Senior Dog Surrendered for Euthanasia Finds New Home With Cherry Hill NJ Family
Tillie was surrendered with a request for euthanasia.
A senior dog surrendered to a Philadelphia shelter with a request for euthanasia is now living with a family in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, after veterinarians determined that she was walking, eating and behaving normally.
The dog, a Great Pyrenees mix named Tillie, also known as Matilda, had originally been adopted from the Pennsylvania SPCA in 2015. She was surrendered to a city shelter in September 2026, and a microchip check led staff to contact the SPCA, which took her back on September 23.
According to an October 23 Washington Post report, the people surrendering Tillie said she had difficulty walking and was not eating. They asked that she be euthanized. But when SPCA veterinary staff examined her, she was moving comfortably, eating and greeting people with a wagging tail. Staff found no immediate medical need beyond routine vaccinations.
There was also uncertainty about her age. The surrendering family described Tillie as 16, while the SPCA’s records indicated she was not yet 12. The shelter did not establish why the family perceived her condition differently. Staff said her physical appearance suggested that she had previously received care.
The SPCA made Tillie available for adoption on October 14 and shared her story publicly. Victoria Caldwell, an experienced rescue-dog adopter from Cherry Hill, saw the appeal and considered whether Tillie could join her household. Caldwell and her fiancé, Joby Parendier, brought their senior dog Hazel to meet Tillie on October 18. The introduction went well, and Tillie went home with them that day.
In the October 23 account, Caldwell described Tillie as affectionate and settling in well. The adoption is confirmed; it is not a pending appeal for a home. There is no indication in the reviewed reporting that the former owners were charged with animal cruelty or that shelter staff acted improperly.
Why This Matters for Animals
A request for euthanasia should not automatically determine an animal’s fate. Tillie’s case shows the value of an independent veterinary assessment when a surrendered animal may still have a good quality of life. Humane euthanasia remains appropriate in some circumstances, but a clinical evaluation can reveal alternatives.
Older dogs can face longer waits for adoption despite having years of companionship to offer. Tillie’s second chance illustrates how shelter follow-up, accurate records and a willing adopter can change the outcome for one vulnerable animal.
Sources: The Washington Post, October 23, 2026; Pet Rescue Report, October 16, 2026, on the Pennsylvania SPCA’s original appeal.
