Colt’s Story: What One Abandoned Dog Teaches Us About Compassion, Misinformation, and Working Together
- Big Paws
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
This is Colt. He’s named after our new building in Colt Square — and he’s special. Not because of where he came from, but how he came to us.
Colt is the first dog dumped at our new location. Sadly, we know he won’t be the last.
One afternoon, a man pulled up in front of our office. He said he’d found a dog on the side of the road two hours away and wanted us to take him. We explained, gently but firmly, that we couldn’t. Our rescue is foster-based, and every available space is already filled — with puppies from unwanted litters, dogs undergoing heartworm treatment, and others recovering from life-saving surgeries.
But all he heard was no.
Frustrated, he opened his car door, pushed Colt out into our parking lot, and drove away.
We were able to catch Colt and bring him safely inside. But the part that has stayed with us isn’t the act of abandonment itself — it’s what the man said as he left:
“If that poor dog ends up getting put down at animal control, that’s on you. I can sleep well knowing I tried to do the right thing.”
He truly believed that throwing a frightened dog into a parking lot was more humane than bringing him to a local shelter. And that belief — that shelters are places to be feared — is one of the most damaging myths in animal welfare today.
The Myth: “Shelters Are Where Dogs Go to Die”
It’s a phrase we hear too often. And it couldn’t be further from the truth.
The people who work in animal shelters are some of the most compassionate and dedicated individuals in our community. They show up every single day — often understaffed, underfunded, and emotionally exhausted — to help animals and the people who care about them.
Yes, shelters are overburdened. Yes, they face heartbreaking decisions when space or resources run out. But those decisions are never made lightly. Every shelter worker and animal control officer we know does everything in their power to give animals safety, care, and a chance at a new life.
Misinformation hurts them. It breeds fear, blame, and distrust. It leads people to make desperate, dangerous choices — like abandoning animals — because they’ve been told a story that simply isn’t true.
The Reality: Everyone Is Overwhelmed
Rescues and shelters are both essential parts of the animal welfare system, but they operate differently.
Foster-based rescues (like ours) rely entirely on volunteers who open their homes to animals in need. We can only take in as many as we have foster homes for — and right now, every single one is full.
Municipal shelters are open-intake facilities responsible for stray, abandoned, or seized animals in their jurisdiction. They work tirelessly to reunite pets with owners, provide medical care, and facilitate adoptions.
Both rescues and shelters are stretched beyond capacity. The crisis isn’t caused by one organization failing — it’s the result of an entire system under immense pressure.
That’s why no single group can “fix” the problem alone. We have to work together.
Collaboration in Action: The Northwest Arkansas Animal Alliance
That belief — that we’re stronger together — is what led us to help form the Northwest Arkansas Animal Alliance.
This alliance brings together local shelters, rescues, and animal welfare organizations across our region. We share resources, data, transport support, and medical assistance. We communicate openly about needs and challenges so that animals don’t fall through the cracks.
Our local shelters are not our competition; they are our partners.When we each do our part — rescue, shelter, and community — more animals survive, fewer end up abandoned, and fewer people feel forced to make impossible choices.
The alliance has already led to joint adoption events, coordinated spay/neuter initiatives, and collaborative public education campaigns. And it’s just the beginning.
How You Can Help
If Colt’s story moves you, there are real, tangible ways you can make a difference — not just for him, but for every animal in our community.
Support your local shelter and rescue. Donate supplies, volunteer, or sponsor a spay/neuter surgery. Every bit of help matters.
Foster — even for a short time. Every foster home opens up a space for another animal to be saved. Fostering truly saves lives.
Adopt, don’t shop. Choosing adoption helps break the cycle of overbreeding and abandonment.
Be an advocate. Share accurate information about shelters and rescues. Challenge the myths. Help others understand that our local shelters aren’t “kill facilities” — they’re places of safety, compassion, and second chances.
Be kind to the people at the front desks, the officers in the field, the volunteers cleaning kennels, and the rescue coordinators answering late-night calls. None of us can do this alone — but together, with compassion and respect, we can do so much more.
Colt’s New Beginning
Colt is safe now. He’s adjusting, decompressing, and learning that people can be trusted.He’s not just a survivor — he’s a reminder of why this work matters.
Every dog, every cat, every life deserves a chance. And every person who chooses compassion over blame helps make that chance possible.
So next time you hear someone say “shelters don’t care,” tell them about Colt — and the network of shelters, rescues, and volunteers working together across Northwest Arkansas to make sure dogs like him never have to face that fear again.
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