A blind senior dog left "confused" and disoriented in a shelter after being surrendered by his longtime family has now been given a second chance -- along with a brand-new name.
Teddy, a 13-year-old Yorkshire terrier-poodle mix, commonly known as a Yorkiepoo, captured hearts in an April 5 Instagram post that showed him sitting alone in his kennel, overwhelmed by the noise and unable to understand why his world had suddenly changed. In the clip posted by user @ba_ha_ray, Teddy roams his kennel, unsure of the environment at the animal shelter. He was living in a warm, loving home his entire life, only for it to end in an instant.
"We saw him in the shelter sitting in his cubby, shaking, scared, not understanding why he was in this loud place," Bahareh Eb, a volunteer with the South LA Animal Shelter who posted the video, told Newsweek via Instagram. "His eyes were goopy also, and one looked to be bulging a bit and possibly painful."
His previous family said on the intake sheet that the main reason for the surrender was relocation. They left a note explaining he is good with other dogs, cats and kids. Even in the heartbreaking situation, Teddy showed the team nothing but his sweet nature.
Recent national shelter data suggests that owner surrenders are quietly increasing, from 29 percent to 30 percent of shelter intakes even as overall admissions decline, reflecting growing pressure on families and the difficult decisions that can lead to pets being relinquished, Newsweek previously reported.
His time at South LA Animal Shelter was short-lived, as Frankie, Lola and Friends, a nonprofit animal rescue run by Lisa Chiarelli, stepped in to take him into its care. Not only did the rescue give him a fresh start, but a new identity, renaming him Eddie.
The team has made vet appointments for Eddie, describing him as "a bit of a mess," with itchy ears and one eye appearing more protruded.
"Grateful that Lisa got him to the vet, as I know they assessed his eyes and cleaned them, so hopefully he's on his way to feeling a bit better," Eb said.
Eddie has since been placed in a foster home, thanks to a volunteer with the organization, allowing him to finally decompress in a quieter, more stable environment. The hope is that he now finds a forever family during his golden years.
Chiarelli's April 6 Instagram post about Eddie reads: "A dog's senior years is when they need us the most...It is such a privilege and an honor to care for them in the later years of life. They deserve it after a lifetime of loyalty."
Eddie's story quickly gained traction, reaching over 122,000 views, as many Instagram users called for urgent help for the senior dog.
"This poor boy can't see and goes by sense of smell, so all the people he loved or familiar scents he knew are now gone," wrote one viewer.
Another said: "This sweet old man is pulling at my heartstrings really hard right now."
A third person commented: "How does someone do this? I pray he is adopted by the most loving soul."