Many people see their dogs as part of the family, but sadly, not everyone shares this sentiment.
Abandoning a pet is cruel enough, but deciding to euthanize two perfectly healthy and happy dogs because they’ve become inconvenient takes cruelty to a new level.
They Lived With Him for 10 Years
Cosmo and Sam sit on the laminate floor with their tongues out
In June 2018, a man from Indiana, USA, brought his two dogs, Cosmo and Sam, to a local vet clinic with the shocking request to have them euthanized.
Cosmo, a small Labrador Retriever mix, and Sam, a Pointer, were a bonded pair of senior dogs.
For nearly 10 years, these sweet, healthy dogs had lived with their owner. But everything changed when the owner decided to move in with his girlfriend, who was allergic to dogs. According to the rescue organization, the couple no longer saw the dogs as an essential part of their lives.
Rather than finding a new home for Cosmo and Sam or even surrendering them to a shelter, the owner opted for what is known as “convenience euthanasia.” This term refers to the practice of ending an animal’s life simply because they no longer fit into their owner’s lifestyle .
Two dogs with their tongues out enjoying a car ride
Fortunately, the vet refused to euthanize Cosmo and Sam, recognizing that they were in perfect health and did not deserve such a fate. “None of us want to end a pet’s life unless it is to prevent suffering,” the vet explained.
Instead, the two dogs were sent to Begin Again Rescue Co. (BARC), a foster-based, non-profit dog rescue located in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Cosmo and Sam Found Their Forever Home
A man and a woman keep their dogs on a leash
It took some time for Cosmo and Sam to recover from the heartbreak of being abandoned, but thanks to the dedicated volunteers at BARC, they began to eat, play, and return to their normal selves.
However, finding a forever home for a bonded pair of senior dogs proved challenging, despite the fact that they still had plenty of life left in them.
After a few months without finding a home, Cosmo and Sam were transferred to P.A.W.S. Tinley Park, a no-kill animal shelter in Illinois, USA, that offered to help.
Adopting senior dogs often takes longer, but thankfully, in early December 2018, Cosmo and Sam found their new home.
They were adopted by Eric and Tiffany Dybas, a couple who had recently lost their beloved dog and fell in love with Cosmo and Sam after hearing their story.
Two dogs resting on a woodshed
“Thanks to our friends at P.A.W.S. Tinley Park, Sam and Cosmo are laying on a comfy couch tonight! They were so good when they visited Santa, and now their Christmas wish came true! They have a home!” BARC shared in a Facebook post.
The shelter reports that the two beautiful dogs are now thriving in their new home, where they are being spoiled and loved as they deserve.
