ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Two dogs in a shelter, just hours away from being put to sleep, hugged their way to safety.
The dogs — Kala and Keira — were photographed hugging each other in a cage at an unnamed shelter. In the photo, Kala’s brown front legs and paws are in a tight embrace around Keira’s neck. Both dogs appear pensive and fearful, as if they know what’s coming.
On Monday Angels Among Us Pet Rescue — an Atlanta-area nonprofit that works to save dogs and cats from being euthanized in shelters — put the picture on its Facebook page.
Angels Among Us also shared the dogs’ desperate plight: Shelter employees said Kala and Keira would be put down that day unless someone adopted them or offered to foster them. Angels Among Us pleaded with anyone who saw the post to step up and help.
“I’m Kala. This is Keira. We’re so scared in here. The people working in the shelters see how scared we are but just told each other that today is our deadline. We have to have someone rescue us or we’ll be “next.” Keira is black and not a “real boxer,” just a mix. She’s so brave and tells me it will be okay no matter what happens. She tells me to be brave too but I don’t know if I can be. Can you see our faces. Keira knows what will happen. You can see it in her eyes. She’s putting on a brave face for sure but I can feel her heart beating fast while I’m clinging to her. If no one saves us, someone will take her away from me. I’ll see her as she goes down the hallway. She won’t come back and I’ll cry. They’ll come for me next and I won’t be as brave. We’ve comforted each other while we were here. She gave me hope when I had none. Now it’s over. Unless…”
“If you’ve ever wanted to foster but just couldn’t quite decide, now is the time to say YES!!” Angels Among Us says in its post.
The photo immediately went viral, garnering thousands of shares and likes. It also yielded results. Just two hours after the photo was posted to Facebook, Angels Among Us said the dogs had been rescued and had left the shelter, on their way to see a vet and then on to a foster home.
A second, happier photo of Kala and Keira is now making its rounds on social media.
The post was shared thousands of times.
“There are no words to tell you how happy we are that these two best friends are safe and together! Thank you for your shares, donations and offers! Just look at these two!!! This is why we rescue,” Angels Among Us posted just a few hours later.
Kala and Keira are still available to be adopted. You can find information on that here:
