“The recruiters took me”: Pit bull left abandoned in Ukraine with note from owner

A pit bull named Leon was found tied up in a park in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, alongside a handwritten note from his owner, who reportedly said he had been taken away by military recruitment officers.

Local social media channels reported the discovery on October 27. The note, apparently written by the owner before he was taken away, explained why he had been forced to leave the dog behind and appealed to passersby to find the animal a new home.

“My name is Leon. I am his owner. The TTsK took me,” the note read, referring to Ukraine’s Territorial Recruitment Centers.

“Good people, please give him a home. He is very gentle and knows all the commands,” the owner wrote.

According to reports, municipal services workers took responsibility for the dog after he was found and are now looking for a family willing to adopt him.

Incident draws attention amid Ukraine’s military recruitment challenges

The case comes as Ukraine faces ongoing challenges recruiting personnel for its armed forces. Reports of forced mobilization and confrontations involving recruitment officers have circulated amid efforts to replenish troop numbers.

The incident has drawn attention online because of the owner’s handwritten appeal and the circumstances in which Leon was left behind. However, the details surrounding the owner’s reported removal have not been independently confirmed in the available account.

For now, the immediate concern is finding Leon a safe, permanent home.