In the UK, one dog named Kai made national headlines for his heartbreaking tale. The poor dog was found abandoned in a railway station in Scotland – tied to a piece of luggage. Inside the suitcase were all of Kai’s worldly belongings such as a pillow, some dog toys, food, and a water bowl. Without anyone to take care of him, Kai was essentially homeless. Thankfully it wasn’t long before the Scottish SPCA was able to temporarily provide him with love and shelter.
It didn’t take long for the SPCA to figure out that not only did he have a severe medical condition, but it was also suspected that his previous owner had physically abused him as well. Kai did appear to be microchipped, but the information only went as fatback as the owner who had sold him back in 2013, so there was no way of telling who the owner was who abandoned him that day. In Scotland, abandoning an animal is a crime. And while details were unclear, it would seem that the 2013 buyer had tried to sell Kai to a woman on Gumtree a few years later.
When the woman went to Ayr Station to meet the man – who was asking for 400 pounds – the deal quickly went south. It was clear that the picture he’d posted on the website was not Kai at all. Her suspicions were already up at that point, so she asked if she could first take the dog for a walk.
She told the Daily Record, “I went to Ayr to buy the dog. The guy rushed out with a food chest and lead on the dog. But I could see there was something up because he was very skinny.”
She continued, saying, “I said I wanted to take the dog for a walk, so he asked me for a 150-pound deposit in case I didn’t come back. Then I saw him tearing off in his car. I phoned and said, ‘You better come back for your dog.’ He never turned up.”
The woman began to panic as she had no idea what to do. To make the situation more pressing, she had to make it back home to her asthmatic daughter, and the last train to Aberdeen was getting ready to leave the station.
That is when the woman decided to leave poor Kai behind, tied to his luggage. Supposedly, she told a train station attendant that the dog was not hers before she departed.
As it turns out, Kai, a Sharpei mix, was in desperate need of surgery on his eyelids as they were curling inwards. However, the surgery would cost well over 1,000 pounds, so his rescuers weren’t sure how to fund the operation. The SPCA was fortunate enough to rely on the generosity of strangers in the community as well as abroad, who all pitched in to help cover the cost. Within 24 hours, Kai’s story had inspired people to give over 2,500 pounds towards his surgery.
Thanks to the overwhelming love and support of others, Kai was able to get his much-needed procedure. The operation went smoothly and was a success. Kai was able to begin to heal and get healthy again. His popularity led to over a hundred people wanting to adopt Kai and give him a home. People were comparing the dog to Paddington Bear – the fictional character with a similar story who was also abandoned.
The lucky person who ended up getting to adopt Kai was 52-year-old Ian Russell – a hydraulic engineer. After his Dalmatian passed away, he felt a void in his home and was sure Kai could fill it.
As Russell said, “My Dalmatian Mica passed away just before Christmas and I was left heartbroken. I had her for 15 years and she was the apple of my eye. We pretty much spent 24 hours a day together.”
He added, “When I heard about Kai I knew the little guy needed a break but I never thought in a million years I’d get him. I called the Scottish SPCA just to check he was okay and see if there was anything I could do to help. Fast forward a few weeks and here I am taking him home. I honestly think it was meant to be.”
Russell also said, “It feels like fate that I’ve been able to rehome Kai and I’m not usually a believer in things like that. I’m over the moon and very shocked that I was chosen out of everyone who wanted him.”
And since being adopted, it is clear to anyone who looks at them that they’re meant to be. The two already have an incredible bond and are looking forward to many years ahead together.
What started out as such a tragic story for Kai turned out to have a very happy ending.
