Austrian owners tried to abandon elderly Hungarian dog, sparking national outrage
Snoopy, a lovable Hungarian dog raised in his home country, had just one “fault”: at 13 years old, he was getting on a bit and needed walks every four hours. His owners were not pleased about this and attempted to hand him over to a shelter, which refused to accept “worn-out” pets. After the rejection, many feared the worst — a heartbreaking tragedy.
Austrian owners ditch their Hungarian dog
Snoopy is a charming Bichon Havanese, bought by his Austrian owners from a Hungarian breeder, according to his microchip data. Experts describe the breed as low to medium energy, thriving on companionship. Snoopy adores children, enjoys relaxing indoors, and is perfectly content with a single daily walk. Active play sessions cover most of his exercise needs, although his coat does require regular grooming.
Born and partly raised in Hungary, the now 13-year-old dog was later taken in by an Austrian family. However, as reported by oe24.at (quoted in Blikk), the owners apparently grew tired of the “old-timer”, particularly when his routine changed from one daily walk to walks every four hours.
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Would the Austrian owners have put him down?
They decided to “donate” him to a shelter, treating him like an unwanted object rather than a sentient being who had likely spent years happily integrated into their family. Shelter staff discovered that the owners had already acquired another dog — they simply wanted Snoopy gone.
Below you may check out a photo of Snoopy:
Vienna’s animal shelters operate under strict regulations and only accept stray animals or those confiscated by authorities. This was the case at the shelter in the city’s 15th district. After turning the owners away, staff feared that the ungrateful and irresponsible pair might take drastic action.
A happy new beginning
Fortunately, the animal welfare organisation Pfotenhilfe became aware of the situation as outrage spread across Austria. Despite being located some 300 kilometres from Vienna, the group rushed to intervene and remove Snoopy from danger. Johanna Stadler, head of Pfotenhilfe, told the Austrian press that they feared the owners might even have the dog put down.
The dog — first registered in a Hungarian database — was anxious and unsettled, so rescuers carried him for much of the journey. Happily, they were able to place Snoopy with a loving foster family in Lower Austria, experienced with his breed, where he can now live out his remaining years in comfort and care.
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