American bully marked ‘aggressive’ was headed for euthanasia — then a cat appeared at the last second and changed everything

A shelter dog was being walked to his euthanasia appointment when a twist of fortune changed his life forever. Ozzy, a black Bully residing in an Oklahoma animal shelter, almost had his fate sealed. Years went by, but Ozzy’s life stood still in the little cage at the shelter. The staff finally decided it was time he moved on, as they needed space for other dogs. The likelihood of a black Bully like him getting adopted was slim, the staff figured, considering the general stigma around black fur and the dogs' aggressive nature. Euthanasia was the best option until life gave Ozzy one last chance. 

The animal shelter shared a moving clip of what could have been Ozzy’s final moments on their Instagram page, @life.with.rescuess. The workers decided to perform a quick cat test on Ozzy to check his behavior. A staff member held a tiny cat near Ozzy to see how he would react. Surprisingly, Ozzy simply sniffed the cat and moved away without barking or showing aggression, revealing his gentle nature. The cat test was done as a courtesy to a potential adopter who owned four cats and wanted to see if Ozzy would be safe to adopt. That moment ended up changing the dog’s life. 

The post’s caption narrated a heartbreaking reality of black dogs and bully breeds. “Ozzy was overlooked due to his breed and color, and the shelter had decided to euthanize him to make space,” it read. Black bully breeds are one of the top breeds that face euthanasia, as people fear their violent nature and intimidating appearance. However, Ozzy was among the rare ones who finally found a forever home, now living happily with four cats and human parents in Colorado. Although the owners were not impressed by the shelter’s approach, it was totally unsafe for the cat to be held unprotected near the dog. They were relieved that the cat was not harmed in any manner during the test. 

The heartwarming video was shared in honor of Black Dog Syndrome Awareness Month, encouraging potential adopters to give every breed a chance. “Ozzy wants to remind you to consider the underdog when looking to add a new companion to your life,” the message emphasized. “Take a chance on the 'scary' looking ones, the shy ones, the ones who need a little extra training. They deserve a chance, too.” 

According to The Spruce Pets, Black dog syndrome (BDS) is a phenomenon where black dogs are ignored during adoption for the light-colored ones. This leaves the black pups homeless for years, and they end up euthanized. This is especially common among larger breeds like Pit Bulls and Bulldogs. While the exact reason remains unclear, negative associations with the color black, such as misfortune and danger, may influence their decision to adopt. The trend also follows in cats and other animals. 

For more rescue stories, follow @life.with.rescuess on Instagram.