At the Downey Animal Care Center in California, a young female German shepherd, referred to as “not a happy dog,” has a tragic tale to share. Brought in to the shelter over the weekend as a stray, she apparently escaped from her family’s yard after jumping the fence. Zuzu’s heart fractured into a million pieces on Sunday as her family decided not to reclaim her. A volunteer tells her story:
“With her fast wagging tail seeing her owners, Zuzu lit up like a Christmas tree. She looked like the happiest dog. Yea, she’s going home! But no! Talking to her owners, they told me they were not here to reclaim her; they were getting another dog.”
The volunteer’s mouth dropped open as the dog’s previous owners continued:
“Zuzu’s father, another German shepherd had just passed away and Zuzu was crying and heartbroken. She escaped her family’s yard and hopped the wall and got into her neighbor’s yard. The unhappy neighbor called Animal Control, and her owners were going to let her stay there. Their reason? Because she was crying and sad since her father passed away. She was not a happy dog anymore.”
And so another dog is in desperate need of a new family. This time it is hoped the friendly two-year-old will find a home where she is loved. Share this dog’s plight with approved rescue organizations, friends, family and social media contacts. She is described as friendly with other dogs and children. A Facebook page for Zuzu can be followed here or here. For more information, contact the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control Downey Shelter at 562.940.6890. Reference #A5014556.
Check out Zuzu’s short video as her previous owners pet her for a moment and walk away to adopt another dog. Her broken heart is forever captured in the moment they begin to walk away.
(Photo for not a happy dog LA Animal Care and Control. Video for not a happy dog Desi Lara)
https://www.facebook.com/dez.lara.5/videos/1825678337674617/
HORRIFIC! The shelter shouldn’t have LET this heartless family adopt another dog! Not if they’re going to treat their family member this way! AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
I was thinking the same thing. There should be a law place for that
People Suck!! They shouldn’t be allowed to adopt another dog!!
If she wants to move to Chicago I’ll take her!!!!!
Please Joe call and offer her a home. This is so pathetic I live in a small one bedroom apt with 4 cats and that is all I am allowed. She needs you and I am sure she does not care where she lives as long as she is loved
What scumbags!!! I hope they get what they have coming to them soon.
These people should not be allowed to ‘throw away’ their beautiful, faithful friend and just get a new dog. What happens when they throw away their new one ? And their excuse, that the dog was grieving, makes it even more heartless. Shame on her owners. People like this shouldn’t have the privilege of owning a dog.
These people should NOT had been allowed to adopt again. Sick,heartless bastards! I really hate people.
I AGREE !! HOW CAN THE SHELTER EVEN ALLOW THIS ??? IF I WORKED THERE THEY WOULD GET A TONGUE LASHING FROM ME AND A BOOT IN THE ASS OUT THE DOOR. THEY SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO ADOPT AGAIN . WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE POS PLACES ??? THAT IS JUST LUDICRIOUS !!! I AM STEAMING MAD OVER THIS AND WILL REPORT THIS SHELTER FOR ITS PRACTICES . THESE ARE LIVING BEINGS , NOT CARS TO TRADE IN !!! ????????❤️????
I agree. People have no heart anymore.
I agree with you Deb, but these heartless owners would have gone somewhere else & get another dog anyway. POSes.
Agree…heartless…should not be allowed to adopt another dog. Hope the new dog “stays happy” all the time. Bet these are the kind of human garbage who dump “senior” dogs & go get a new “puppy”!!
I totally agree. The fact that ZuZu is mourning the loss of her father just proves how sensitive and intelligent dogs are. I hope Karma pays this family of monsters a visit and soon!
Why on earth did they allow people who may only keep the next dog a few months and bring it back??
They let these jerks get another dog? I would have sent them away saying they did not even deserve the first one!
Totally agree,!!! That is ridiculous! So they can break another dog’s heart and soul forever!!!
Amen, my thoughts exactly 🙁
Holy crap! I sure hope they did t let them adopt another dog at THEIR shelter!!!
Heartless scum don’t deserve a pet.
I just tried calling the # provided and it’s asking for a contract pin #? Has there been a hold on her yet? I live in Ct but will find a way to transport her here. We have a 2yr old Sheperd and would never ever want him to feel heartbroken like she feels now. Is there another way to contact the shelter?
