Here is a similar situation last year but with a better ending.
A family who had an autistic son surrendered his German Shepherd companion dog to animal control to be euthanized as the dog had been hit by a car. Animal control thought the dog could be saved and called German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County who got a vet to save the dog.
The rescue decided to return the dog back to the family at no cost and assumed the vet bills.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouqnO1WP4Q8