06/22/2026
Last Friday, we said goodbye to Peppa—a beloved friend and cherished companion to all of us at BCHS. When she came to us as a stray in December, we always believed she would walk out of our shelter with her forever family. After 183 days, we realized that Peppa’s forever family was us.
During the past three weeks, Peppa suddenly experienced severe pain in her lower back, the cause of which we couldn’t pinpoint. When our Medical team attempted to evaluate her for a definitive diagnosis, she responded so aggressively that they couldn’t complete the exam. Despite a history of fearful and aggressive behavior when receiving medical care—and sometimes unpredictable behavior when meeting new people or exploring new places—we believed in Peppa. We thought that with gentle patience and the right training, she could overcome anything.
Shielding the heartbreaking reality of lengthy shelter stays for animals like Peppa is a disservice to too many other shelter animals who decline in extended shelter care. Each passing day when they don’t get adopted becomes one more day when their stress mounts and behaviors change. We make every effort to ensure our animals receive as much love and care as possible when they’re with us, but it simply will never compare to a forever home.
Every animal’s physical and psychological well-being at BCHS is foundational to our care structure, and we never make euthanasia decisions lightly. Our rigorous procedures for determining whether euthanasia is the most humane option for an animal often follows months of careful observation and risk mitigation. We utilize adoptability standards based on framework developed by leading veterinary associations and animal welfare organizations to evaluate animal behaviors and medical concerns. These standards inform our process to ensure an animal’s well-being remains at the core of every pathway, including euthanasia.
Peppa spent 183 days in her kennel. We desperately wish she had found her forever home outside our walls, but we’re thankful that she spent her days with people who loved her as much as they could.
As we said goodbye to Peppa, we shared stories about when she first came to us. We talked about her successes—and her setbacks. We laughed about her quirks. We cried over our memories of her—our sweet Peppa Pig, Pep, Peppy, Pepita, Pepperoni, and Big Mouse. Every animal who stays at BCHS becomes a precious part of our shelter family, even if our kennels aren’t supposed to be where they ultimately land.
When we share stories like Peppa’s, we hope they bring joy to others who love animals as much as we do. Knowing that so many people have walked with us from the beginning of Peppa’s story to its ending brings us comfort, fuels our purpose, and drives us to continue protecting and enhancing the lives of every animal who comes through our doors.
We love you, Peppa, and we’ll miss you so much. Thank you for loving her with us.
