When a young pittie named Baby was brought to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, she had no idea what was happening. She’d been found wandering the streets of Northeastern Pennsylvania — and suddenly she was in a strange building full of unfamiliar sights, sounds and people. The confusion hit her hard.
Hoping to go home or find the safety she’d lost, Baby pressed her face to the small window in the shelter door. That’s when medical manager P.J. Regan captured the photo that broke everyone’s heart.
“You could tell she was definitely nervous in the new environment and new surroundings,” Ashley Wolo, the shelter’s executive director, told The Dodo. “That picture of her looking out the window almost looks like she was waiting for her owner to walk through. It was heartbreaking.”
Staff immediately cared for Baby — vetting her, deworming her and treating her for fleas and ticks. Physically, she began to feel better. Emotionally, though, the noise and commotion of the kennel area overwhelmed her.
“There are so many other dogs, so it’s loud and stressful,” Wolo said. “But outside in the play yard? She became a totally different dog. She loved running around and playing. We finally got to see who she really was.”
Knowing Baby needed a calmer environment, the shelter reached out to Pregnant Dog Rescue. Her sweet nature and easygoing attitude with other dogs won them over instantly — they accepted her right away.
But Baby wouldn’t stay there long.
Within just a few days, she was adopted — along with another dog from the rescue — by a family who fell completely in love with her.
“She has been a perfect pup from the moment we brought her home,” her adopters wrote. “She acts as if she’s been here forever. She has lovely manners at mealtime and walks beautifully on a leash.”
“I work from home and she sleeps on my feet while I’m working,” they added. “There’s never been a sweeter dog.”
Today, Baby’s life looks nothing like it did the day she stared sadly out that shelter door. Now, the only time she waits by a window is when she’s watching for her family to return — usually with a treat and plenty of love.
To help more dogs like Baby get the second chance they deserve, consider making a donation to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter.
