Woman rescues dog after finding him abandoned alone in a park with a heartbreaking note

A 1-year-old retriever-boxer mix was abandoned in a dog run with a devastating message and he had no idea what he'd done to cause his owners to abandon him. Lillian Engelhard, a kind-hearted woman, spotted the little one and decided to take matters into her own hands. Engelhard sat in her car, keeping an eye on Baloo to assess the situation further. "I was out taking one of my dogs for a walk and we passed a community dog run with a dog in it but no owners in sight," Engelhard, who is currently fostering Baloo, told The Dodo. "I thought maybe they ran out of doggie bags and quickly ran to their car to get more, or maybe his owners really did have an emergency of some sort."

"I walked in and he immediately greeted me with kisses and excitement," she said. "At that moment, I knew I had to help him."

"The more I watched him, the more I saw signs that he had been out there for a long time," Engelhard said. "It was in the 90s and he looked very dehydrated and overheated. He was pacing and seemed distraught. I knew I had to do something." Baloo was overcome with excitement as Engelhard approached him, but her heart sank as she read the note left by his previous humans. "When I went to open the gate to the dog run, I noticed a note was shoved in the handle," Engelhard said. "It read, 'This dog is not trained!!! *I had to leave him. Please save him (Venom).'"

Engelhard soon came to realize that Baloo is a bright young pup who enjoys flaunting his abilities. The enthusiastic canine has been learning to sit, shake and perform other tricks under her care and he's very pleased with himself. 

Engelhard could see Baloo was a real sweetheart, but with his high energy level, it was evident he needed to work on a few things. She began training Baloo and the exuberant dog quickly transformed. "He suddenly lived for learning!" she said. "Within a few days he could sit, stay, lie down, sit pretty (sitting with both paws in the air), was completely potty trained, understood when he could and couldn't hop up on the couch or bed, did great in his kennel, and more. All he needed was a little bit of patience and for someone to invest in him."

Baloo is now looking for his forever home through Lost Our Home Pet Rescue. The home suggests that he'd do best with a family who understands his background and would continue to work on his manners with patience and consistency. If given the opportunity, the very excellent boy will gladly demonstrate his abilities. For the time being, he'll be preparing for the day he's picked.

"He's come a long way, but he still has work to do," Engelhard said. "He needs someone committed. In turn, they will get rewarded with one of the best dogs ever. He's taught me how hard work can pay off," she added. "It's rewarding to spend a few days working hard to teach him something and then see him do it all on his own from there on out," she concluded.