A few stories leave us as emotional as when our furry-legged friends go through terrible situations in life.
Fortunately, there are many kind people out there who do everything in their power to help those in need. Those amazing humans truly make a difference in the lives of those that have experienced hardships.
One of these people is Angela, the founder of Angela’s Ark Rescue in Charlotte, NC, and one of the protagonists of this story.
A Terrible Case
When Angela got a call about an abuse case accepted at a local shelter, she had no idea just how bad the situation was.
While it isn’t known exactly what Mable, a beautiful white mix, has been through, it was immediately clear she has gone through so much terror it has left a permanent mark.
Angela knew she had to react, so she brought Mable home with her.
The fear of humans was so bad she preferred staying in a crate, as far away from Angela as possible, to going outside and exploring the world on her own.
“The whole time, she was shaking so bad. I couldn’t even get near the cage without her absolutely trying to flee away from me,” Angela told The Dodo reporter.
She knew this wouldn’t be an easy case, but Angela was determined not to give up on this beautiful but sad pup.
The Road To Recovery Was Difficult
“When I first was able to get Mable out of the kennel, I had to do so by gently encouraging her with the leash,” Angela said.
However, Mable wasn’t cooperating. She would bite the end of the leash, letting Angela know she wanted to be left alone.
“Our walks for the first few months were not an enjoyable experience to her. The whole time, she was on high alert, tail was tucked, her ears were back.”
Angela knew the only way to help her was to be patient and to hope that unconditional love would undo the damage that had been done.
At first, nothing seemed to work. Mable would hate the walks and would just wait for the moment she could curl back into her crate. Angela’s mere presence would make her tremble in fear, and she wouldn’t relax for a single moment.
The situation seemed hopeless – but finally, after several long months, something amazing happened.
A Newly Found Hope
Many people would give up after such a long time, but not Angela. While the time it took was terribly long, slowly but surely, the results finally became visible.
“I started noticing a lot of small milestones,” Angela said, “The first major milestone was when she tried to initiate play with me. She came up, and she stood in front of me. She jumped. She had never done anything like that before.”
While insecure at first, she started playing with toys, expecting Angela to throw them at her. She would get zoomies while playing with other foster dogs, which served as a proof she was finally relaxed enough to have fun.
Another milestone was made at around the same time – Mable got into the tub when it was bathing time on her own!
“A ton of patience, pressure and release (i know applying pressure can be hard to watch without physically being there and feeling how little was actually applied), a TON of verbal praise, and some food rewards later and Mable finally got in the tub on her own,“ Angela wrote on an Instagram post.
Over time, Mable even allowed Angela to pet her! Getting her used to petting was a slow process, as she still connected human hand with pain, but in time she found just how pleasant this can be.
And, after several months, Mable was even able to go on a walk with her tail untuck! What a change to the dog she used to be.
Quest For A Forever Family
It took Angela and Mable 420 days of rehabilitation, but this gorgeous pup is finally ready for a new, loving home!
In Angela’s words: “I think my favorite part of the experience is watching who Mable is now compared to the dog she was at the shelter. I see less and less of that dog at the shelter every day. The little milestones are something I’ll always be proud of her for.”
Today, Mables is enjoying her walks and playtimes just like a regular dog – although she still loves to spend time inside her crate.
Angela also notes that Mables is good with other dogs and, while still a bit finicky around humans, has learned to love and trust them once again. However, she might not be the best choice for kids due to their high energy levels.
If you or someone you know live close to Charlotte, NC, and think you’ve got what it takes to provide Mables or another of Angela’s rescues with a new home, you can get in touch with Angela on the rescue’s website, or on her Instagram account.
And even if you don’t – like and share this story to increase Mable’s chances of finding her forever family!
Vanja’s passion for writing started at an early age, which is why she pursued Journalism as her college degree. She can research any topic and find all the information before you bat an eye, which is a great thing for her job but a terrible one for her husband.
Even as a young child, she fell in love with everything fluffy – but dogs have a special place in her heart due to her childhood companion, a Corgie named Archie.
Motivated by her experiences and driven by a desire to give back to her four-legged companions, she spends her free time volunteering at a local dog shelter.