In an unselfish act of love and kindness, a 12-year-old boy dropped off his pit bull puppy at an animal rescue in Mexico, attempting to save the dog from the boy’s abusive father.
The puppy, now named Rene by the Refugio Xollin shelter, was left with a touching letter and a stuffed toy.
“My name is Andrés, and I am 12 years old,” the boy wrote in the note. “My mom and I decided to leave my dog in your hands, hiding it from my dad because he is thinking about selling him. But he mistreats and kicks him. One day he kicked him so hard that he hurt his tail. I hope you can help and take care of him. I left him a stuffed animal so he won’t forget me.”

Rene with the stuffed toy she was left with “so she wouldn’t forget” (Image Credit: Refugio Xollin/Facebook)
The shelter shared the boy’s story, along with photos of beautiful Rene, on social media, and it quickly went viral. Refugio Xollin was flooded with over 300 messages from people all over the country wanting to adopt the puppy, according to CNN.
The pit bull has been checked out by a veterinarian and is awaiting adoption, however, Refugio Xollin is stressing that Rene isn’t the only homeless dog at the shelter. There are 120 other beautiful furry companions looking for loving homes.
“If everyone opened their heart and their home like this little dog,” the shelter write in a Facebook post, “they would have adopted all our dogs from the shelter.”

Rene the pitbull puppy is now in safe hands and looking for a forever home Image Credit: Refugio Xollin/Facebook

