After years of volunteering in shelters and listening to endless explanations for why people give up their dogs, the excuses never stop being baffling.
Take Sadie, for example. Her family left her behind because of a broken backyard fence. A fence. That flimsy detail was enough to end her place in their home.
Too often, pets are taken in by people who underestimate the responsibility. When challenges arise, some treat the animal like an object to discard instead of a loyal companion with feelings and trust.
But Sadie’s journey did not end in despair. Thanks to compassionate people who truly value dogs, her story turned toward hope and kindness, proving that there are still hearts willing to step in where others fail.
Sadie’s Story: A Heartbreaking Surrender
Sadie, a two-year-old dog, ended up in a shelter after her owners decided they no longer wanted to care for her.
“Sadie’s owners didn’t want to fix their backyard fence, so Sadie kept escaping. Instead of wanting to fix the problem, they chose to surrender her,” Madeline Bracken, a volunteer at Glenn Heights Animal Shelter in Texas, said in an interview.
After living with her family for nearly two years, Sadie was simply given up because her owners didn’t want to repair the fence so their small dog wouldn’t escape.
Her owners claimed that Sadie was an Alaskan Husky and Border Collie mix, but the shelter staff believes she might actually be a Husky and Corgi mix, given her small size.
When it comes to Huskies, they are known escape artists. They love to jump or dig under fences to get out. While this can be challenging for owners, it’s something that should be expected and managed.
Monica Salmeron, the shelter’s animal control officer, even suggested some simple and inexpensive ways to repair the fence, but the owners refused.
Sadie was heartbroken, scared, and struggling to adjust to life in the shelter.
“Sadie doesn’t want to be here. It’s loud from all the barking, and she’s alone 90 percent of the time. You can really tell she’s just a family dog,” Bracken explained.
Sadie is a gentle and affectionate dog who loves to cuddle. This experience was very difficult for her. She simply wanted a family that would love her as much as she loves everyone else.
While many people expressed interest in adopting her, none followed through.
The Breakthrough Moment
After learning about Sadie’s heartbreaking situation, Bracken decided to take action. She made a video showcasing this sweet little dog who was waiting for her forever family.
The video quickly gained attention and gave Sadie a newfound chance of finding the right person.
“She is a cuddle bug who is easy to walk on a leash. She loves people and gets along well with other dogs. She is even house-trained. Sadie is fixed and ready to go,” Bracken shared in the video.
Bracken also mentioned that Sadie had undergone temperament testing and passed with flying colors.
“She cuddles on your lap, even though she’s on the larger side for a small dog, and loves following people around the shelter when given the chance to get out,” Bracken added.
Sadie’s miracle was on its way.
Sadie’s New Beginning
After the video was posted online, the Glenn Heights Animal Shelter received over 81 calls inquiring about Sadie.
By the end of the day, Sadie was already in her new forever home.
This time, Sadie’s story will have a happy ending. We can only hope that she will never have to face abandonment again and that her new family will help heal her little broken heart. She truly deserves all the love in the world.