California Foster Mom Takes A Shy Shelter Dog To Meet Other Dogs, But She Keeps Disappearing
A nervous California shelter dog named Evie just needed a little love and a front-seat car ride to start unfolding like a flower.
A Sad Face With A Tiny Wag
Behind the heavy gates of the kennel, one little dog was doing her best to be seen. She looked incredibly sad sitting in her enclosure, but her body language told a different story.
As soon as someone approached, she came right up and pressed her little face against the gate. She looked incredibly sweet, and despite her circumstances, she still had hope.
Her little tail was wagging just enough to catch a rescuer’s eye. That tiny, hopeful movement was all it took for them to fall completely in love.
Moving Puzzle Pieces
Getting her out of the shelter required some quick coordination. The rescue network immediately started contacting people to arrange her freedom ride.
There were a lot of moving puzzle pieces to figure out, but thankfully, a dedicated foster in the Los Angeles area was ready to step up.
She was the only person available in LA to pick the dog up that day, and she didn’t hesitate to make the trip.
A Nervous Freedom Walk
When the dog finally came out of the shelter doors, her fear was obvious. She was cowering and unsure of her new surroundings.
“She was a little girl. She was a little baby,” her rescuer recalled. Yet, even through her fear, that little bit of tail excitement was still there.
She was incredibly nervy and just wanted to be loved, but the outside world was still overwhelming. In fact, she was so timid that her rescuer initially couldn’t even get her into the car.
An Invitation To The Front Seat
“You’re so scared of the world,” her rescuer told her gently, trying to soothe the nervous pup. Eventually, she was safely loaded into the back of the vehicle.
But as they drove away, the rescuer glanced in her rearview mirror. The dog was giving her the sweetest, most pleading puppy-dog eyes.
Unable to resist, the rescuer melted. “All right. Come on. Come to the front seat,” she told the sweet girl, offering her a closer spot for the ride home.
Unfolding Like A Flower
The change in the dog’s demeanor was almost instantaneous. As soon as they arrived at her new foster home, her true personality began to shine.
“She was just already unfolding like a flower,” her foster mom shared. The tiny shelter wag turned into a joyful “wiggle wag.”
It quickly became clear that this little dog thrived on physical affection. She wanted nothing more than to lay right beside her new humans.
The Ultimate Lap Dog
Wherever her foster mom went, the sweet dog was right behind her. If she got up, the dog followed.
To help socialize her, they took her to DOG PPL to see how she would react to a pack environment. She did wonderfully around the other dogs, but she had a clear preference.
Instead of running around with the pack, she sought out human connection. Whenever her foster mom went looking for her, she would find her happily curled up in a different stranger’s lap.
Silly Quirks And Belly Slides
As she got more and more comfortable, her confidence soared and her tail wags got bigger. She was only with her foster family for about a week, but she immediately melted into everyone she met.
She also revealed some hilarious quirks. She had no concept of personal space and would literally slap people with her paws to get their attention.
Her preferred method of household travel was equally amusing. Instead of walking down the stairs normally, she would slide down them on her belly.
The Full Circle Tail Wag
Food also brought out a vocal side to the sweet pup named Evie. When she realized she was getting good meals—and even ice cubes to chew on—she started “wooing” with excitement.
The transformation from the sad shelter dog to a joyful companion was complete. Her little “hippo tail wag” was a thing of the past.
Now, Evie’s tail goes in full, crazy circles, whipping all the time. She finally has the safe, loving life she never gave up hope for.
