AVENTURA, Fla. – Jonathan Funez-Ruiz volunteered to care for a couple of scared puppies abandoned under a trash container without food or water in Miami-Dade County.
Funez-Ruiz said that after finishing his shift on Tuesday night at the Waterways Shoppes in Aventura he decided to foster them.
He noticed the puppies weren’t barking or growling and suspected they had likely been the victims of human neglect and abuse.
“It’s kind of like they were traumatized,” Funez-Ruiz said adding, “It’s cruel. They are living beings like us.”
Flora Beal, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Animal Services, praised Funez-Ruiz’s quick thinking since the shelters are all over capacity.
Beal said the Miami-Dade shelter cares for about 650 dogs when the capacity is about 300 to 350 dogs.
“When people come with dogs they found in the street, unfortunately, we have to ask for their help because we don’t have anywhere to put them,” Beal said. “We’ll give you everything you need — the crates, the leashes, the food, the bowls.”
Beal asked the public to consider fostering or adopting a dog from the shelter. Shakea James decided to adopt the puppies.
“We were like, ‘OK, I already have a dog at home, so why not?’ It hurts. It’s sad,” James said. “They look like they’re sad. They look like they just want to be loved.”
For more information about how to help the dogs in need, visit this page.