Animal shelters see heartbreaking cases every day, but some stand out more than others. In 2010, a pit bull mix named Netty was adopted from a Philadelphia shelter, seemingly on her way to a loving home. Over a decade later, at the age of 15, she found herself back at the same shelter—this time with her owners requesting euthanasia.
Maddie Bernstein, manager of lifesaving at the Pennsylvania SPCA, recalled the painful situation. "She was returned with a requested euthanasia," Bernstein told The Washington Post. "She was old and having some incontinence difficulties in the house." Attempts to explore alternative solutions were quickly shut down. "They weren’t interested in talking about other options for her, like medications," she explained.
Veterinarians at the shelter examined Netty and realized she still had plenty of life left to live. "They felt like she still had a quality of life," Bernstein shared. "They started her on meds, and she did really well. She was starting to improve."
Finding a home for a senior dog, however, wouldn’t be easy. Older pets are often overlooked in favor of younger, more energetic ones. Determined to give Netty a second chance, the Pennsylvania SPCA took to Facebook, hoping to reach someone willing to adopt her.
A perfect match finds Netty just in time
Thousands of people saw the viral post, but one woman knew immediately that Netty belonged with her. Dr. Amy Kidd, a veterinarian from West Chester, Pennsylvania, had recently lost her 12-year-old rescue dog to cancer. She and her family had been searching for another senior pet to love, and Netty seemed like the perfect fit.
"As soon as I saw her face, I was like okay, she's the one that needs to come to my house," Kidd said. She wasn’t new to adopting older dogs—her family has cared for senior rescues for nearly a decade, often taking in dogs with serious health issues. "When they get to our house, it's kind of a fountain of youth," she explained.
On August 9, Kidd was at work when her daughter and two sons drove 40 miles from Kennett Square to Philadelphia to bring Netty home. They even brought two of their other senior dogs along to ensure a smooth introduction.
"It was time to meet her, and I saw her walk down the hallway," said Kidd’s daughter, Emilea Suplick, a veterinary technician at her mother's clinic. "She sniffed me and gave me a little bit of a tail wag."
Shelter staff, who had rarely seen Netty wag her tail, knew this was a special moment.
Netty’s transformation in her new home
Adjusting to a new home at her age could have been difficult, but Netty settled in right away. Medication quickly helped her incontinence, and treatment for arthritis in her lower spine and elbows improved her mobility. Soon, she was confidently exploring her new surroundings.
"She's kind of a stubborn girl, and it's pretty funny because she's supposed to be this old lady that can't walk," Kidd shared. "She is officially the queen bee of the house. She made her way all the way up the stairs by herself, no problem. She does that on a daily basis... I have a feeling she's going to be around for quite a bit."
Suplick, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, hopes Netty’s story will inspire others to consider adopting senior dogs.
A dog once abandoned and left for euthanasia now has a second chance at life—all thanks to a family that sees the beauty in loving pets through their golden years.
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