How does that work, though? Is there a constellation of dog-seeking people hovering around veterinary offices that only want dogs that cost $10k and have recently had major surgery? People who are willing to donate $10k to save a dog's life but consider it very important that the current owner no longer have the dog anymore for some reason?

$10k means very different things to people of different socioeconomic statuses, but the new owner took a rinsing to keep this dog alive - german shepherd puppies from almost all breeders cost less than $5k.

Likely the vet simply knew someone with deep enough pockets who loves dogs and was willing to take one for a well above market fee. It doesn't seem unethical to me that person only wants to save dogs they own.

For a well-bred GSD, probably. Waits for puppies can be years, and cost thousands anyway. Paying a bit more in vet bills instead probably seems reasonable to the right owner.

This is going to change how I view yuppies who tell me they rescued their dog. Was the dog really owned by abusive people before they bought it? Or was the dog owned by a family that loved it but couldn't afford a $10k procedure? Is there a tactful way to ask?

I wish I didn't know such arrangements are happening.

Based on my experience with vets, a large percentage of the time it ends up living with the vet.

Every single one I know has a small menagerie of broken animals.