Vet Refuses Cruel Euthanasia Request and Gives Dogs a Second Chance

4 hours ago 5

Cosmo & Sam: Senior Dogs Abandoned for Love, Saved by Compassion

Many people proudly call their dogs family, but not everyone treats them that way when life changes. For two senior dogs in Indiana, what should have been their golden years almost ended in tragedy when their owner decided that love had an expiration date.

Cosmo, a small Labrador Retriever mix, and Sam, a gentle Pointer, had been loyal companions to their owner for nearly ten years. They were bonded brothers — happy, affectionate, and in perfect health. But when their owner began dating a woman who was allergic to dogs, the man made an unthinkable decision.

Instead of rehoming them or surrendering them to a shelter, he brought both dogs to a veterinarian’s office and requested that they be euthanized. His reasoning was simple and cruel — his girlfriend’s allergy made the dogs “inconvenient.”

This act is known as convenience euthanasia, where an animal’s life is ended not for medical reasons but because they no longer fit their owner’s lifestyle.

Thankfully, compassion intervened. The veterinarian refused to carry out the man’s request, recognizing that Cosmo and Sam were healthy and deserved to live. “None of us want to end a pet’s life unless it is to prevent suffering,” the vet said.

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 vet reached out to Begin Again Rescue Co (BARC) in Valparaiso, Indiana, a foster-based, non-profit organization that specializes in saving dogs in need. The rescue immediately stepped up, welcoming the pair and giving them a chance at a new beginning.

At first, Cosmo and Sam were heartbroken. They couldn’t understand why the person they trusted had abandoned them. Volunteers showered them with affection and care, helping them eat, play, and rediscover joy. Slowly, their spirits began to heal.

Finding a forever home for bonded senior dogs isn’t easy, but BARC refused to give up. After several months without adoption, P.A.W.S. Tinley Park, a no-kill shelter in Illinois, offered to help find them a family together.

Then, the miracle happened. A couple named Eric and Tiffany Dybas, who had recently lost their beloved dog, came across Cosmo and Sam’s story. Their hearts instantly melted. They knew they were meant to bring these two seniors home.

BARC shared the joyful update on Facebook:

“Thanks to our friends at P.A.W.S. Tinley Park, Sam and Cosmo are laying on a comfy couch tonight! They were so good when they visited Santa and now their Christmas wish came true! They have a home!”

Today, Cosmo and Sam are living their best lives — spoiled, loved, and safe with their new family. They’ve traded heartbreak for happiness and loneliness for warmth.

Their story serves as a powerful reminder that compassion still exists and that senior dogs deserve the same love and loyalty they’ve always given us.