“Within two hours of being at our house, I took that video.”
Chenille, a shy dog found wandering the streets of Ohio, was taken to a local shelter where her nervous disposition remained unchanged for months. Despite the shelter’s efforts, the environment didn’t seem to suit her, according to LeeAnn Harden, dog intake coordinator for Planned Pethood, Inc. “Some dogs just struggle in a shelter setting,” Harden shared. “Chenille would walk around with her tail tucked, ears back, and her posture hunched.”
After spending two and a half months at the shelter, Planned Pethood, Inc. stepped in to give Chenille a second chance, and Harden decided to foster her. Initially, Chenille remained as timid in her foster home as she had been at the shelter. However, while she barely opened up during her time in the shelter, her personality began to shine through just hours after arriving in her new environment.
Harden’s 2-year-old daughter, Lila, loves to play and be chased by the family dogs. Incredibly, Chenille quickly picked up on this and went from being a shy, reserved dog to happily chasing a toddler around the room, clearly enjoying herself for the first time. Harden was fortunate enough to capture this joyful moment on video, showing the world just how transformative fostering can be for dogs like Chenille.
“This is why fostering is so crucial,” Harden said. “In just two hours, I saw her come to life.”
Chenille is now fully at ease with her foster family, bonding with both the dogs and humans alike. She loves to play, snuggle on the couch, and shower people with kisses. She’s also incredibly gentle with Lila, and the two enjoy their playtime together.
Although she struggled in the shelter, Chenille simply needed someone to give her a chance. Now thriving in her foster home, she’s one step closer to finding her forever family.