Dog ‘left to fend for himself’ in freezing cold after owner died. Now, he needs a home
A sweet lab is on the lookout for a new — and warm — place to call home after going through heartbreak in Kentucky.
Tonka, a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, found himself in a horrible situation after his owner died while the pup was out of the house in frigid temperatures.
“Meet Tonka! He was left to fend for himself in the freezing weather after his owner unexpectedly passed away,” the Ashland Animal Rescue Fund said in a Feb. 5 Facebook post.
“All he could do is wait outside of his home scared, cold and all alone.”
Thankfully, someone was around and able to provide aid.
“It took an amazing volunteer a few hours in the frigid temps to gain his trust but she wouldn’t give up on him,” the shelter said.
“Once he was caught and brought to us we discovered what a SWEETHEART he is. This guy loves hugs and cuddles. From his puppy dog eyes to furry paws we just can’t get enough of him.”
While not much is known about Tonka’s past, some of the things the shelter is aware of, per his pet profile, are the following:
Loves people
Kid friendly
Dog social
Cat social
House trained
Crate trained
Understands basic obedience
Walks on a leash
His pet profile also says he’s both toy and food aggressive.
To inquire about Tonka, visit the shelter’s website.
Ashland is about a 120-mile drive northeast from Lexington.
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM with the headline "Dog ‘left to fend for himself’ in freezing cold after owner died. Now, he needs a home."