<div><p>Imagine your dog escapes, the city finds him, and then they tell you he might get euthanized. That's what the Abbato family in Aurora, Colorado is going through right now. </p><p>They adopted their dog, Capone, from the county animal shelter over 10 years ago, and he has been nothing but a loving pet. The shelter classified him as a German Shepherd mix. </p><p>Capone is a family member," Abbato said. "We've had him for 10 years. He has grown up with my kids. It's devastating." </p><p>So what happened? Why is Capone's future so up in the air?</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/capone.PNG" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/capone_GH_content_550px.PNG 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/capone_GH_content_650px.PNG 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/capone_GH_content_750px.PNG 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Fox News</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Capone got out of the family yard recently, and the local authorities received a complaint that he was acting aggressively. </p><p>When the Abbato family went to get Capone from the shelter, they were denied his release. </p><p>"They say he is a hybrid-wolf now and don't want to release (him) back to us because he is an exotic animal," Abbato said.</p><p>City spokesman, Michael Bryant, says "Aurora Animal Services ordered a DNA test after its experts observed the animal's behavior, mannerisms and physical characteristics and believed them to be consistent with those of a wolf hybrid." </p><p>If the test comes back positive, Capone will not be allowed to return home. Owning a hybrid dog in Auroro is illegal. Capone would become property of the city. </p><p>"If a judge grants ownership to Aurora Animal Services, the primary goal would be to locate a sanctuary that specializes in such animals and can provide the animal with a new home," Bryant said. "Euthanasia is considered a last resort."</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/58c99b861d00001d107cea17-3.png" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/58c99b861d00001d107cea17-3_GH_content_550px.png 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/58c99b861d00001d107cea17-3_GH_content_650px.png 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Fox News</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>"It's hard for me. It's hard for my kids. He's a family member. We've had him for almost 10 years. We miss him," Abbato <a href="http://kdvr.com/2017/03/12/aurora-animal-control-claims-family-dog-is-wolf-hybrid-wont-return-him-to-owners/">said</a>. "I am 100 percent confident he is not a wolf, not a doubt in my mind."</p><p>In addition to losing their dog, the Abbato family is now facing violations of animal running at large, keeping an aggressive animal and keeping an exotic/wild animal.</p><p>I think the charges should be dropped, seeing as they adopted Capone from the county shelter and were told he was a German Shepherd. It's not their fault if they were given wrong information. </p><p>What do you think?</p></div>