Shelter Dog Enjoys Final Day Out Before Euthanasia—Then Everything Changes

Rex the pit bull mix had just hours left before his deadline, so a kind woman took him on one last special day.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:07am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in soft, warm tones depicting a dog's face as it enjoys a treat, with the background blurred into indistinct shapes and pools of light, conveying a sense of peaceful intimacy and the fleeting nature of life.A shelter dog's final day of freedom before a potential euthanasia deadline is transformed by a kind stranger's compassion.Salisbury Today

After arriving at the Rowan County Animal Shelter in Salisbury, North Carolina, Rex the pit bull was waiting patiently for someone to finally notice him. Unfortunately, he had a deadline of 4 p.m. on April 10 to get adopted, anything after was too late. On April 9, Cassidy Brooke picked Rex up and took him out for a fun-filled day of treats, fuss and love. Brooke wanted Rex to experience a joyful day before his deadline, and she shared a video of their time together on Instagram. To her delight, Rex was adopted just in time, at 2 p.m. on the day of his deadline.

Why it matters

Pit bulls have a harder time getting adopted, and Rex had other factors working against him as well, such as his size and age. By sharing her day out with Rex, Brooke hopes to inspire others to take a chance on a dog in need, whether through fostering, adopting, volunteering, or donating.

The details

Brooke wanted Rex to have a peaceful environment to explore and decompress, so she took him on a long walk and then to Burger King to get him chicken nuggets. Rex was very calm and affectionate throughout their time together, showing his gentle temperament. Brooke believes this helped him get noticed and adopted just in time, two hours before his deadline.

  • On April 9, Brooke took Rex out for a special day.
  • Rex had a deadline of 4 p.m. on April 10 to get adopted.

The players

Cassidy Brooke

A woman who picked up Rex from the Rowan County Animal Shelter and took him out for a fun-filled day of treats and love before his adoption deadline.

Rex

A 65-pound pit bull mix who was waiting at the Rowan County Animal Shelter in Salisbury, North Carolina, for someone to adopt him before his April 10 deadline.

Rowan County Animal Shelter

The shelter in Salisbury, North Carolina, where Rex was waiting to be adopted.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't want to take him to a busy park or somewhere pet-friendly like Lowe's because I wanted him to have time to be in a peaceful environment, so I could see his real personality.”

— Cassidy Brooke

“After we did a long walk, we went to Burger King so I could get him some chicken nuggets. It's not the healthiest food, but I didn't know if he would get adopted, so I wanted to make it an extra special day.”

— Cassidy Brooke

“He was so loving throughout our time together. He just wanted to lay his head on me and get some scratches. He passed other people, dogs, and had lots of distractions from squirrels on our walk, and he was nothing but a gentleman.”

— Cassidy Brooke

What’s next

Brooke hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire others to consider adopting or fostering a dog in need, as there are many more dogs like Rex waiting for their forever homes.

The takeaway

This heartwarming story highlights the importance of giving shelter dogs a chance and the difference a single act of kindness can make in an animal's life. It also underscores the challenges pit bulls and other large dogs face in getting adopted, and the need for more people to open their homes to these deserving pets.