I came across this photo recently on Instagram from a rescue group I follow and it really struck a cord with me.
My dog Roscoe is one of these dogs. Sadly, had I not been lucky enough to foster him, I probably would’ve never considered adopting a dog like him. When I first took Roscoe in, he was extremely shy, fearful of being touched and cowered in the corner for the first few days. It took a long time for him to build up enough trust to let me pet him or put a leash on him. He still has issues to this day and will never be the type of dog that runs to greet me at the door (well, he does, but he also runs away as soon as I get too close) but I’ve learned that none of that really matters. Seeing the capacity a dog has to love, even after being through a traumatic event, is a remarkable thing that bonds you together like no other experience. Roscoe is such a special soul, I can’t imagine not having him in my life.
As I learned with Roscoe, you don’t really know what a dog is like until they receive the love they deserve. Most dogs in shelters, or when they first get into foster homes, are shut down and stressed out. How they are acting is just a reflection of their environment, not who they truly are. Of course, you should know what you can handle in your own life before taking on a challenging dog, but if you have the time and love in your heart to take on a dog that needs a little extra patience, it will be worth it. For me, I think it helped that I had one dog already that was very much the opposite of Roscoe, so when Roscoe would run away from me or show his teeth when I tried to pet him, I could walk away and give attention to my other dog.
This is also why fostering is so crucial. Like I said, most dogs do not put forth their best selves when they are stuck in a shelter environment. Getting a dog out of that environment and into a home where they can receive love is key to unlocking their true personality. I was so glad to see that the Cleveland Kennel began a fostering program earlier this year. If you’ve ever considered fostering, my advice to you is to do it! You learn so much and play such an important role in saving the lives of so many dogs. And, maybe, you’ll be lucky enough to meet a dog like Roscoe and fall in love.
If you want to read more about my adoption story with Roscoe, check out Lucky Puppy Magazine: http://www.luckypuppymag.com/lucky-puppy-of-the-week-roscoe-the-long-haired-chihuahua/ Roscoe was the Lucky Puppy of the Week!
Do you have a story about a “challenging” dog you adopted? I want to hear it! I’d love to start sharing local adoption stories, so drop me an email (contact@dogsinthecle.com) or comment below.
Dogs in the CLE 
This is one of your best articles. It teaches a lesson that could apply to humans also. We need to take the time and patience to give everyone a chance. I find it rewarding to find out things about people I didn’t expect, get past the assumptions and stereotypes. We can learn so much from dogs, like how to be a better person. Thanks.
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Very good point Jeanne!
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Murphy Lee was an abused and neglected Amish Puppy Mill dog before my sister, Kara, and I adopted him. If you just looked at him, he’d pee and poop on the floor. He shivered and cowered and bolted terrified through doorways (probably from too many head slams in crate doors at the Mill). And now, he’s a changed man, maybe it was the magic of the Cavs, but during game 7 he went up to visitors for ear scratches. He can still be particular, only eating chips WITH dip in public places and making me stand JUST SO before he comes inside, but constant love, patience, and central air has allowed him to be the awesome dog he was meant to be. And now he’s helping making our foster dogs get adjusted to life outside the pound. Thank you for this wonderful post and for saving Roscoe!
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