A German Shepherd Dog was saved from the worst just in time in a rescue that is touching thousands of people.

Shelters that decide to euthanize as a method of getting rid of pets that have not been adopted in a certain amount of time are a real distress for many animal lovers.

Sterling, a German Shepherd mix, had ended up in one of these places and was literally only seconds away from having his life unjustly blindsided forever.

In an area of the shelter that had only one way out, the darkest of all, Sterling waited for a lucky break

When the German shepherd mix landed at a county shelter where he was found, he had severe pyoderma, visible bones protruding from his dirty coat and was understandably frightened.

A very few weeks after his arrival at the shelter, Sterling was placed on the euthanasia list sooner than would have been desired.

Once the pet was considered for this cruel determination, the little animal was out of reach of potential adopters.

And unfortunately that is the outcome of many animals that do not find the opportunity to be adopted because of their condition, their age, their appearance or simply because the shelter does not have the capacity to care for more.

He was being held behind double doors, which meant he would not be shown to the public and would not be available for adoption. Rescue was his only way out of the shelter, the only way he could survive.

Thanks to an amazing family who offered to open their hearts and home to raise this boy, Coastal German Shepherd Rescue was able to save him just seconds before the end – and the truth is, the video that went viral of the little dog makes us think it’s really lucky it happened this way!

Help arrived just in time for this noble German Shepherd

Sterling proved that although he had had a bad start in life, his nobility remained intact. Despite the damage he had suffered, he was willing to trust people who wanted to help him.

Thank goodness a foster home made this possible for him, as he is an intelligent, loving, exceptional with children and very docile animal.

Sterling is a sweetheart who loves children, other dogs and even cats. He is house trained and adapts very well to his new environment.

With a few medicated baths and a couple of vet appointments, he was soon ready to be adopted.

Sterling was likely an outdoor dog in his past life, but quickly adapted to his foster home.

He has proven to be a super sweet boy, loving with people and other animals, loves to play and also loves to snuggle on the couch and hang out with his human friends.

He is very sweet and lovable, we are happy to know that even though he was about to have the worst outcome, he knew the true happiness he always deserved and didn’t get.

Sterling’s case shows us that we cannot judge a book by its cover, much less a pet by its appearance. This little dog has come a long way towards his happiness and we hope he will soon find it in the hands of a loving family.

Humans have a lot to learn from animals, especially to love unconditionally.

Sterling’s story will help others to reflect on the importance of adopting those animals that could end their lives without knowing the feeling of being protected in the lap of a loving family.

Very soon and thanks to the magic of love, Sterling proved his worth as a pet, check it out in this video