In all my years volunteering at shelters and writing about dogs, I’ve heard countless excuses for giving up pets. Still, each time I come across a new one, it never ceases to shock me.
The story of a small, sweet dog named Sadie adds yet another unbelievable reason to the list—her family didn’t want to repair a backyard fence. Yes, something as simple as that.
Far too often, people adopt animals without truly understanding the responsibility involved. When faced with even minor challenges, some treat pets like disposable objects rather than cherished companions.
This is Sadie’s story—a tough start with a joyful ending, made possible by people who genuinely care about dogs.
Meet Sadie
Two-year-old Sadie found herself in a Texas shelter after her owners decided they no longer wanted 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,” explained Madeline Bracken, a volunteer at the Glenn Heights Animal Shelter, in an interview.
Sadie had lived with her family for nearly two years before being abruptly surrendered. All because they didn’t want to invest the time or effort into maintaining their fence so that their little dog wouldn’t slip out.
The owners claimed she was an Alaskan Husky and Border Collie mix, but the shelter suspects she may be a Husky and Corgi mix instead, given her small frame.
Regardless of the mix, one thing is certain—Huskies are notorious escape artists. They dig, jump, and climb to explore beyond the yard, which makes secure fencing essential.
Monica Salmeron, the shelter’s animal control officer, even offered the family affordable, practical solutions to secure the fence. Sadly, they declined.
Abandoned and confused, Sadie was devastated.
“Sadie doesn’t want to be there. It’s loud from all the barking, and she’s alone 90 percent of the time, when you can really tell she’s just a family dog,” Bracken said.
Gentle by nature and eager to snuggle, Sadie struggled in the noisy, stressful shelter environment. She only wanted what every dog longs for—a family to love her in return.
Although many people inquired about adopting her, none of those promises seemed to work out.
Hope Through A Viral Video
Seeing how much Sadie was struggling, Bracken decided to take action. She recorded a heartfelt video about the dog’s situation, hoping it would help her reach a wider audience.
That decision changed everything.
“She is a cuddle bug who is easy to walk on leash. She loves people and gets along well with other dogs. She is even house-trained. Sadie is fixed and ready to go,” Bracken said in the clip.
She also reassured potential adopters that Sadie had completed a temperament test—and passed beautifully.
@thetrashytexan MEET SADIE! She came into the animal shelter because her owner didn't want to maintain their backyard to the level necessary to prevent a small dog from escaping. We were told she is an Alaskan Husky and Collie mix BUT this girl is LITTLE! We are guessing she’s more of a husky/CORGI mix! Almost 2 years old. Need updated rabies vaccine. She is fixed. Good with kids. Good with other dogs. #AdoptDontShop #adoptdontshop🐾 #DogShelter ♬ original sound – TheTrashyTexan 🗑♻️🌍
“She cuddles on your lap even though she’s on the larger end of a small dog and likes to follow people around the animal shelter when given the chance to get out,” Bracken added.
Within hours of the video hitting TikTok, the shelter’s phone began ringing off the hook. More than eighty people called to ask about adopting Sadie.
By the end of that very same day, Sadie was leaving the shelter for her forever home. The little dog who had been abandoned for such a trivial reason finally got the miracle she deserved.
From now on, Sadie will hopefully never again know the pain of rejection. Instead, she’ll experience the love, patience, and stability that every dog deserves.
Her new family has the chance to heal the wounds left behind by her previous owners. And for a sweet, affectionate dog like Sadie, nothing could be more important.