Shelter Dog Took Her “Last Walk” Before Euthanasia, But A Stranger’s Call Changed Everything

3 days ago 9

Volunteer’s Video Saves Dog From Euthanasia Just Hours Before Her Scheduled Death

For shelter volunteer Evelyn Garces, the hardest part of rescue work isn’t the long hours or the heartbreaking stories — it’s saying goodbye to dogs who never got the chance they deserved. One of those dogs was Sandy, a gentle German Shepherd at the Lancaster Animal Care Center in California, whose time was running out far too soon.

Sandy had come to the shelter as a stray with her puppy. Her baby was quickly adopted, but Sandy remained — alone, confused, and quietly waiting. Despite her sweet nature, no one chose her, and she was placed on the euthanasia list.

Evelyn couldn’t bear the thought of Sandy dying unnoticed. Determined to give her one last happy day, she filmed Sandy’s “final walk” — showing her playing, splashing in the pool, and savoring treats, blissfully unaware that her life was scheduled to end within 48 hours.

The heartbreaking post read:

“Her baby was adopted, leaving only Sandy behind. She’s cleared for euthanasia and scheduled to go to heaven in less than 48 hours. Tomorrow is her last chance.”

A family in Seattle dropped their dog, a black lab named Mitch, off at a local kennel one day, not expecting anything unusual to occur. But Mitch's stay at the kennel ended with an employee brutally kicking and punching him - to the point of death.

The video went viral, spreading across social media and reaching thousands of animal lovers. One woman in San Diego saw it and couldn’t stop thinking about Sandy. She contacted the shelter immediately, drove hours to meet her, and the moment they met, it was clear — Sandy had finally found her person.

By the end of the day, Sandy was off the euthanasia list and heading home. Evelyn later shared the joyful update: Sandy had officially been adopted, leaving the shelter not in sorrow, but with her tail wagging and her heart full of hope.

Today, Sandy is living the life every dog deserves — surrounded by warmth, love, and security. Her story stands as a powerful reminder that sometimes, one video, one share, or one act of compassion can mean the difference between life and death for a shelter dog.

Click the video below to watch the full story:

@evelyn.garces_UPDATE: ADOPTED! Today was Sandy’s last fun day out of her kennel. She’s been through a lot. She was brought to the shelter as a stray with her baby. Her baby was adopted, leaving only Sandy behind…

♬ original sound – Dylan – Deku