No dog is inherently broken. Their behavior is shaped by the environment they live in, the attention they’re given, and the affection they receive.
Unfortunately, some owners fail to recognize this. Instead of offering patience or support, they abandon their pets to outcomes they don’t deserve.
That’s exactly what happened to Godric and Sadie, two cherished dogs whose family asked the shelter to have them euthanized.
Godric’s Story
Hearts For Paws, a rescue organization based in Davis, California, recently shared a troubling story on social media.
A family arrived at Solano County Animal Care with their three-year-old Chocolate Labrador, Godric, and asked that he be euthanized. Their reason? They claimed he had bitten their baby.
“They brought Godric the 3 yr chocolate lab in, and told the shelter he bit the baby who had crawled into his food bowl,” the rescue posted on Instagram.
But shelter staff were immediately struck by how gentle Godric was. From the moment he entered the facility, he showed no signs of aggression. He was calm, polite, and affectionate with both strangers and caregivers.
While the shelter didn’t dismiss the possibility of a bite, they couldn’t understand why the family hadn’t tried to rehome him or formally surrender him. Instead, they had gone straight to requesting euthanasia.
The shelter declined and chose to give Godric another chance.
Then, something unexpected happened that revealed even more about the family’s past decisions.
A Reunion Reveals The Truth
During a walk with staff, Godric encountered another dog at the shelter. Their tails wagged and noses touched in recognition.
The other dog was Sadie, a six-year-old Plott Hound. She had been surrendered by the same family just a month earlier, also with a request for euthanasia. They had claimed she growled at their baby.
The two dogs were briefly reunited, sharing a few joyful moments together. Soon after, Godric was adopted into a new home where he was welcomed with love.
Sadie, however, remained behind.
Despite her gentle nature, she became one of the shelter’s longest residents, often overlooked by potential adopters.
“She is a great dog & there is no reason she can’t be adopted! More on her: Sadie is a 6-7 year Plott hound, spayed, good with dogs and people,” Hearts For Paws shared.
Sadie was eventually transferred to Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, California, where she continues to wait for a family to choose her.
She has endured abandonment and rejection, yet remains hopeful that someone will recognize her gentle spirit and give her the home she deserves.
Her future remains unwritten, but she continues to wait patiently for someone who will see her not as a problem, but as a companion worth loving.