BARNWELL, Ala. — Amy Boddie is outraged, and it might be justified. Someone left an aging black Labrador retriever in the drop box in front of the Baldwin County Animal Shelter near Magnolia Springs on July 11, and she said the friendly pooch deserved better treatment from its owner.

“He was so bad off,” according to Boddie. “He had heartworms, was arthritic and could barely walk. Instead of taking him to the vet and putting him down like they should, they threw him away.”

Shelter employees discovered the friendly dog the next day, while Dr. Babette Dixon from Bay Animal Clinic in Montrose was there.

She knew immediately that the dog, which she estimated to be around 13 years old, wouldn’t be adopted and needed a little love before he was euthanized. That’s when she called Boddie, who has a long history of rescuing animals.

After it spent a week at the shelter, Boddie took the pooch, by then named Old Man Jack by she and Dixon, to her home off County Road 27 in Barnwell on July 18, where she and her family pampered him one last time.

“We fed him really good, canned food from the clinic,” Boddie said. “We bought him a beef bone from PetSmart. We took him for short walks. We loved him and petted him.”

The dog, wearing a NASCAR No. 24, Jeff Gordon collar, which it is believed he was wearing when removed from the drop box, bonded with the family immediately.

That’s probably why Boddie can’t understand why someone would abandon a black Lab, a breed known as a great family dog. She said, “He was a sweet, sweet dog. He got along with everybody here. He was just happy to be here like most Labs. They’re happy-go-lucky dogs. He deserved better.”

The dog appeared to have been neglected for some time, she said, having been left untreated for heartworms, arthritis and a skin condition. Boddie added, “He was probably just thrown out in the backyard and fed. His coat was nasty, but he was neutered, which shocked us all. We’ll never know their side of the story.”

So, why couldn’t Old Man Jack have been placed with an animal rescue group for adoption? Isn’t that what they do?

Boddie softened and said, “Nobody’s going to adopt an old dog. That’s just the cold, hard facts. Everybody wants young dogs — puppies and cuteness.”

Kathy Eddy, executive director of the Baldwin Animal Rescue Center (BARC), said, “It depends on who’s there that day looking for a dog to adopt. We successfully adopted out a large Lab/shepherd mix yesterday.”

Like Old Man Jack, the BARC dog was also left in the BCAS drop box. But, although full grown, he was a much younger dog.

“We have a hard time placing large dogs,” Eddy acknowledged. “Smaller dogs are easy to adopt. If it’s large and old, it’s got a couple of strikes against it.”

Eddy said a note was left with the pet BARC rescued, which let them know the dog’s name, its age, and telling them the person who left him could no longer afford his care. She added, “There can be a happy ending.”

As Boddie mentioned, there’s really no way of knowing why the dog was left in the box, unless the person who did so comes forward. Eddy said someone might have discovered it wandering lost, and picked it up.

“If it was found that night along the road, it was the right thing to do,” she said. “But at least leave a note.”

The other scenario is not nearly as appealing. Eddy said, “They were probably trying to avoid (paying for) medical care and euthanasia costs. If someone is unable to pay their vet bills, they should talk to them. There are all kinds of ways to work it out, or reduce the fee.”

Eddy stressed it’s cheaper to pay for heartworm preventative medicine than heartworm treatment after the fact, and noted it only takes one mosquito bite to pass along the illness.

“If someone is in dire straits about (financial) help for their dog, don’t be afraid to ask others for help,” she said. “We don’t hesitate to ask for our kids if they need it.”

When first told about the aging black Lab, Eddy said, “It’s sad because it finally got what it needed at the end, and that’s love and attention.”

Old Man Jack was put down July 20, after that much-needed weekend of love, and was buried near the Boddie home. The animal lover asked folks to think twice before leaving a dog or cat at a shelter after hours, especially if they are doing so simply because it is old or sick, and they are abandoning it.

“He’s scared. He’s alone,” Boddie said. “Do the right thing.”

If you would like to adopt a pet looking for a home, contact your local animal rescue organization or shelter, or see their list of available animals at www.petfinder.com.