It’s always heartbreaking to see sweet dogs end up in shelters when their owners can no longer care for them. The dogs don’t understand why it happens, and in their minds, they feel they have done something wrong, often leading to depression.
When Brisby’s mom first surrendered him to a shelter in Texas, she did so because she was pregnant and could no longer care for a dog. Despite this sad beginning, Brisby’s journey led to a much better life when he finally met someone special.
Brisby’s New Hope
Photo Credit: walterbrisby
After some time in the Texas shelter, a volunteer in Florida offered to foster him for about a month. However, due to unknown circumstances, he was later transferred to another foster home in Seattle. This is where Brisby’s real challenges began. His psychological problems became evident, making adoption difficult.
Lauren told GeoBeats Animals: “Unfortunately, he had some behavioral issues. I think they tried to get something out of his mouth and he snapped at them.” This behavior was concerning, as it meant Brisby might never find a home if people were afraid of him.
To address this, Brisby was transferred to a California training facility where a woman named Diana worked tirelessly to train him and help him overcome his issues. His story began to spread, catching the attention of a kind woman named Lauren, who decided to give him a chance.
Brisby Finds His New Home
Photo Credit: walterbrisby
Lauren applied for adoption and was quickly accepted. Despite living in Northern Virginia, she traveled to California to bring Brisby home. Once everything was finalized, and Brisby was in his new home, his life changed dramatically. Lauren shared: “When we first got him, my husband and I took it really slow.”
Brisby was overjoyed when they first threw a ball for him, happy to finally have someone to play with. One thing Lauren noticed was that Brisby had very strange paws, causing his nails to grow quickly. He disliked having his paws touched, so when he needed his nails trimmed, the vet had to fully sedate him, a process done monthly.
Lauren also observed that Brisby flinches when things are thrown his way, even toys, though they don’t know the reason behind this.
Brisby’s Huge Change
Photo Credit: walterbrisby
Kids usually love Brisby, but Lauren has to prevent them from petting him due to his behavioral issues. Despite seeming problematic, Brisby usually gets along well with everyone, including other dogs in the house. His new family is dedicated to helping him. Because of his separation anxiety, he is on medication to help manage his behavior. They are gradually helping him adjust to not having his parents around constantly so he can overcome his fears.
Despite some of his challenges, Brisby’s mom is thrilled to have him and can’t imagine life without him. She is grateful that he found someone so amazing. In the end, Lauren said: “He is a really good dog. He wants to be a good dog; we just have to work around his quirks for sure.”