That is so very kind of you–please don’t give up and keep trying to reach the right person to adopt her. I am just beyond upset over those heartless people who left her. If that shelter allowed them to have another dog, they are totally irresponsible and inhumane–those people should go on a do not adopt list–it is totally unforgivable, Even I, after 25+ years of animal adoption work, am just stunned. Anyway, good luck getting sweet Zuzu.
This is the number I got on a google search: (562) 940-6898. Good luck getting her! Also go to Paws without Borders on Facebook. They transport from LA to the East Coast every week or two.
Here’s the full info:
Address: 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242
Phone:(562) 940-6898
Hours: Open today · 12–7PM
Try googling the shelter. You might be able yo get her saved! Good luck! Keep us posted!
Is the pin # her ID number? Keep trying to call or maybe send an email referencing her ID #
Did you try clicking on the links to the Facebook page? The first one gave me an error but the second one worked. The links are in the article… Click the word “here” in blue where it talks about the Facebook page above where the phone number is listed. Good luck!
The correct number is 562.940.6898
If you change the number in the post to the 562.940.6898 number (the last digit was wrong originally), can you also please ‘reply’ to Samantha with the corrected number? I’m not sure she’d notice a change in the post itself, but she might notice if you reply to her message specifically.
E mail them and e mail rescues in that area that can pull for you
562 940 6890 is there phone number and #A5014556 did you give them his number . .
You have to give them the dog number #A5014556 I hope this help you.
I hope you get her. Sounds like she would have a great life with you.
I searched on Google maps and found the Los Angeles county animal shelter on Garfield Ave in Downey, CA with phone number 562-940-6898. The article had the last number changed to zero, that is why you couldn’t get through. Please call again the correct number. You can check it on the internet yourself for the full address. Good luck and keep us posted.
Hi Samantha, I found Zulu here http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/acc/our_animals/detail?animalID=A5014556&page=1
My name is Zuzu and I’m an approximately 2 year old female germ shepherd. I am not yet spayed. I have been at the Downey Animal Care Center since November 24, 2016. I am available on November 28, 2016. You can visit me at my temporary home at D531.
Zuzu I meant, need to read my automatic word correction more carefully ?
My mom’s one dog, KC (Christy and Ken) was put to sleep, vet it was time..she had gone through do much chemo…we all cried, even my mom’s other dog, Krystal..for three days. Love, hugs, understanding, and assuring by talking to her helped. You have to have the right stuff to own a pet. Not just to look at it and expect to do do do to just make you happy. Giving of yourself goes a long way!!!!
What idiots. Dogs have feelings too they love the members of their families both with and without fur. To not give the poor baby time to mourn her loss and just shove more heartbreak and loss on to the poor thing is just cruel. Those people don’t deserve to have pets if that is how they treat them.
EXACTLY my thoughts! I hope they READ THIS!
Name and shame these morons they don’t deserve another dog Plz tell me the shelter never gave in to these idiots: if they can’t look after the dog they already have what chance does the next have; and if that dog looks sad are they just going to let that dog go: oops the dog got out . THEY SHOULD NEVER POSSESS A DOG AGAIN EVER IN THEIR LIFE TIME; its a honour to have a dog love you and its not just for Xmas
These assholes shouldn’t be allowed to get another animal if they can’t help the one they had just needed to get her money mind off what had happened to her
Heartless SOB’S!!!!! They shouldn’t be allowed to adopt another animal! She sure looked happy, she probably was searching for her dad when she jumped the fence. How could you go to the shelter and look at your dog and say “oh, we’re just here to pick out a different dog”? I hate people ? I truly hope she finds a better home where her owners are committed and love her.
And the SHELTER ALLOWED THES PUKES TO TAKE OUT ANOTHER DOG they WILL DUMP LIKE THE DID THIS POOR LITTLE GIRL .. THE BUTT WIPES .. have NOT ONE OUNCE OF COMPASSION and MOST CERTAINLY don’t have the HEART AND LOVE to have another SO CALLED PET HOPE THSES BASTARDS don’t have CHILDREN!!!!!
I find this so ridiculous of the shelter, my shelter would have taken their dog, but not allow them to adopt anothet.! That how it is.
