At the ARF Hamptons shelter, Aaliah was known as one of the shyest dogs. Sadly, she stayed at the shelter for two years, being overlooked for her demeanor. She often retreated to her kennel, as it was the only place she truly felt safe. The shelter staff would gently coax her out, but she was always reluctant. It was heartbreaking to see her stay there for so long, always retreating to her corner. When potential adopters came to see her, Aaliah would shyly retreat to a corner of the room, avoiding contact.
When a woman, Gabby, and her family wanted to adopt Aaliah, she worked tirelessly to gain her trust. The process was long. However, after several visits, she let Gabby pet her without any treats to entice her. It was the sign everyone had been waiting for—she was ready to go to her new home.
The first few days in her new home were difficult. Aaliah preferred to stay in her crate, where she felt most comfortable. “She was excited but kept her distance,” her new owners noted in the video below. Whenever her family returned home, Gabby would try to approach her, but Aaliah’s anxiety was obvious. But they were patient, knowing it would take time.
Gradually, her personality began to shine through. One week, she started playing with toys; the next, she became more comfortable on walks. After about a month, Aaliah seemed to have accepted her new life, finally acting like a normal dog. Now, instead of shying away, she would rub her nose under their hands for attention. “If we stopped petting her, she would come right back for more petting,” Gabby laughed.
Her love of attention grew, and they loved it. At the dog park, her confidence blossomed. “She loves playing with the dogs,” Gabby says, happy to see her come out of her shell. Aaliah also loves coming back to ARF to visit her friends. She will never forget how much these kind people mean to her.
The staff is always happy to see her. The people who have cared for her at the shelter love her, and she is now very popular. She even helps with training, working to socialize aggressive animals with dogs. “There isn’t a dog that doesn’t like Aaliah,” they proudly say.
More than 100 dogs found in horrific conditions
Authorities intervened in a large-scale breeding operation, rescuing 120 dogs that were living in squalid conditions and suffering from numerous untreated medical problems. By banning puppy mills, we can close this cruel industry and move to a more humane and ethical way of breeding and adopting pets.
Watching her grow makes everyone proud. “I’m so excited to see the progress she continues to make with us,” Gabby beams. Aaliah’s transformation from a shy, withdrawn dog to a confident, playful pup is nothing short of amazing.
To watch Aaliah’s full story, click on the video below. Thanks to The Dodo for sharing this amazing story with us. Aaliah is an inspiration!
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