When a new animal comes our way, we never know what their story will be. Will they be adopted by a family? Reunited with their owner? Or maybe, a staff member or volunteer will fall in love and take them home.
For Leon, it was love at first bite (a non-lethal, minor snake bite that is).
Leon was a tough case. Surrendered alongside another dog, he arrived at our shelter deeply stressed and overwhelmed. He spun anxiously, chewed on his tail, and displayed OCD-like behaviors. Life in our shelter was tough for him.
Thanks to the support of community members like you, we had the resources to help Leon. Our behavior team was able to create a personalized treatment plan to help him feel more comfortable. Our foster team worked to get him placed in a foster home, where Leon’s compulsive behaviors lessened dramatically.
But fate had another twist in store.
A chance encounter with a snake earned him a trip to the emergency vet. It was just a small bite that he quickly recovered from, but it turned out to be a life-changing visit: that’s where he met his future adopter.
A clinic staff member fell in love with Leon. Even though they already had three pets at home, they were determined to give Leon a chance. So we enrolled them in our Test Drive program, a trial period to ensure Leon would thrive in his potential forever home.
This program allows interested adopters to take a dog home on a trial run, where they can see if the dog will be compatible with them and other animals in their home. If it’s a fit, we happily complete the adoption. If it’s not, we gain more knowledge about what sort of home the dog will need.
Luckily for Leon, he was the right fit! Now, he is curled up on the couch, at peace in the home he was always meant to find.
Stories like Leon’s reaffirm the hope we have for every animal we work with: no matter their quirks, anxieties or history, they will live happy lives in the care of someone who loves them. Your generosity helps us write new happy endings to even some of the most difficult stories.
Leon’s story was a part of our 2025 September Match campaign. You can read more stories from the campaign, among others, in our Stories tag! And of course, you can always be a part of the mission and donate to support stories like these.
