposed to be euthanized. Bruce the dog getting rescued from an Atlanta animal shelter the day that he was supposed to be euthanized. TikTok/rescueme_ATL "We issued an urgent call to action for Bruce and several other dogs facing euthanasia that day," Perets said. "Todd Smith, known affectionately as 'Mr. Todd' by volunteers and the community, saw that no one was coming and rushed to the shelter. " To say Mr. Todd arrived in the nick of time would be something of an understatement. "Bruce had already received the sedative—the first injection in the process," Perets said. "When Mr. Todd arrived. Bruce was minutes away from being lost. He arrived just in time to save Bruce and stayed at the shelter for five hours while Bruce recovered from sedation." The footage of Bruce walking free from the shelter on the day he was due to be put to sleep was shared on the RescueMeATL TikTok page. It went viral, amassing over 230,000 views and counting. "We shared Bruce's freedom walk because it represents more than one dog's rescue," Perets said. "It's a window into what's happening every day in shelters across the country." It highlighted what proved to be a bittersweet moment for Perets, who had campaigned for several dogs to get a reprieve that day. "Bruce was the only dog who made it out of DeKalb County alive that day," she said. "Every dog deserves a chance, and while we're grateful Bruce got his, we carry the weight of the others who didn't." Bruce will now be fostered by Mr. Todd with the goal of being adopted. Perets is still in desperate need of people willing to show up and help other dogs like him. "You don't need to run a rescue to make a difference; you don't even need experience. You just have to be willing to show up. Because one person did, a good dog got another chance," she said. "But too often, when the alarms are sounded, everyone waits for someone else to step forward. The reality is: if everyone waits, no one comes, and good dogs like Bruce don't make it out."
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Woman Learns What Really Happened To Rescue Dog, Been 'Haunted Ever Since'
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. The backstory of a two-year-old pit bull mix who is still waiting for a home is breaking hearts online. RescueMeATL, a nonprofit dedicated to saving shelter dogs from euthanasia, shared a video about Karamja, a dog who entered the shelter system three months ago on March 2nd, when Animal Control was called to a DeKalb County apartment complex in Georgia. While in the apartment complex, Karamja was being chased away by residents who were throwing rocks at her. While she had no severe or visible injuries, she was dangerously underweight and emotionally shut down. Her story gained momentum after RescueMeATL member Jennifer Galloway penned an Instagram plea, sharing the heartbreaking details of Karamja's past, which has amassed more than 82,000 views since being posted earlier this week. The caption read: "POV: You found out what broke her and you've been haunted ever since." She added: "Her eyes told me she was broken, before I found out what broke her." Shelter staff later confirmed Karamja had recently given birth—but no puppies were ever found. Pictures of two-year-old Karamja who is waiting for a home after a traumatic start in life. Pictures of two-year-old Karamja who is waiting for a home after a traumatic start in life. @rescueme_atl/Instagram The caption went into further detail about her heartbreaking condition, saying: "But that's not the worst part. The reason why she was wandering all around lost—she had just given birth. Her puppies nowhere to be found. Robbed from her "Her home. Robbed from her. Her body. Robbed from her. You could count every rib." RescueMeATL's Erica Perets told Newsweek: "She entered the shelter system: terrified, underweight, and abandoned. Karamja is a painful example of backyard breeding's devastating cycle. "In many cases, dogs are discarded after their litters are taken—left behind, often in poor condition, after being used for profit." In 2024, approximately 7 million animals entered U.S. shelters and rescues, according to Shelter Animals Count—an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2023. By the end of the year, 103,000 more pets had entered shelters than had exited, contributing to an ongoing capacity crisis in U.S. shelters. Around 748,000 animals experienced non-live outcomes, including euthanasia, death in care, and being lost in care, in 2024. While this represents a 1.6 percent decrease compared to 2023 and a 20 percent drop from 2019, the number remains high. Dogs made up a growing share of these outcomes, with euthanasia rates rising to 9 percent, compared to 7 percent in 2019. Currently at DeKalb County Animal Services, Karamja, who weighs just 39 pounds, is still waiting for a home, and RescueMeATL is calling for urgent foster placement or adoption to prevent her from being overlooked. "She's sweet, docile, and loving. Dog friendly," the Instagram captioned said. Newsweek reached out to DeKalb County Animal Services via email for comment. "She was recently taken in by a short-term shelter foster, someone who stepped up just to buy her more time," Perets said. But she added that Karamja still needs a more permanent place to call home: "Karamja urgently needs a long-term foster or an adopter who can give her the stability and love she's never known," she explained. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
