To Dog Owners, future adopters and those who love their companions, please be aware and offer support. Hands hearts and Paws are not what they seem. We wanted Lucy to be loved the way she deserves, not put down in under a week.
I don’t usually make posts like this, but I can’t stay quiet after watching what one of my closest friends has gone through over the past two weeks.
If you live in Nebraska—especially around Omaha—and have ever considered surrendering a dog to Hands, Hearts & Paws because you thought they would help find your dog a loving home, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read this.
One of my closest friends made what was probably the hardest decision of their life.
Their dog, Lucy, had become increasingly anxious around their toddler. She was deeply loved for four years. She was walked regularly, socialized with people & other dogs, had professional veterinary care, lived inside the home, and was treated like family. But after working with their veterinarian and trying to manage the situation, they made the heartbreaking decision that Lucy deserved a home without young children.
Because of the adoption contract they originally signed, they were required to return Lucy to Hands, Hearts & Paws instead of privately rehoming her.
Before surrendering her, they did everything they could to set Lucy up for success. They prepared an incredibly detailed document explaining her personality, routines, triggers, medications, favorite activities, what kind of home she would thrive in, and—most importantly—that she should not be placed with another dog. They had already been communicating with multiple dog-free families who wanted to adopt her and were simply waiting for HHP to post her.
Instead…
Less than a week later, they were told Lucy had been euthanized after being introduced to another dog.
The very situation they had specifically warned against.
Since then, I’ve watched my friends desperately try to get answers.
They’ve asked for basic documentation. The date. The timeline. Veterinary records. Confirmation of what actually happened. Anything that would provide clarity and closure.
Instead, they’ve received defensive emails, shifting explanations, accusations directed back at them, and ultimately requests to stop contacting the organization.
Watching this unfold has honestly been one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve witnessed.
These are people who cried over surrendering their dog. They didn’t surrender her because they stopped loving her. They surrendered her because they believed she would be placed into another loving home. They thought they were making the painful choice that gave Lucy the best chance at a happy future.
Instead, they’re grieving twice.
Once when they handed her over.
And again when they learned she was gone.
They just wanted transparency, documentation, and honest communication about how this happened. Every grieving pet owner deserves that.
Whether you ultimately agree with the organization’s decisions or not, I don’t think anyone would argue that families deserve clear communication after entrusting a beloved pet to an organization that promised to care for them and place them into a permanent, loving home.
My friends have put together a website containing the surrender agreement, emails, screenshots, timelines, and supporting documentation so people can review everything for themselves instead of relying on social media rumors.
Please read it before forming an opinion.
https://sweetlucygirl.my.canva.site/lucy
If nothing else comes from this, I hope it encourages anyone who ever has to surrender a beloved pet to ask every question imaginable before signing paperwork. Ask what happens if the dog struggles. Ask under what circumstances euthanasia is considered. Ask how behavioral evaluations are conducted. Ask how introductions are handled. Ask what communication you’ll receive if something goes wrong.
No family should have to wonder what happened after entrusting their dog to people they believed would give them another chance.
Lucy deserved a chance to find the right home.
And my friends deserved honesty.