The thought of animal euthanasia is a nightmare for all dog owners, yet it remains a harsh reality for many animals that find themselves in shelters.
According to a report by the Best Friends Network, Texas had the highest number of shelter animals euthanized for the second year in a row. The intake rates have risen while adoption rates have declined, leading to overcrowded shelters. Tragically, dogs who are sick or deemed less desirable often find themselves on a euthanasia list to make room for others.
Darla was one of the dogs whose name appeared on that list. Fortunately, she was one of the lucky ones who got rescued at the last minute. Here’s how it happened.
Frightened Darla
dog in a wheelbarrow
Darla, a sweet Golden Retriever, was staying at Laredo Animal Care Services in Laredo, Texas. Shelter employees described her as a very shy pup who struggled to adjust to life in the shelter.
Due to overcrowding, the shelter made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize some animals. Unfortunately, dogs with lower chances of adoption, like Darla, ended up on the list.
In July 2023, when the shelter staff attempted to take Darla to the euthanasia room, she became terrified. Her legs gave out, and she couldn’t walk. The staff had to carry her and place her in a wheelbarrow.
That same day, members of Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), a non-profit organization dedicated to saving animals from euthanasia, were visiting the shelter. Clare Callison, APA!’s director of national operations, was among them.
“I knew it was around the time of day when the shelter does routine euthanasia to open up kennel space,” Callison recalled.
As they walked down the hallway, they spotted a frightened Golden Retriever crouching in a blue wheelbarrow. They soon learned that the scared pup was on her way to be put down.
Rescued At The Last Moment
nice dog on the grass
The moment they saw Darla, they knew they had to rescue her.
“We had to pull her, we had to save her. We hope she can come out of her shell and become the happy puppy she deserves to be. Every pet in the shelter deserves that, and it’s what we’re working so hard for,” said Jordana Moerbe, APA!’s national shelter support director.
After speaking with the shelter employees, Callison discovered that Darla’s shyness was the only reason she was scheduled to be put down.
Callison gently stroked Darla’s head and noticed that, despite being timid, Darla was open to affection and enjoyed being petted.
The APA! team took her to the vet, where she received a thorough medical checkup. They learned that Darla was an eight-month-old puppy.
APA! then reached out to their partners at Mile High Lab Mission in Denver, Colorado, who quickly found a foster family eager to take her in.
Finding Love
cheerful dog in the yard
When Darla met her foster family, she wagged her tail for the first time since arriving at the shelter. Finally, she could let go of her fears and embrace the love from her new family.
“She’s a completely different dog now,” Callison remarked.
On August 9th, 2023, Mile High Lab Mission shared the joyful news that Darla had been adopted. She now lives with a wonderful family who loves her dearly. We wish her a life filled with love and happiness.
References:
Best Friends, Animal Shelter Statistics, accessed on Aug 10, 2023, https://bestfriends.org/
Best Friends, Shelter Crisis, accessed on Aug 10, 2023, https://bestfriends.org/
