Jessica Graaf and her husband had just rescued two dogs from the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly) and were driving them home when Jessica’s phone buzzed with an email that stopped her cold.
It was about a 10-month-old pit bull mix named Matilda — a puppy Jessica had noticed earlier at the shelter.
With her oversized ears and sweet face, Jessica assumed Matilda would be adopted right away.
Instead, the email revealed that the young dog had been “time-stamped,” giving her as little as five hours — and no more than two days — before being euthanized.
Her “crime”? Being too excitable.
According to the shelter, Matilda struggled with the noisy, stressful kennel environment. Once outside, she would nip at her leash out of overstimulation — behavior that could easily be redirected with treats.
To Jessica, it was nothing more than typical puppy energy.
“Overexcitement and leash biting are normal for a dog her age, especially one who may never have been trained or socialized,” Jessica explained.
But ACCT was overflowing, adoptions were down, and the summer rush of owner surrenders left little room for error.
Jessica and her husband didn’t hesitate. “I asked, ‘Do you want to go get her now?’ and he said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ So we turned the car around.”
When they loaded Matilda into their vehicle, the little pup’s reaction was unforgettable.
“She was smiling — you couldn’t deny it,” Jessica said. “It was the coolest thing ever.”
Safe at last, Matilda quickly showed her true self.
She’s affectionate, snuggly and happiest curled up right beside someone. Exhausted from her ordeal, she melted onto Jessica’s lap and finally rested.
“She’s very snuggly. When we got her home … she was sleeping on me on the couch,” Jessica said. “She just wanted to be close.”
When she’s awake, Matilda is all joy and energy. She’s learning fetch, already knows her name and comes when called. With some basic training, she’ll make a wonderful companion.
Jessica believes Matilda would thrive in an active home with another playful dog — and the Philly Bully Team is now looking for a foster or forever family ready to give her that chance.
“She’s a very lovely dog,” Jessica said. “She just needed someone to see past the shelter stress.”
“With her energy, I think she would love a home with another dog and a really active family,” Jessica said.
Because one family turned around that day, Matilda’s story didn’t end behind shelter walls — it’s only just beginning.
If you’re interested in adopting Matilda, you can contact Philly Bully Team.
