Dog With Nine Lives? Unwanted Shelter Dog Survives Euthanasia Attempt And Being Hit By A Car


An animal control officer was shocked when she found a black-and-brown dog that had been euthanized the previous day standing in an outdoor pen very alive.

The New York Daily News reports that Wanda Snell, an animal control officer in Ozark, Alabama, has no idea how the dog survived the lethal injection. Records show the dog arrived at the shelter on August 19 after being dropped off by its owner, who shelter volunteer Cortney Blankenship said was moving and could no longer care for the dog. Snell said the dog was cut and bloody after being struck by a car, and a pad on its left rear foot was missing entirely.

Blankenship tried to find a rescue home for the injured dog through social media, but no one responded. After the he dog’s scheduled euthanization date on September 10, the shelter thought there was nothing else that could be done. The veterinarian was called to perform the lethal injection of the unfortunate mutt. Snell said she was present in the room when the veterinarian administered the injection. According to The Blaze, Snell noted that the dog moved a bit when injected, almost as if fighting the drug before it quieted and was still. The dog was then left for dead inside a pen, its body to be removed later the next day.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Snell saw just how much fight was in the little dog. She made another plea on social media to find the special dog a home. Fortunately, an animal rescue group heard the story and took action. The group collected the dog and later named him Lazarus, after the man the Bible says Jesus brought back to life.

There has been much speculation at what could have caused the dog to awake from supposed death. The shelter is not releasing the name of the veterinarian who administered the injection, but Dr. Robert Lofton of the veterinary school at Auburn University said such cases are rare. While he hasn’t examined the dog and wasn’t involved in its handling, Lofton said the dog’s survival could have resulted from an improper dose of the drug used or possibly a vein that dodged the needle tip.

Lazarus now lives with a foster home over 160 miles from his intended place of death. Jane Holston of Helena is caring for the dog along with another foster dog. Just weeks after Lazarus’ supposed death, he is now running around fully healed in Holston’s backyard.

Dogs aren’t the only ones who can survive seemingly deadly events. One cat with at least nine lives survived an auto accident, stoning, and being shot.

What do you think of this dog’s will to survive? Have you ever heard of a failed attempt at euthanizing a shelter dog?

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