This man should be arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Hopefully go to jail he is nothing more than a piece of SCUM I feel so sorry for that little boy you can only imagine what that boy home life is like. His mother needs to wake up if there is any form of abuse you pick up and walk out that door and don’t look back. NO MAN IS WORTH IT.
What a wonderful boy! I have no more words for the pieces of crap that would hurt defenseless animals and feel good about themselves. That worthless piece of [email protected]!! deserves to be locked up and deserves to lose his family. I hope they have the good sense to leave him and not look back.
THE BOY IS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, BUT HAS THE MATURITY OF AN ADULT. What a sweet boy to remove the little animal from an abusive father before the puppy suffers in vain. I wish the older mature people, & IF they could have some kinder spirited soft hearts for the innocent animals who cannot speak for themselves as same as this little boy….this world will be a much better place to live in.
Such a sad story and what an amazing boy.
Many children have more compassion and empathy for animals than adults.
Many children have more compassion and empathy for animals than adults.
Andres is so much more a man than his father will ever be. Not only does he love his puppy so much, he is willing to do without him to save him. If only all adults were as humane as this 12 year old boy, the world would be a much better place. May God bless you Andres and your mom, praying the two of you will be safe.
I hope the authorities are looking for the little boy and his mother, as well, as I doubt the puppy was the only one being abused in the home.
God bless this young man! Thank you for saving a life.
Brave and compassionate little boy. i’d like to meet him in 20 years and see a grown animal advocate.
All this vile cruelty to beautiful animals makes me realise that apart from the few who love and look after animals the rest of mankind are just pure evil.
At least the boy had sense enough to protect the pup. His ass should be kicked. Hope the pup finds a forever home. God bless the boy and his pup.
With the story on the puppy given up because the “father” abuses it should the “father” be arrested for the abuse and investigated because if he abused the dog he most likely is abusing his child and the mother… arrest him and maybe it would save the child and the mothers life… stop the abuse or end up in jail… I feel for the child and what will happen to him sounds like a very abusive situation waiting for something tragic to happen and it could be stopped with intervention on the part of other humans…
If the animal was getting abused, likely the mother and child are too! How sad. I hope social services are watching out for this family!
Congratulations to the 12 year old boy and his mom for turning their puppy to safe grounds. Imagine what abuse they are also enduring. Hopefully, someday she’ll have the courage and safe passageway out of that relationship. What a sweet and generous boy.
BLESS ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHO LOVE OUR CREATORS CREATION
What an incredible child to have been able to turn his puppy into the facility and write the letter. How horrible that his father is this type of an abuser. This child should never have been subjected to having to see what was taking place with his poor little puppy. His father needs to be thrown in jail – the god damn piece of shit – imagine a child taking on a responsibility which meant he felt he had no other choice for his poor dog. OMG this is such a horrible story. He is a very brave little boy to have made sure that his dog was going to be taken care off and not killed. So very sad for the child.
To this courageous boy.
Hey, young man, you`ve done the right thing and you are a model for all of us. You are 12 years now and your life is still waiting for you. I am absolutely sure that such a thing like “karma” – you possibly have no idea what this is now but you will learn – will reward you with gorgeous animal friends and happiness thoughout this life. This is what happens when someone is a hero for someone else. In fact YOU ARE A HERO ! You protected Rene`s life and maybe some day, when you have become a grandpa yourself, you can look forward to meet Rene again in heaven. He will be there, I am sure. He will be your guardian angel like you have been his when you saved him in this act of love. Thank you, my dear unknown friend, for showing me that hope is not lost. – From Germany with love and deep respect.
the heart, the spirit and wisdom of a child! we could all learn from him.
THIS IS A MSG TO THE DEAR BOY THAT SAVED HIS PUPPY’S LIFE BY LEAVING IT IN A SHELTER WITH A NOTE ABOUT HIS PUPPY-
HONEY, YOU ARE A BRAVE LOVING BOY TO HAVE THOUGHT TO RELEASE YOUR PET TO THIS SHELTER TO SAVE ITS LIFE FROM THE ABUSES OF YOUR FATHER. IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE TO DO THIS & ALL OVER THE WORLD YOU ARE LOVED & RESPECTED, YOU & YOUR MOM, FOR SUCH AN ACT OF VALOR. SINCE YOU WERE ABLE TO GET YOUR PUPPY TO FREEDOM, PERHAPS YOU & YOUR DEAR SWEET MOM WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO FIND FREEDOM FROM SUCH A VIOLENT MAN. IT IS NOT EASY TO BREAK UP A FAMILY, BUT PEACE & HAPPINESS COME WHEN MEMBERS WITHIN A FAMILY ARE SAFE WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU & YOUR MOTHER. I KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, YOU WILL BOTH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN YOU BOTH LIVE IN A GOOD HOME WITHOUT VIOLENCE, TO HAVE A TERRIFIC NEW DOG.
China is so backward
What in the world does China have to do with it?
China is so backward
Hope he gets himself a loving, forever home after what he has been through.
Bless this boy.
Very smart, brave boy!!!
why isn’t anyone investigating this abusive parent? Anyone who mistreats an animals is much more likely to mistreat a child or spouse.
THANK YOU to wonderful Mom & Son who SMARTLY did the right thing — it’s a win-win for everyone — except for the Dad, who needs psychological help — ensure Dad stays away from ALL Animals from hereon in — Dad is a danger to Animals and a danger to society — again, we LOVE you, Mom & Son for helping Rene — a beautiful, sweet Dog — thank you to Rescue group, Refugio Xollin — posting this needed info regarding Rene is the best thing ever — we love you all — you’re the best — keep up your great work.
Brave young man. We are so proud of you. Well done. God bless you.
I am bawling
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL KIND YOUNG MAN…THE MOM AND BOY SHOULD LEAVE THE MORON BEFORE THEY ARE ABUSED….MORE THAN THEY PROBABLY ALREADY ARE…SAD
If there are so many requests for one dog, why not adopt another soul mate? It’s incomprehensible to me!
All animals have the right to a happy life! Coincidentally, this dog is in the spotlight and the others in the shelter are not, they remain anonien but also long for their own basket with a loving owner.
What a lovely, caring and unselfish thing for this beautiful young boy to do ❤❤ 🐶🐕🐾👦. His worthless father however deservs to have the shit kicked out him 😡😠🤬👨.
C’est le père qu’il faut enfermer et laisser vivre en paix le chien, la mère et l’enfant. Comment une femme peut supporter de vivre avec un tel connard!
Awwww..Feel So Bad for the POOR Lil Bit That had to give up his Lil Pit Buddy Cuz of His EVIL ASS MONSTER ROBOT FATHER..Leave the Dad at the Shelter and Keep the Dog!!!!!!!
Andrés, eres un héroe y eres muy maduro por haber amado tanto a René que la hayas llevado a Refugio Xollín. Dios te quiere mucho y René te quiere mucho también. Espero que tengas muy buenos recuerdos de la dulce René. Espero que Dios te bendiga y a tu mamá también.
Thanks to a wonderful and caring young man and his mother. But I would love to find his father, and when his son wasnt home, kick this “father” so hard it would hurt. WTH kind of man shows this kind of disrespect to others, around children?
Such a sad story. The boy is so loving and caring he deserves more. I really hope that his loser father isn’t abusing him as well.
Such a sad story. The boy is so loving and caring he deserves more. I really hope that his loser father isn’t abusing him as well.
Something lovely for a change and a wonderful caring boy.
What a wonderful young man. Heartbreaking story.