Devoted Adopter Visits Fearful Shelter Dog Every Day for 2 Months to Win Pet’s Trust (Exclusive)

A fearful dog who spent more than 500 days in a Texas rescue center brightens the life of an adopter who believed in her.

Alva first arrived at Austin Pets Alive! (APA) as a puppy in 2019, Dr. Ellen Jefferson, veterinarian and APA executive director and president, tells PEOPLE. The puppy moved to APA from another shelter after Alva was found to have cerebellar hypoplasia — a neurological condition that affects the part of the brain that controls movement, leading to mobility problems.

“We’re a shelter that generally takes in animals from other shelters when they can’t afford long-term treatment,” Jefferson explains.

APA quickly found a home for young Alva, but problems arose as the dog grew.

“Unfortunately, what we think has happened is that dogs that have severe mobility problems don’t get out much. So they can live in a very safe home where they’re very well looked after, but they’re not exposed to new people during their puppyhood. , animals and situations,” says Jefferson.

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“So the house got busier, and Alva started trying to bite people who came to visit her. And it’s also quite common in dogs with mobility issues because they can’t escape. So they tend to bite faster than dogs who can actually escape if are afraid,” she adds.

As a result, Alva returned to APA to find a new home that better suited her “behavioral challenges.” While the rescue waited to find the dog’s ideal adopter, its strong behavior support team and contingent of volunteers worked to develop trust with Alva.

“She got the best care she could, with so many people taking her out every day,” Jefferson says. – She had a wheelchair made for her.

Alva, a rescue dog out in Austin, Texas.

Austin Pets Alive

While Alva has made significant progress with her movement and behavior issues, she was unfortunately neglected by potential pet parents for over 500 days.

Alvin’s fate changed when Joe Rotunda spotted the dog on Instagram in July. Rotunda, who says he was “lucky enough to have the best dogs in the world,” knew he wanted to give the dog a home as soon as he saw her, even though he wasn’t looking for a new pet.

“She was radiant. She had this almost palpable will,” says Rotunda. “I saw all these videos of Alva running and playing and falling. And every time she fell, she pulled herself back up. Every time there was a challenge, she didn’t go around it; she went over it. And I’m very inspired.”

Joe Rotunda and Alva enjoy the playpen that Rotunda built in her home in Texas for the rescue dog.

Austin Pets Alive

No stranger to a dog with special needs — Rotunda had cared for a gun victim dog and a dog that had been left outside for years before adopting him — Rotunda didn’t hesitate when he fell in love with Alva; instead, he jumped in his car and drove to APA.

During the rescue, Rotunda happened to run into one of Alva’s caregivers and was able to schedule the next meet and greet with Alva.

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Before the introduction, the animal lover “reviewed all the behavioral and disease histories that Alva had on file,” so he was ready to meet the dog.

“She was very wary of me. She was very nervous and worried and anxious,” Rotunda says of Alvin’s initial reaction to him, adding, “but you could tell she was so loving and affectionate with the people she knew.”

So Rotunda kept coming back to meet Alva until he became someone she knew and trusted. For Rotunda, this meant visiting APA every day for two months.

“She needed someone who wouldn’t give up on her. And I never questioned that decision,” he says.

Over time, the dog, which first attacked and bit him, began to approach the Rotunda. In October, APA and Rotunda decided it was time for Alva to sleep. Ahead of the dog’s arrival, Rotunda made his home as Alva-friendly as possible: blocking off a large portion of the living room for private play, adding more hutches to give Alva room to decompress, and covering hard edges that the dog might bump into.

Alva arrived on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning she welcomed Rotunda wagging her tail.

“It was a first,” says the dog lover.

When the APA groomer came to pick up Alva, it was clear that the dog had made his choice.

“She didn’t want to leave the house. She didn’t want to go back to APA. And she’s been here ever since,” says Rotunda.

Since then, Alva felt at home. He regularly climbs onto Rotunda’s bed for naps, especially when he gets to cuddle with Rotunda’s other dog, Max, who is thrilled to have a canine friend.

Alva, a rescue dog cuddles with his canine brother Max.

Austin Pets Alive

“I saw all that anxiety melt away, and this dog that hated me, that shot at me and warned me to stay away, now wants to cuddle and kiss and rub her belly. It’s really amazing,” says Rotunda.

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Life is not only better for Alva and Max.

“She absolutely gave me more than I gave her. There’s no doubt about it. This house is brighter because she shines,” adds Rotunda.

She hopes that Alvin’s success story will inspire other animal lovers to give special needs pets a home.

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“If I had judged Alva by how she behaved in the shelter when she was very anxious, I would have missed it. She would have missed it too,” shares Rotunda.

Jefferson agrees that people could be missing out on great pets by being too quick to judge shelter animals.

“I encourage people to ask shelter staff and volunteers, ‘Which pet needs my help?’ Because that’s what Joe did and it turned into this beautiful story. And I’d hate to think that Alva would still be here if someone overlooked her multiple times,” says the vet.

“We all have quirks, we all have challenges, and pets are no different and deserve the love we can give them,” she says.

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Source: HIS Education