A senior dog underwent an amazing transformation after being taken on a day out away from the shelter.
Seven-year-old Zappa came to The Animal Foundation in Nevada back in July, having been found abandoned in a Las Vegas apartment.
Like many dogs at the shelter, Zappa struggled with the noise of the kennels.
“The shelter can be a strange and stressful place for most dogs and does not provide an accurate indication of how the dog will act in a home environment,” Kelsey Pizzi from The Animal Foundation told Newsweek.
“When you walk by the kennels, some of our shelter dogs look sad, anxious and depressed. This is not their true personality.”
The Animal Foundation
Despite these struggles, Zappa was an immediate hit with staff at the shelter, with Pizzi and colleagues especially enamored by his “tiny ears.”
“Our team couldn’t get enough of his ears, which didn’t quite fit his body,” Pizzi said.
But Zappa was uncomfortable in the shelter at times. So, to combat this, they organized for him to be taken out for the day by a foster carer.
A little one on one time can make a huge difference to a shelter dog.
In 2018, for a study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science, 55 shelter dogs were subjected to a 15 minute petting session with an unfamiliar volunteer.
Researchers took heart monitor readings from each of the dogs involved, along with saliva samples. The results revealed that each of the canines petted experienced a boost in their overall well being.
If that’s what 15 minutes can do, you can only imagine what a trip out for the day can achieve. Zappa is living proof of the impact.
“Foster field trips are a great way to give a dog a break from the shelter. It gives us a better representation of the dog’s true personality,” Pizzi said. “That’s exactly what happened to Zappa. Once he was given a break from the shelter, his true personality began to shine.”
For Zappa, that trip involved a visit to Mount Charleston. Along the way, Zappa’s foster carer for the day was mindful to take plenty of pictures. They capture a dog transformed, with the once nervous Zappa now relaxed and happy, enjoying the great outdoors.
The Animal Foundation
The foster carer told The Animal Foundation: “Zappa did great in the car. He’s also a great hiking buddy. He’s full of energy but walks great on the leash and never pulls.”
Once the hike was over, Zappa’s great day got even better. “After the hike we needed a reward so we decided to get doggie ice cream,” the foster carer said. “He got lots of pets from kids at the ice cream shop and he did amazing and was very patient.”
They were impressed at how Zappa was able to follow basic commands, though he did sometimes wait a little longer to roll over in the hope of getting a few more belly rubs. “He LOVES treats and belly rubs,” they said. “He is such a sweet, easy going and mellow guy who deserves the best home out there.”
Zappa returned to the shelter refreshed and ready to impress any prospective owners. After 99 days there, he finally found that special someone and has since been adopted by a woman called Tiffanie who is only too happy to supply belly rubs and, if he’s lucky, the occasional dog ice cream.
The Animal Foundation
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.