There has been a happy ending for an abandoned dog left tied to a stop sign in the rural Vancouver Island community of Metchosin.

Discovered by a concerned passerby known as Barbara, the male 乌鸦传媒榖ully breed乌鸦传媒� canine had with him a bag with a sign attached that read, 乌鸦传媒淗elp me please, note in bag.乌鸦传媒�

Inside the bag was a five-page letter from the dog乌鸦传媒檚 owner explaining why they were surrendering the animal, plus $500 in cash.

According to Linda Watson from Sooke-based animal rescue organization Salish Paws, the letter explained the person was no longer able to care for the dog, named Andy, because of physical and mental health reasons.

Found in the vicinity of BC SPCA乌鸦传媒檚 Wild ARC, Watson says Andy乌鸦传媒檚 owner had intended to hand the canine over to the animal rehab centre in person, but had a last-minute change of heart.

乌鸦传媒淭hey were overcome with feelings of guilt, shame and judgment,乌鸦传媒� said Watson about the contents of the letter. 乌鸦传媒淪o they decided they couldn't walk him up to the door, so left him tied to the sign.乌鸦传媒�

Described as a 乌鸦传媒渧ery friendly and happy乌鸦传媒� mutt, Watson says Andy乌鸦传媒檚 owner had the dog for five years, making the decision to give him up an 乌鸦传媒渆xcruciating乌鸦传媒� one.

乌鸦传媒淗e was very well-fed, and he looked very well-loved,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭he only issue physically that we could see with the dog was the left eye, it looked like it had been bothering him for quite some time.乌鸦传媒�

Andy is now receiving care from Sooke Veterinary Hospital who will determine if his eye can be saved. The lucky pup has also been offered a place to stay at the home of the person who found him, Barbara, who has two dogs already.

But Watson says Andy乌鸦传媒檚 fate could have taken a turn for the worse if he had not been spotted in time.

乌鸦传媒淭here are so many things that could have gone wrong for this poor guy,乌鸦传媒� she said, listing sub-zero temperatures and predators as potential threats.

乌鸦传媒淗e could have slipped his collar and got hit by a car 乌鸦传媒� he乌鸦传媒檚 very lucky.乌鸦传媒�

Watson hopes Andy乌鸦传媒檚 story will encourage anyone considering giving up their dog to think twice.

乌鸦传媒淭here are other options,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淓specially not leaving them at risk by a roadside.乌鸦传媒�

For any dog owner in financial crisis, Salish Paws can help via their pet food bank, says Watson.

But for those who 'no longer want their dog', Watson warns most animal rescue charities are 乌鸦传媒渙verwhelmed乌鸦传媒� and at capacity, struggling with 乌鸦传媒渞ecord numbers乌鸦传媒� of surrendered canines.

乌鸦传媒淭he rescues right now are working more with pulling dogs from really bad situations in terms of abuse or neglect,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淪o for people who say they don乌鸦传媒檛 want their dog anymore, the only options for surrender are the SPCA and the CRD animal shelter.

乌鸦传媒淎t the SPCA you do need an appointment 乌鸦传媒� so you have to show up and face the music, so to speak.乌鸦传媒�

For more information about the work of Salish Paws, visit the website: .