This Dog Was Left In A Parking Lot For 9 Days Before Someone Finally Heard Her Howling

#1 Rescuers Called To Check On Howling Dog

When representatives from the Sunny Meadows animal shelter arrived at the Sam’s Club parking lot in Memphis, Tennessee in December of 2015 they were heartbroken at what they saw and heard. There, in the middle of the lot, was a lone dog, howling out for attention.

#2 Sunny Meadows Rescue Tried To Save Her

Shelter representatives immediately came to the conclusion that the dog's owner had dumped her there as the dog just waited patiently, howling for them to return for her. Sadly, nobody came back for her. It took Sunny Meadows reps several days to finally track the dog, who just refused to leave her waiting area. She appeared to be clinging on to hope that she would be rescued by her owners.

#3 Assistance Was Needed To Get The Lonely Abandoned Dog From The Parking Lot

As the time began ticking, and the parking lot full of Holiday traffic, Sunny Meadows decided to call in Arrow Dog Rescue for help. The animal welfare organization specializes in the rescue and rehoming of stray dogs. Mary Murphy from Arrow Dog Rescue could not retrieve the dog either and together, both organizations waited it out.

Mary brought out her lawn chair and a book to read while waiting for the dog to finally come to her since she ran everytime someone went towards her. Mary even brought her own dog out to see if that would attract the lost dog. Mary was heartbroken watching the dog for days, simply going from car to car, looking for her owners.

#4 They Finally Got Samantha After Nine Days Into The Rescue Mission

Finally, after almost four full days, the dog came to Murphy, which was a total of nine days since the rescuers began trying to get the dog out of the parking lot. Mary finally got a collar on the dog and a shop owner nearby helped her get the dog, which they had begun calling Samantha, into the rescue van.

Surprisingly, Samantha was in amazing health aside from being hungry and sad. “She seemed to be in really good condition.” Kimberley Slown from Arrow Dog Rescue said. “It really looked someone just took off her collar and drove off.”

#5 The Vet Said She Was Healthy But Very Heartbroken

When Samantha arrived at the shelter, she was examined by the vet and given a clean bill of health. The volunteers at the shelter noted how well behaved she was and could not understand why she had been dumped in a busy parking lot. So, they posted Samantha's story, video, and picture to their Facebook page and the requests for adoption began to pour in.

Many people simply left comments about how sad the situation was. “The video was heartbreaking. Thanks to the hearts of gold of the Mary Murphys, volunteers, and rescuers that save babies like this that are abandoned by their family. That is animal abuse in my book.”

#6 Arrow Dog Rescue Set Out To Find The People Who Dumped Samantha In The Lot

After 2 weeks of observation, Samantha was adopted. In the meantime, the Arrow Dog Rescue turned their attention to locating the person who had dumped Samantha in the first place. “So hoping that the former family of this dog has seen her, and the loneliness and sadness she shared for 9 days waiting for them to come back. The more times it is shared, the more likely someone who knows her former owner will come forward to tell us who they are,” the shelter pleaded on Facebook in 2015.

#7 She Was Most Likely Left On Purpose

According to Slown, it is unlikely that Samantha’s owners accidentally left her behind. “This is an area where animals are dumped,” she told reporters. “Dogs often times will stay where they are dumped in the hopes that their family will be back for them,” she added.

They never received any information or leads on the people responsible.

#8 Samantha Loved Her New Home And Other Four-Legged Friends

Samantha's new owners kept the shelter updated through their Facebook page on Samantha's health and well-being. Apparently, they had also adopted a second dog. Sam had found a new buddy in the form of Ariya, the brown dachshund.

#9 New Owners Began Fostering And Homing Other Dogs

And not only did the dog gain a loving mom named Lori Pastore, she also bagged three furry siblings. They too had started out life as rescue dogs. Lori and her husband began fostering and then adopting dogs right after they saved Samantha, and said that they were very happy with their new family of furry babies.

#10 They Changed Samantha's Name To 'Aries'

The month after her adoption, in January 2016, Arrow Dog Rescue posted an update on Samantha on their Facebook page. “[Her adoptive family] said it is like she has been with them forever, and she is their dog’s best friend! She has been named Aries, and we couldn’t be happier for her,” they wrote.

#11 The Rescue Of Sam Had Changed The Lives Of Both Her And Her New Owners

The family had undoubtedly changed Samantha’s life. And it seemed, in turn, that she had changed theirs. “My life will be forever changed because of Arrow Rescue and the two wonderful women Kim and Terri that run the rescue. These two women focus so much of their lives on saving dogs and giving them a chance at living,” Pastore gushed on Facebook in 2016.

#12 They Are One Big Happy Family

“I thank them with all my heart for bringing Aries (Samantha) and Ace into my life,” she continued. “They have given me unconditional love and been there for me when humans just weren’t. I pray that someday people will realize why dogs are here and give them the homes and lives they deserve.”

In December 2016, Samantha, now known as Aries, celebrated her one-year anniversary in her new home. Luckily for her, she has ended up with a family who completely adore her. And, most importantly, they’ll never leave her alone again.