Remy!
We want to highlight the adoption of Remy, a dog who waited longer than any of our dogs for his forever home.
Remy was originally rescued as a chained puppy in SC about 4 years ago. Early on, he showed some reactivity towards other dogs on leash, which is not uncommon with formerly chained dogs who find themselves trapped on a chain, unable to flee from danger. He was fostered by Sharon and Andrew for many months before being adopted by a local family 3 years ago. In retrospect, Remy’s adopters were not a great fit for him, and when they fell on hard times, went through a tough divorce, and the husband developed some health issues, Remy’s home situation turned toxic. They were unable to care for a large, active dog with some reactivity issues, and never sought help with training.
Remy was returned to Sharon and Andrew, who immediately made room to take him in, but quickly realized that he needed specialized help. He had been living in a condo, which is not ideal for a leash reactive dog, was regularly muzzled, and had clearly been mishandled. He was also fearful of sudden movements, and very anxious in busy areas around strangers. He was not the same Remy they knew as a young pup.
Remy needed professional help to transition back into being a family dog. We enrolled him in the Happy Hounds Prison Dog Program so he would get the individual attention and training he needed. Unfortunately, that did not go as planned, as Remy was reactive in the prison environment and had to be removed. Thankfully, Remy was in the program long enough to form a bond with the head trainer, Linda, who saw his potential. Linda offered to board and train Remy, and to work with him on his socialization and rehabilitation. Linda lives in a rural farming area near Hagerstown, MD, which was an ideal setting for him. Remy spent almost a year in Linda’s care, getting the training and rehabilitation he needed, and learning to trust humans again.
An 80lb+ black Doberman/Hound mix who is dog selective is not ideal for an active, urban setting, so we knew Remy would not be an easy dog to place. Having the time and flexibility to find the right home was vital. We needed a special person to step up for Remy who could see his sweetness and understand what triggers his fear, which is why we were so excited when Jean’s application came in to foster Remy. Jean lives on a gorgeous 15-acre horse farm in VA, she has no other dogs, and was looking for a larger adult Dobie mix to add to her pack. She wanted a companion who could also accompany her on local errands and around the farm. Remy was an ideal fit!
Remy was only with Jean for a few weeks before she made his adoption official. He quickly bonded with her, and was happy to have a loving home of his own and personal attention from his new mom. He acclimated to Jean’s horses, was respectful of the kitty in the home, adored her young niece who visits regularly, and quickly took to her farm hands. Remy now loves riding shotgun in Jean’s pickup and accompanies her everywhere. He was a little nervous going into town at first, but Jean took it slow and let him get comfortable gradually to his new environment. Remy could not have found a more perfect mom.
When Jean announced her intentions to make Remy a part of her family right before the holiday, it was one of our best days. We are so happy that Remy got his 2nd chance, is loved, and living a great life. Special thanks to Linda, Sharon, and Andrew who remained committed to Remy’s rehabilitation.
