Balou From terrified foster dog to living his best life.

My first foster was Balou; he was emaciated, completely shut down, and too afraid to walk. Working in a county shelter, we often didn't know the dog's history, which in some cases was probably for the best. It allowed us to let go of a story that may or may not help us in the future.

Balou never made it to our adoption floor due to his extreme fear and was allowed to live in a staff member's office, where he would try to make himself one with the wall and the floor; it was heartbreaking! He would walk around the room, but if I peeked through the office window, he would shrink back in fear. To watch such a large dog make himself so small that the sight of a human was so terrifying that he wanted to disappear; it was hard to watch.

I knew I had to help him; I had no idea that he would plant a seed and that seed would take my life in a new direction. Balou didn't need much from me, just some time and patience. He was adopted about two months after I brought him home and lived a wonderful life with his adopted family. It wasn't long after that I met Bailey.