Woman rescues puppy moments before euthanasia, gives him a rare 'second chance' at life

Sometimes, many pet owners, unwillingly, take the most heartbreaking decision of euthanizing their babies to relieve them from prolonged illness or chronic pain. Although there is never an easy way of doing that, it's extremely important to free them from all the suffering. While euthanizing animals is mostly done legally after a licensed veterinarian gives a nod, some people might take advantage and exploit these innocent creatures to satisfy their sadistic needs. Unfortunately, while many of these animals on the euthanasia list never get a second chance at life, only a few are fortunate enough to see the sunlight again. Something similar happened when Elliot, a dog parent, shared a video (on @elliot.the.labof on TikTok) of herself fostering a puppy, hours before he was scheduled to be euthanized.

"Come with me to pick up a foster off the euth list," the woman said, as she captured herself driving to the clinic to get the dog priorly scheduled to be put down. "I am so nervous. I brought the high-value treats, so hopefully we can get him into the kennel," she added. With anxiety clearly visible on her face, she made her way into the clinic and finally caught a glimpse of the dog she had thought of fostering. The puppy was kept inside a small glass cabinet, and as soon as he spotted the woman, he began wagging his tail, as if they had known each other for years. After formalities were settled, the woman successfully got the canine out of the clinic and gently placed him inside a kennel kept in her car. "He seems like he is exuberant, but maybe that will make him fit in just fine," the woman added. 

After a blissful drive, the kind lady reached her destination, where a man could be seen interacting with the dog. He took him out of the kennel, and almost immediately, the two became best of friends. "Oh, you are so sweet!" the man said as the puppy showered him with countless wet kisses. The woman further revealed that she would let the dog roam around in the open for a while before putting him back in the kennel so he doesn't get too stressed. While this dog got another opportunity to live, many, sadly, don't get a second chance. As per a report in Shelter Animal Count, more than 359,000 dogs were euthanized in 2023, in the United States alone. Shelters often resort to this method of clearing 'the list' when a dog has spent too long at the shelter, without any prospects of adoption. This is why it is more generous, more human to adopt pets instead of shop for them or buy them from an expensive breeder.

The heartwarming video received an overwhelming response on the internet, with people appreciating the woman for her timely rescue. Meanwhile, reacting to the clip, @missiliza commented, "It's just heartbreaking to know so many beautiful animals like him don't make it. I'm so glad you saved him!" Similarly, another user who goes by @verrocal73 on the platform wrote, "Thank you for saving this beautiful baby! He’s so happy when he gets to his new home." @pawsitivepartners wrote, "He is so cute! Thank you for fostering in such a needed time; you are awesome!"

@johnnybravoandfriends said, "What a handsome boy, and he was such a good boy waiting to be loaded and unloaded, especially love that curled round tail of his." @selenasottolaluna, a pet parent, revealed, "Love him! He reminds me so much of my boy! The face and curly tail! My boy has more black on him, though." On the other hand, @callista.sabella suggested, "PLEASE name him Monkey or something like that… His tail and energy totally give monkey vibes." @amyndamassoud pointed out, "I saw you taking him home when you got him! He looked so happy to be out!"

You can follow Elliot the Lab (@elliot.the.lab) on TikTok for more such dog-related content.