The statistics are staggering. About 6.5 million dogs, cats and other pets are abandoned or lost each year and end up in shelters. Of those, less than half that number ( 3.2 million) are adopted.
Lewi’s story is just one of millions of dogs, but he was a real dog and just one heartbreaking story of an ever increasing number on a list posted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The tragedy is so few knew about Lewi except for the negligent owners who never should have had the privilege of sharing their lives with a dog.
It had been in December 2024 when his family grabbed his harness and leash. Lewi was so excited; he was going for an adventure with his family and jumped for joy. Of course, he didn’t know where they were going, but that didn’t matter; being with his family and sharing adventures was what he lived for; who cared that it was cold?
It turned out to be a ride in the car. Lewi had no idea where they were going, but he sensed they were far away from home. The hours passed, and then the car stopped on the side of the highway. Cars were speeding by, but Lewi paid no heed. His family was there to protect him, even as they opened the back door of the car and gently pulled him out.
Lewi’s human unwrapped a blue blanket and spread it out on the cold, snowy ground near the side of the road and told the dog to lie down. The dog sensed something was amiss, but they told him to stay, and he stayed perfectly still on the blanket because he was a good boy.
You told me to stay, and I did. I stayed because I was your good boy, always waiting, always hopeful that you’d return to me. You went back to the car. I watched you from my blanket, wondering if you were just going to grab something from the car. But when you got back in and drove away without me, my heart sank.
Lewi didn’t understand. Why would his family leave him? Surely they would return. And there Lewi stayed, because they told him to stay, and because he didn’t want to take the chance they wouldn’t be able to find him if he left to look for them.
And then the sun set and night time came. It was so cold, and there were scary noises and the sounds of barks and howls of predators coming from the woods nearby. The cars continued to speed by so close to the blanket where Lewi was ordered to stay. The dog was just too frightened to move.
The night was unbearable. I huddled in the snow, my body shivering from the biting cold. I was just a little boy at 20lbs. I waited all through the night, still hoping you would come back. But you didn’t.
And then morning came; the sun rose high in the sky, and his family still had not returned. He was so hungry and so thirsty. Eating the snow didn’t help to stave off the hunger pains.
My feet ached, and my body became weaker as the days went on. But I didn’t leave. I kept my vigil on the blanket, hoping with every fiber of my being that you would come back.
And that day or the next or the next week or the next month, his family never returned.
The cold weather continued to take a toll on Lewi and as January passed, he became weaker and thinner. The snow kept falling and temperatures dropped to record lows.
My fur became matted with ice, and the cold hurt so much, I couldn’t sleep. I missed you. I longed for the warmth of my bed, the smell of our home, and the sound of your voices. But no matter how hard I tried to stay warm, the cold kept stealing all my strength.
At times strangers would stop by the side of the road and try to encourage Lewi to come close to them so they could help him, but by this time, he was too scared to take a chance. What if his family came back and couldn’t find him by his blue blanket? He might never see them again.
And as if an eternity passed so slowly, February arrived. Lewi still waited, full of hope even though he was so cold and emaciated.
On February 1, a kind lady with a local rescue group had been told about me and came to rescue me. A police officer had also heard about Lexi and arrived just before the rescuer. Still very frightened, i ran across the busy four-lane highway, through a fence and into a field just trying to escape. How could i trust anyone anymore?
The nice lady was trying to find Lexi and put up a trap, lining it with delicious food.
On February 5, after a few days of hiding out, Lewi finally felt brave enough to return to the place where the blue blanket had once been, and had now been replaced with a humane trap and lots of good food. Yes, it was time for the dog to meet the new day and as he hoped – a new life even though he still dreamed of being home. Maybe the nice lady would take him home?
And so for the very last time, Lewi crossed the highway hoping he would see his family.
But I died that day.
I didn’t survive the busy highway. I died waiting for you, wishing with all my heart that I could be home again. I wanted to feel the warmth of your arms, to sleep in my bed, to hear you call my name. But I never got that chance. I don’t know why you stopped loving me or why you left me behind, but my heart still longed for you every moment.
And yes, this is a sad story, but so many other dogs have suffered just as Lewi. His remains were found on the road, but the kind lady who wanted to help him and the compassionate police officer recognized his black markings around his eyes.
Lewi was found between the Brookville and Lewisburg exits in Ohio. Out of respect, he was given the name Lewi and cremated; so much more than his family ever did for him.
This is the last picture someone took of me, sitting by the highway, a week before I died.
Whoever you are that abandoned Lexi, this writer and so many more advocates hope you recognize the dog you so heartlessly betrayed. Please don’t let another dog’s life end this way.
(Lexi’s story originally was posted on social media. The source is unknown)
Please feel free to reach out to PetRescueReport with more information.
Rest in peace Lexi.
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