On Tuesday morning the Scottish SCPA issued a plea over a dog called Kai discovered tied to a railing at Ayr railway station – along with a suitcase containing his pillow, toy, food bowl and food
But few could have predicted that within 24 hours news of Kai's plight would have captured hearts around the world.
News outlets in Scotland were first to break the story.
Many readers took to social media to voice their outrage on Kai's behalf, including Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh.
Kai's plight also prompted a strong reaction on the BBC Scotland news Facebook page, external.
While others speculated about what might have driven Kai's owners to give him up.
Others joked that maybe Kai was just off on an adventure.
Ian F MacMillan wrote on Facebook, external: "Best not to judge without knowing the full picture. Maybe even the dog watched Paddington or The Littlest Hobo and wanted to live such a life."
Several news outlets had the same idea, seizing upon the parallels between Kai's tale of woe and a certain fictional bear from Peru found at Paddington station.
And it wasn't long before the story of Kai was also taking centre stage in national news coverage, gaining pace around the world overnight.
Reaching Canada:
Singapore:
China:
The US:
And, of course, Peru:
Words of Kai even reached Hollywood, with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton going as far as to call the photo of Kai looking forlorn with his suitcase "the saddest image ever!"
The good news is that all this international attention has translated into thousands coming forward to offer Kai a home.
The Scottish SPCA says it has been deluged with more than 100 calls from people offering a new home for shar-pei crossbreed and have had calls from people in California and Tennessee offering a roof for Kai.
Irvine Welsh was even keen to take him in.
And one BBC website reader, Vijay in India emailed BBC Scotland news, with an offer to adopt Kai:
But the Scottish SCPA says it hopes to rehome Kai in Scotland once he has had surgery to his eyelids, which are curled under meaning that his eyelashes touch his eyeballs.
Kai, who is aged between two and three, is currently being cared for at the Scottish SPCA's centre in Glasgow.
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