Gay' Dog Abandoned by His Owner Over His Alleged Sexuality Was About to Be Euthanized -- but Narrowly Escapes Death

It's a bizarre case about an allegedly gay dog who was given up by his owner and then subsequently saved by a caring soul. Elton, a male American bulldog, was purportedly given over to the the Jackson Rabies Control Animal Shelter in Tennessee after he was discovered mounting another male dog. Convinced that the canine was gay, his owner left the pooch with shelter staffers, dooming him to be potentially euthanized.

A Facebook post from an individual connected to the animal shelter explains the bizarre story:

This guy was signed over to RC, not bc he's mean or bc he tears things up, but because... His owner says he's gay! He hunched another male dog so his owner threw him away bc he refuses to have a "gay" dog! Even if that weren't the most assinine thing I've ever heard, its still discrimination! Don't let this gorgeous dog die bc his owner is ignorant of normal dog behavior! He's in kennel 10L and he WILL be put down tomorrow bc there is no room at the inn!

Elton, the allegedly gay dog who was given up by his owner (Photo Credit: Facebook)

As of Friday afternoon, the post was "liked" more than 1,100 times, spawned more than 2,000 comments and was shared more than 5,300 times. Luckily for Elton, a woman who was moved by the story decided to adopt him. Stephanie Fryns, who saw the story on Facebook, subsequently rushed to adopt the dog. She posted her plans on the original announcement about the pooch's plight.

"I am adopting this big boy first thing in the morning," she wrote, according to Boston.com. "He will be neutered/ htwm tested/ and vetted. He will be temperament tested and then places in a rescue verified and approved home."

Photo Credit: Facebook/WHO-TV

Fryns inevitably made it to the shelter just hours before the dog was scheduled to be put down. So far, she claims he's "pretty friendly."

(H/T: WHO-TV)