Philadelphia Shelter Puppy Was Almost Put Down For A Shocking Reason That Will Infuriate You
One day, Jessica Graf and her husband visited the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly), where they instantly fell in love with two adorable pups.
After a quick discussion, they happily decided to rescue both, thrilled to welcome two new furry family members into their family.
As they drove back with their new dogs in the backseat, Jessica received an unexpected email from ACCT Philly – one that stopped her in her tracks.
The email was about Matilda, a sweet 10-month-old pit bull mix Jessica had noticed at the shelter while spending time with the dogs she had just rescued.
Matilda had only arrived at the shelter a few days earlier, but according to the email, her time was already running out…
According to the email, Matilda had been time-stamped – meaning she had just 48 hours left before being euthanized.
Jessica was stunned. She could hardly believe what she was reading.
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.”
The reason Matilda was scheduled to be put down shocked Jessica even more – it was because she was considered “overexcited.” Can you believe that?
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.”
After reading the email, Jessica was more than a little surprised – to put it mildly.
As she explained in an interview, Matilda’s behavior was completely normal for a dog her age, especially one who had been abandoned at a young age and never properly trained.
As a devoted dog lover and co-founder of Philly Bully Team, a foster-based rescue, Jessica saw right through the email – she understood the real reason Matilda was being put down.
The shelter was overcrowded, and unfortunately, during that time of year, tough decisions had to be made. Matilda had simply drawn the short straw.
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.
As soon as Matilda arrived home, she curled up next to Jessica on the couch and instantly fell asleep – likely exhausted from the long trip and the stress of shelter life.
It didn’t take long for Matilda to show her true personality.
She turned out to be one of the most affectionate dogs Jessica had ever met! She loved snuggling with her favorite humans and followed them everywhere.
Her so-called “overexcitement” never faded – she was full of energy and always ready to play.
She also proved to be a quick learner, picking up basic tricks and commands with ease. 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.”
Jessica set out to find the perfect forever home for Matilda – ideally one with another dog and an active lifestyle to match her energy.
I hope they succeeded in their mission and that Matilda is now in a home where she’s loved and well cared for – because that’s exactly what she deserves!
