Didi

Didi was our first foster dog. She had been in the shelter for long enough to convince her that strangers, especially men, were a threat. The longer she stayed, the less adoptable she presented - cowering in the back of her kennel, barking at visitors, and losing trust in people she didn't know. Our relationship with Didi had been deepening during our time cleaning kennels. She decided that she could trust us, allowed us to come into her kennels to give her love, and eventually formed a bond with us that led to her bright future. We decided to take Didi home to foster one day after our volunteer shift. Little did Didi know, but she wouldn't be going back to the shelter again. A momma dog herself, Didi was already accustomed to being around other playful dogs like ours and fit right into our pack. Knowing she needed time to decompress, we let her rest for a few days, then began slowly introducing her into public spaces. Our own dog, Maile, would accompany us on our trips to the park to help guide Didi and build her confidence. Over the course of a week, making daily trips to the park, Didi's confidence and comfort was at an all-time high. When HIHS called to let us know that she had a meet and greet, we knew she was ready. Sure enough, with our help and advocacy during the meet and greet, Didi carried her toy all the way from the play yard then jumped herself right into her adopter's car and never looked back.