I at times think California and good portion of it’s population are “OUT to LUNCH”. The lack of compassion from a large portion of the population has made in dumping their animals and the enormous LACK of an OUNCE of COMPASSION if beyond BELIEF!!! Then to want to take another dog while this lovely grieving GS who just lost ( her DAD) that was with her from day one “BECASUE SHE IS NOT HAPPY ) meets the criteria of being a total MORON!!!!
Unbelievable! So sad
i wish I can win the lottery and save all animals
I’m right there with ya’, Nelly! I live in NV, so no lottery. But every time I go up the mountain to So. Lake Tahoe, I buy a ticket! I figure if I’m meant to have my rescue, I WILL win. And I would have my friend fly this dog out here to find a GOOD home for her! ? ? ?
One year late replying, but I feel exactly as you do! Am crying right now over ZuZu and trying to find out if some kind soul adopted her. Should I have money left at the end of my life, will donate to homeless animal causes. God Bless all who care.
Oh PLEASE tell me they didn’t let them adopt another dog!!!!!!!!!!!! These disgusting people shouldn’t be allowed to have a pet gerbil let alone a dog! Heartless POS’s!!!!!!!!
Should not be allowed to adopt …..
I feel sorry for any dog they get . Dogs are no Lawn ornaments to throw outside . If anyone would like to foster her please contact me or House Of Shepherds Rescue …
I would need an inland empire foster —
They need their heads checked youve had that dog since a pup. Shes going to miss her friend. But with love and time she would have been alright.
Oh my God, what is wrong with these idiots!. Praying for her to find a new living home where she will be loved and care for. They do not deserve her, or any other dog for that fact
The hope in all of this is that maybe this sweet doggie will get the home she truly deserves. One where there is boundless love & compassion which would be a blessing indeed!
You should have showed the dirtbags faces because I wonder if I punch them in the face if he cry like their dog cries when his daddy passed away how could you people in the shelter give them another dog to adopt you gotta be f****** kidding me
sharing ZuZu
These so called humans r some assholes idiots n u name it every dirty name in the book “SCUMBAGS”!!! In the first place u shelters shud have some kind of policy where ppl that has given up dogs in the past for no gd reason at all shud not b allowed to have another dog! They don’t have the heart r feelings to own another dog! How can u b sure that this story will not repeat itself again!!! Jesus Christ what ppl do n that includes these shelters cuz they r not in my favorite list either!! Some of these shelters r not that great!!
The owners should not be allowed to adopt another dog after the shelter knew they were leaving their loyal dog because he was mourning the loss of his father. People like these do not see their pets as family, nor do they comprehend that animals mourn loss as much or even more than humans. They are worthless as pet owners and should be banned for life.
I think they’re using the “crying” as an excuse to give her up to adopt another dog. So sad to see her wagging her tail thinking she was on her way home. Heartless pricks!
Qué mierdas!
The phone number listed is not correct. Look on Google maps to see that the correct one for Los Angeles county animal shelter in Downey, CA is 562-940-6898 (not 6890)! Please correct the FB page and the article. Thanks.
They were allowed to dump one dog and get another???? Sounds like Downey Animal “Care’ Center has no idea what the word ‘care’ means – these piss poor examples of ‘owners’ should be dumped in a shelter and euthanized.
I just question the shelter regarding their adoption policy, since it seems that they turn in Zulu and adopted anothet.
Can I take her?
I can take this dog. I live in Tujunga.
I can’t get a real person on the phone
I haven’t been able to get through to the shelter and none of my posts here are going through.
She’s being pulled by a rescue on FRIDAY. Go here for more info:
https://www.facebook.com/dez.lara.5/posts/1825678741007910?comment_id=1826626157579835¬if_t=feed_comment_reply¬if_id=1480499679698441
So I can go tomorrow at 1 pm to pay the adoption fee but I can’t pick her up until Thursday afternoon
Awesome! Another article says that she’s being pulled by a rescue. Either way, as long has she has a HAPPY home, I’M happy! ?
[…] away. She was not a happy dog anymore.” When animal advocate. Sal Valdepena reached out to the Pet Rescue Report to help Zuzu find a new home, it didn’t take long before her story went viral. And although […]
You can adopt here here! http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/acc/our_animals/detail?animalID=A5014556&page=2