On August 30, residents of the Usaquén district in northern Bogotá, Colombia, came across a small dog abandoned in Alcalá Park. She was wearing a harness with a handwritten note attached, reading: “My name is Sacha, please help me, I no longer have a family.”
The discovery quickly spread among neighbors, who alerted local animal protection authorities. Concerned residents and officials joined forces to locate the frightened dog, eventually bringing her under safe care so she could be examined by veterinarians and checked for any health issues.
The case has stirred strong emotional reactions in the community, reigniting conversations in Colombia about pet abandonment, a persistent problem in many Latin American cities where shifting family circumstances, financial hardship, or a lack of awareness about the responsibilities of pet ownership often lead people to leave animals behind rather than surrender them to shelters.
Local animal welfare groups continue to work with residents to ensure Sacha receives proper care and, ideally, finds a new home. Stories like hers have become rallying points for adoption campaigns and public appeals urging pet owners to seek responsible alternatives instead of abandonment.
To read the full original report in Spanish, visit El Tiempo’s website.
Source: Perrita fue abandonada al Norte de Bogotá con un desgarrador cartel: 'Me quedé sin familia' (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Beverly & Pack, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).