Philadelphia Puppy Came Close To Being Put Down For A Reason That Will Leave You Outraged

One day, Jessica Graf and her husband stopped by the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly), where they quickly fell for two adorable puppies.

After a brief conversation, they happily decided to adopt both, excited to add two new furry friends to their family.

While driving home with their new pups in the backseat, Jessica received an unexpected email from ACCT Philly – one that took her completely by surprise.

The email was about Matilda, a sweet 10-month-old pit bull mix Jessica had spotted at the shelter while spending time with the dogs she had just adopted.

Matilda had only been at the shelter for a few days, but the email revealed that her time was running out…

The email revealed that Matilda had been “time-stamped,” giving her just 48 hours before she would be euthanized.

Jessica was shocked. She could hardly process what she was seeing. In an interview, she recalled her shock and disbelief:

“I thought she would get scooped right up. Honestly, she’s so cute, and she’s young, and she’s got these big old bat ears. I thought someone would take her immediately.”

What shocked Jessica even more was the reason Matilda was set to be euthanized – she was deemed “overexcited.” Can you believe that?

The email went on to explain:

“Matilda is a spunky girl that came to ACCT as a stray. This little pupper is having a hard time adjusting to the kennel environment and has since developed a severe leash biting behavior. When you take Matilda out, she becomes overstimulated [to] the sights and sounds of the shelter. When she gets outside, Matilda begins to leash bite out of overexcitement. She can be redirected with treats.”

After reading the email, Jessica was absolutely stunned – to say the least.

As she explained in an interview, Matilda’s behavior was entirely typical for a dog her age, particularly one who had been abandoned as a puppy and never received proper training.

As a passionate dog lover and co-founder of Philly Bully Team, a foster-based rescue, Jessica saw through the email immediately – she understood the true reason Matilda was facing euthanasia.

The shelter was overcrowded, and, unfortunately, during that time of year, difficult decisions had to be made. Matilda had just been one of the dogs who got unlucky.

Jessica explained:

“When people go on vacation, instead of finding accommodations for their dogs, oftentimes they’ll just dump them at the shelter. Adoptions are also down because people don’t want to commit to adopting a new pet when they have a vacation planned.”

The thought of an innocent dog being euthanized for such a senseless reason was unbearable. Jessica knew she had to do something to save Matilda.

Without hesitation, Jessica and her husband jumped back in the car and drove straight to the shelter to pick up Matilda.

“I asked my husband, ‘Do you want to go get her now?’ And he said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ So we just turned around and went back and got her.”

The moment Matilda settled into the backseat, it was as if she knew she was finally safe.

“She was smiling – you couldn’t deny it! It was the coolest thing ever.”

Overjoyed and full of gratitude, Matilda had finally found someone willing to fight for the life she truly deserved.

The moment Matilda arrived at her new home, she curled up beside Jessica on the couch and quickly drifted off to sleep – probably worn out from the long journey and the stress of shelter life.

It didn’t take long for Matilda’s true personality to shine through.

She turned out to be one of the most affectionate dogs Jessica had ever known! Matilda loved snuggling with her favorite humans and would follow them wherever they went.

Matilda’s so-called “overexcitement” never went away; she remained full of energy and always eager to play.

She also showed herself to be a fast learner, quickly mastering basic tricks and commands. Jessica shared on Facebook:

“Matilda needs ALL OF THE TOYS. She’s about 10 months old. She’s super smart, loves to learn and being very responsive to training. She knows her name, sits for treats and toys, loves to give kisses and has done well with other dogs. Matilda would benefit from an experienced owner.”

Determined to find Matilda the perfect forever home, Jessica began searching for a family that could offer her a companion and an active lifestyle to match her energy.

I truly hope their efforts paid off and that Matilda is now in a loving home where she’s well cared for – because that’s exactly what she deserves!