Lonely Dog Left Tied Outside Shelter With Tears In Her Eyes Finds Her Forever Family

When a puppy is abandoned, it’s not just their body that suffers—it’s their heart, too.

This is the story of Minerva, a young dog left tied to a pole outside a shelter in Philadelphia with nothing but a note and tear-filled eyes.

A Tearful Beginning Turns Into Joy For Abandoned Pup

When the team at the Pennsylvania SPCA arrived at work one morning in early May, they were met with a heartbreaking sight.

Source: Pennsylvania SPCA

Outside the shelter in Philadelphia, a young puppy had been left tied to a pole sometime between the evening of May 7 and the morning of May 8. Next to her, a handwritten note read:

“Cane Corso – pit mastiff. Born 12-15-23. Good Puppy. House Broken. Don’t Have A Name.”

But what struck the staff the most wasn’t just the abandonment—it was the way the dog looked.

Her eyes were full of discharge, making it seem like she had been crying through the night.

Source: Pennsylvania SPCA

“We literally had to wipe away the tears from her eyes,” the shelter later shared on Facebook.

Thankfully, the five-month-old pup was in good health, and the team was determined to give her the fresh start she deserved.

Hope And Healing

They named her Minerva.

Though she was clearly scared—tail tucked and unsure of her surroundings—Minerva still had hope.

Source: Pennsylvania SPCA

“Though shy, she would wag her tail and approach slowly, looking for love,” Gillian Kocher, the shelter’s Director of Public Relations said to People.

The staff took their time with her, offering gentle care and affection.

In just a few days, Minerva began to open up. Her playful side started to peek through, and she seemed to understand that she was finally safe.

In a video posted on May 10, she’s seen taking slow, cautious steps toward a staff member—tail wagging, eyes brighter.

“A tentative step. A tail wag. Minerva is learning that the world isn’t so scary,” the shelter wrote.

A New Beginning

That same day, the Pennsylvania SPCA announced that Minerva was officially available for adoption.

They didn’t have to wait long.

Source: Pennsylvania SPCA

By the next evening—just one day later—Minerva found her forever home. The shelter shared the joyful update with a touching quote by author John Green:

“We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken.”

Minerva’s tears were replaced by joy, and the scared pup who once sat tied to a pole was now part of a family who would love her for life.