Shelter finds abandoned dog with a heartbreaking word scrawled on his collar — revealing cruel truth about his past

Every so often, a story emerges that leaves even seasoned animal rescue workers speechless. That’s exactly what happened at an Ohio shelter when a large stray dog arrived wearing a collar with a message no one expected. For the staff who first met the dog, the discovery was more than just shocking; it was personal.

Newsweek reported that the dog, named Duke, was found on June 25, 2025, by a good Samaritan near Markbreit and Gilmore in Oakley. He was brought to Cincinnati Animal CARE, where staff immediately began trying to learn more about him. “Duke was found as a stray,” said Jenna Bower from the shelter. “He wasn’t microchipped, so we had no way to trace his past.” Still, it was obvious that Duke had once had a home. He was friendly, gentle, and seemed to know people. That made what they found on his collar even harder to accept.

Written in clear, bold letters across the collar was a single word, "unwanted." Shelter staff were stunned after reading it. “It's rare—and heartbreaking—to see something like that so blatantly stated,” Bower said. Many pets come into shelters after accidents, illness, or housing issues, often through no fault of their own. But Duke’s case felt different. “To see the word ‘unwanted’ literally written on a collar stopped us in our tracks,” she said. “Many people drawn to this work know what it feels like to be unwanted themselves.”

The shelter shared Duke’s story on Instagram, and the reaction was overwhelming. Support poured in from people who couldn’t believe a dog could be tossed aside so coldly. Bower and her team hoped the attention would help Duke find a better future. “It was a gut punch, but also a reminder why we do this work—to make sure no animal feels that way again,” she said. And while it’s not uncommon for big dogs like Duke, who weighs 81 pounds, to take longer to get adopted, this time was different.

Just 11 days after he arrived, Duke found his new family. “Thanks to the attention around his story, Duke found a wonderful family with two older kids who adore him,” Bower said. But while Duke’s story ended in joy, Bower reminded the public that his case is far from unique. “Duke’s story stood out,” she said, “but there are hundreds more animals here with just as much heart, waiting for someone to notice them.” According to a statistical report by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in 2024, 5.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescues, with numbers nearly the same as the year before. Most were strays (60%), while 29% were surrendered by owners facing challenges. Dogs and cats entered shelters in almost equal numbers, showing only a slight decline overall. 

For more heartwarming dog content and adoption inquiries, follow @cincyanimalcare on their official Instagram account.