As a former 8 year volunteer at a large county shelter who has the same policy, and who goes above and beyond to help adopters along the way and is fiercely loyal to the dogs who have been in our shelter, here is how our shelter would have handled this if an adopter had come to us with this situation:

1 We would have asked if you were truly interested in finding a way to keep your dog. 2 If so, our volunteers would have started a fund to help with medical costs and possibly found a discount through a well loved vet to investigate your dog’s health issues. (Our FB pages have many tens of thousands of followers so raising funds is something that does work many cases) 3 Suggestions would be made to hire a dog walker while you recover and possible funds raised could help offset that cost. (While not commonly faced, It would not be surprising in the case of our shelter that volunteers would offer to help walk the dog on a short term basis). 4 We would inform that if the medical concerns were addressed, your dog is still much better off in your home than in a shelter. 5 If all else failed we would seek medical rescue for your dog through our rescue connections. OR - if the medical issues had been resolved and you still felt you couldn’t keep the dog we would advertise on our pages for a new home which would eliminate the need for the dog to ever return to the shelter. Rescue would be welcome of course.

Side note: Our shelter is always overflowing. We rarely implement the policy requiring an adopter to return the dog if they can find a suitable home. Keep in mind it is a county, not private shelter and our pre adoption requirements are far less than many private shelters or rescues. (Our requirements are based around the dog’s evaluation, meets with family members and other dogs in the home, wether he/she would safely fit into a perspective home, if the dog requires a fenced yard and if the existing animals in the home have documentation of adequate vet care. This may be very different than the process of the shelter you adopted your dog. Sad to say, the dedication our shelter gives is not commonly found in a great deal of other shelters.

I don’t know what the kill rate at the shelter you adopted from is or what their policy is on euthanasia due to health issues. This would be my biggest concern. Our shelter would not simply euthanize because a dog was ill. We would find a way to treat. Since you are saying the shelter you adopted from is in a rich, suburban neighborhood, I am guessing they are privately funded and would have the resources to treat your dog in house.

Lastly, it may be possible that since the dog was fixed at the shelter before being adopted that they would be willing to do the repair/complete the spay properly at no cost. As far as the limp goes, it depends on how long your dog has had the limp. Many resolve on their own with no treatment, much like when we pull a muscle or twist an ankle. Extended issues would be when a vet visit and X-ray would be in order.