Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) was made for dogs like Sadie. As a senior dog with health concerns, DCHS’s open admission policy and adoption guarantee meant that she would have a second chance at finding a loving family.
Sadie was a sweet but shy girl who preferred the company of people over other animals, and she quickly won the hearts of staff and volunteers. She spent her days in staff offices, getting love and attention to help her stay calm and stress free.
During an exam by one of our shelter veterinarians, it was determined that Sadie had developed heart disease and a suspected collapsed trachea. Both issues can be managed at home with regular vet visits, but first we had to find just the right person to take on this care for sweet Sadie.
Dane County Humane Society is an adoption guarantee shelter, meaning that all healthy and treatable animals can stay with us as long as they need to find a home. For Sadie, it took 21 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours and 7 minutes to find the better half she was looking for.
In October, Gretchen came to DCHS, ready to open her home to a canine friend. She had been by the shelter earlier that summer looking at dogs. She had met Sadie at that time but was unsure if this was the best time for her to adopt. When she returned in October, this time ready for a canine companion, she was certain Sadie would be long gone. Imagine her surprise seeing sweet Sadie still at the shelter months later.

Gretchen immediately went to our Adoption Center and learned of Sadie’s medical and behavioral needs. She met with Sadie and staff several times that week to talk through these needs to be sure she could provide the best home for Sadie. In the end, it was clear that Sadie was her perfect match! Gretchen was able to take her home on October 17!
“Sadie is amazing and absolutely perfect,” says Gretchen. “All she needed was a little love and patience to get acclimated. I am so unbelievably fortunate to be able to be her mom and adopting an older dog was the best decision I ever made. I can’t believe she had been there for so long, but I am happy to say it was meant to be. We are looking forward to spending a long time together!”
Your generosity gives us the opportunity to provide senior animals like Sadie medical care and the time they need to find a loving home. Thank you for your generous support and willingness to make a commitment to helping people help animals.
Donate today to help every animal find a happy ending to their story. Your donations today will be DOUBLED thanks to the generosity of our #GivingTuesday matching donors. All gifts (no matter their size) will be MATCHED up to $30,000! Donate now to be a part of this one-day-only challenge!
Thank you for your patience! Due to all the wonderful generosity this Giving Tuesday, our donation form below may take a minute or two to load.