Fla. Rescue Helping Two Dogs Abandoned on the Roadside with a Note: 'So Sorry But Ran Out of Time'

The dogs, Mella and Rocky, were eventually brought to an overcrowded shelter, highlighting a larger pet abandonment problem

One of the dogs abandoned in Jupiter, FL
One of the dogs abandoned in Jupiter, FL

Two dogs were abandoned on a road in Jupiter Farms, Fla. — and were left with a heartbreaking note.

"Please help them," the note read. "I am so sorry but ran out of time and options."

Their owner also described the pups — Mella and Rocky — in the note as non-aggressive, sweet "lover dogs," and left their medical records with them. On their harnesses, their owner wrote in black marker that they were "happy and friendly."

Local Sarah Johnson found the dogs on the dirt road and took them to her home to stay overnight. In the morning, she brought them to Furry Friends, a local shelter.

Related: Some Dogs Can Remember Names of Their Toys — Years After Not Seeing Them, New Study Suggests

Janelle Marrone, who works at Furry Friends, said it's actually very common for dogs to be abandoned like Mella and Rocky were, even though it's considered a misdemeanor in Florida.

Furry Friends has room to care for 35 dogs, but after Mella and Rocky arrived, they had 47 dogs total. With shelters well over capacity, there appears to be few options for struggling pet owners.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"It happens every day, every day," Marrone said. "People just panic and don't know what to do and dump their dogs. It's really awful."

While preparing the dogs for adoption, Furry Friends plans to track down more information about Mella and Rocky through their medical records, where the owners' names are listed.

One of the dogs abandoned in Jupiter, FL
One of the dogs abandoned in Jupiter, FL

Related: Marine Inspires Trend of Running with Shelter Dogs to Showcase Their Adoptability, Finds 'Immense Joy' Along the Way (Exclusive)

Johnson hopes to see both dogs in the same loving home.

"I really hope these dogs get adopted, very quickly and together. They are so sweet in the short time they were with us," Johnson said. "They were a true treasure."