Philadelphia Puppy Almost Euthanized For A Reason That Will Shock You
For one special day, Jessica Graf and her husband visited the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly), and it didn’t take long for them to fall in love.
Two playful pups immediately captured their hearts, and the couple happily decided to adopt both, thrilled to welcome them into their family.
But just as they were driving home, Jessica received an email that made her stop in her tracks.
It was about Matilda, a sweet 10-month-old pit bull mix she had noticed at the shelter while spending time with the dogs she had just rescued. Matilda had only arrived a few days earlier, yet according to the email, her time was already running out.
Matilda had been “time-stamped” – she had just 48 hours left before being euthanized. Jessica was stunned, as she says in an interview:
“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.”
The reason shocked her even more: Matilda had been labelled “overexcited.” The email explained:
“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.”
To Jessica, Matilda’s behaviour was completely normal for a young dog who had been abandoned and never trained.
As a devoted dog lover and co-founder of Philly Bully Team, she saw the truth: the shelter was overcrowded, and Matilda had simply drawn the short straw.
“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.”
Determined to save her, Jessica and her husband turned the car around and drove straight to ACCT Philly to rescue 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 clear she knew she was finally safe.
“She was smiling – you couldn’t deny it! It was the coolest thing ever.”
Once home, Matilda curled up next to Jessica on the couch and quickly fell asleep, likely exhausted from the stress of the shelter and travel. It didn’t take long for her true personality to shine through.
She was affectionate, loving to snuggle, and followed her new family everywhere.
Her so-called “overexcitement” remained, she was full of energy and always ready to play. Matilda quickly picked up basic commands and tricks, impressing Jessica with her intelligence and eagerness to learn. Jessica shared:
“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.”
With her energy, intelligence, and sweet personality, Matilda deserved a forever home that could match her playful spirit.
Thanks to Jessica and her husband, Matilda had a second chance at life, one filled with love, care, and the bright future she so clearly deserved.
