For stray dogs who have been homeless for almost their entire lives, it is sometimes inevitable that they become untrusting. Not knowing a gentle hand or the warmth of a loving family, and only facing the harshness of reality day by day, no one can blame them if they only react with trepidation.
For this dog—nicknamed Tina by her rescuers, it was difficult to trust her would-be saviors at first. But since Tina was roaming on a busy road, the rescuers knew they had to get her out of that dangerous street no matter what.
No amount of calling out to her made her come to them. So the rescuers used the tried-and-tested trick that most dogs can’t resist: treats!
Source: Howl Of A Dog
The Long Adventure Of Luring Tina To Safety
It was at the end of the day when a rescuer from Howl Of A Dog spotted Tina by the side of the road. This surprise encounter left the rescuer unprepared, especially in the treats department.
The rescuer tried calling out to Tina, but the stray kept running away—further down the road at first and then towards the woods. Not until another rescuer showed up with doggy snacks that Tina started to favorably react to her future friends.
Still, it wasn’t easy melting Tina’s cold, distrustful heart. This supposed quick side-of-the-road rescue turned into a long adventure.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
Friendship In The Forest
Patience is the name of the game, and the rescuers had plenty of patience—and now doggy treats—for Tina. Little by little, they dropped the tiny nibbles on the ground, hoping the dog would finally see the friendship they were offering.
It wasn’t until Tina was further in the woods and away from zooming cars that she finally lowered her guard. With more food coming her way, she realized that these were friends she could trust.
The rescuers guided Tina to their car and brought her to the shelter. Since she had been outside for so long, she needed a complete medical evaluation. The treats had to wait.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
A Medical Scare
At the vet, the rescuers noticed that Tina had a runny nose and suspicious eye discharge, which could be symptoms of the fatal illness Canine Distemper.
Canine Distemper is a deadly viral disease that can wreak havoc on a dog’s gastrointestinal, respiratory, and nervous systems. Fortunately, after further tests, Tina’s results were negative and it was just a mild eye infection and a simple cold.
Still, she had matted fur and was covered in fleas and ticks. Aside from more doggy snacks, medicated baths and eye drops were on the menu for Tina.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
Turning A New Leaf
Due to being homeless for a long time, it took a while for Tina to warm up to toys. She didn’t play with any until after a month at the shelter. Realizing that she probably never had any toys was an emotional moment for her rescuers.
After her short stay at the shelter, Tina found a wonderful fur-ever home with a family from Pennsylvania, where she could have all the treats, toys, and walks she could ever want. She even has a dedicated toy box with her new family!
From being a distrustful stray to a lovable goofball, Tina has come so far.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
