Now they’re unrecognizable.
One morning in March of last year, workers at the Humane Society of St. Thomas arrived to find two thin island dogs chained outside the shelter gates.
Sadly, that part was not unusual.
According to volunteer and social media coordinator Amie Mayes, people often abandoned unwanted dogs there. What made this case different was how frightened the two dogs were. Staff could barely get near them.
The shelter named them Sofrito and Wasabi, and it quickly became clear that both dogs were extremely feral. They were so terrified of people that handling them safely was nearly impossible.
Because they were so likely to bolt, the shelter placed them in quarantine, not due to illness, but because they were considered a serious flight risk.
At first, everything seemed foreign to them. They did not understand human touch, leashes, or even play. Their fear was so deep that they would not even take a hot dog when offered, something Mayes joked should appeal to any dog.
Still, the volunteers refused to give up.
Little by little, they worked with Sofrito and Wasabi, helping them grow more comfortable around people and other dogs. The progress came slowly, through many small steps. In many ways, the volunteers were teaching them how to be dogs again, including how to relax and play.
One of the first things that seemed to break through their fear was something simple: bubbles. The dogs loved chasing them around the park.
A few months later, their lives changed dramatically.
In July, a group called Pets With Wings arranged for the sisters to leave the island on what rescuers call a freedom flight. They were flown to Maine, where Grammy Rose Dog Rescue & Sanctuary took them in.
For Sofrito, now renamed June, things soon began to fall into place. Sarah Lachance, who lives in Maine, had been quietly looking for the right dog after losing her beloved pet several months earlier. When she saw June and her sister online, something clicked.
A few days later, Lachance and her partner Zach visited the rescue to meet June. She was still shy and nervous, but they sat on the floor and allowed her to approach in her own time. Even then, they could tell how gentle and sweet she was.
They decided to bring her home.
Although June had found her family, she still had a lot of healing to do. Outside, she acted like a carefree puppy, but indoors she was much more uncertain. She chose the doormat by the sliding door as her safe spot and stayed there for quite some time.
Her new family responded with patience and gentleness. They spoke softly, avoided overwhelming her, and only expanded her world when she showed she was ready.
It took weeks before June felt brave enough to leave the mat and join them on the couch. But once she did, her confidence began growing much faster.
Now, June spends her days snuggling with her family and enjoying time outdoors. One of her favorite things is chasing water from the hose, leaping and dancing through the spray.
Lachance describes her as incredibly sweet, loving, clever, and cuddly — a dog who simply wants to be close to the people she trusts.
While June has found the happy ending she deserved, her sister Wasabi is still waiting for hers. Lachance believes Wasabi has just as much love and potential as June, and hopes the right family will find her soon.