Family Faces Heart-Wrenching Choice to Leave Beloved German Shepherd Behind While Self-Deporting (Exclusive)
Draco is a 6-year-old German Shepherd whose family decided to self-deport due to the ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles
Unfortunately, the dog was not allowed on their flight, and Draco's owners had to surrender him to a Southern California shelter
A volunteer at the local rescue made a TikTok video about Draco's story, which went viralWhen a family made the difficult decision to self-deport, they initially planned for their loyal German Shepherd, Draco, to join them on their journey.
Unfortunately, after purchasing a plane ticket for their 6-year-old furry friend, an unforeseen airline policy rendered him unable to fly due to his size.
Faced with no other option, the heartbroken family surrendered Draco to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), despite having loved and raised him for over five years.
On June 30, 2025, he was placed under the care of Carson/Gardena Animal Care Center, awaiting a new beginning.
'Draco's family was placed in a very difficult position due to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and their subsequent deportation,' DACC Public Information Officer Christopher Valles tells PEOPLE exclusively.
'Unfortunately, they were unable to take Draco with them and made the difficult decision to surrender him to our care center to ensure his safety and well-being.'
The DACC says they 'do not have specific information regarding the airline's decision,' and it remains unclear which airline the family used.
Nevertheless, Carson/Gardena staff welcomed the family with compassion, doing everything they could to ease the transition for both Draco and his owners.
As a result of recent deportation operations in Southern California, DACC has observed a rise in pet surrenders from families affected by the enforcement.
The Trump administration has reportedly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest 3,000 immigrants each day, vowing to carry out the largest mass deportation in United States history, targeting over 10 million undocumented immigrants regardless of criminal record.
'While we acknowledge the emotional impact of families having to surrender their pets during deportation, it's important to note that this is a relatively new issue for our department,' Valles admits. 'As such, we have not yet seen documented success stories or unifications in this context.'
The DACC is actively collecting data to better understand and respond to the impact on both owners and their pets.
Some of the main challenges they face when reuniting animals with their families include outdated contact information and logistical barriers, such as relocation, displacement, or legal issues that make reclaiming pets difficult.
'These factors can make the reunification process more complicated, but DACC remains committed to doing everything possible to reconnect pets with their families whenever circumstances allow,' Valles emphasizes.
In the last month, nearly half of the animals surrendered to the Los Angeles County DACC's seven animal care centers have been successfully placed into permanent, loving homes.
After Draco's surrender, some expressed concern online for the German Shepherd, fearing he might be at risk of euthanasia; however, he was healthy and showed no behavioral issues upon arrival.
'While it's true that not every animal in our care is a suitable candidate for adoption due to medical, behavioral, or other challenges…our commitment is always to find the best possible outcome for every animal,' Valles reveals.
According to the latest data from the Los Angeles County DACC, 44% of animals in their care found adoptive homes within the last year, nearly double the percentage that were euthanized, highlighting the agency's ongoing efforts to prioritize life-saving outcomes and connect animals with loving families.
Luckily, Draco was one of the 44%, as his stay at the rescue only lasted a little over a week. On July 10, 2025, he was adopted by a new family after a video of his story went viral on TikTok.
'DACC wants the community to know that no matter the situation a family is in and they find themselves in the difficult position of not being able to care for their pet, we are here to help,' Valles tells PEOPLE.
'Whether it is with resources to help keep the pet with family members or friends, or ultimately to help make the difficult decision of surrendering their pet as smooth as possible.'
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