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Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and to read heartwarming bios of dogs available for adoption. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the opportunity to speak with Tanner’s mom, Nicole, to learn about her and her husband’s life with Tanner and how he’s seamlessly adjusted to their home.

Life on the Road

Tanner spent his early life into adulthood with his first caretaker. Unfortunately, his family’s circumstances changed, and they lost their home. For a time, Tanner and his three fur siblings lived in a U-Haul with their caretaker. Things eventually got to be too much, and Tanner’s family made the difficult decision to surrender him and his siblings to Hopeful Tails. 

A Couple Searching For a New Rescue Dog

Nicole and Robert, experienced dog owners, had recently lost their beloved Doxie to heart failure, and they were missing the presence of a dog in their home. Soon after that, they made the decision to search for a rescue dog they could adopt before Christmas.

Nicole was browsing on Petfinder for Dachshunds at nearby rescues, and Tanner’s profile picture caught her eye. As a six-year-old Chiweenie, he appeared to be an excellent match for the couple. They scheduled a time to meet Tanner at Hopeful Tails, and the rest is history! Tanner was adopted into his second-chance family in November 2022. 

Adjusting and Enjoying His Second Chance At Life

Tanner ended up fitting in seamlessly with his new family. In the initial months of adjustment, he dealt with separation anxiety when Nicole and Robert would leave the house. An understandable symptom of being surrendered at a shelter by the only family he had known. Once he came to understand that his new family was never going to leave him permanently, Tanner’s separation anxiety dissipated.

Nowadays, Tanner and his little fur brother, Timber, love spending time in their home and “going to work” with their mom. “I work from home, so I’ll tell them ‘time to go to work!’ and Tanner will grab his toy and run to his bed in my office,” Nicole shares.

Tanner’s silly and playful personality shines daily as he enjoys throwing his bones in the air and doing “frog legs” when he lays on his belly. “Some of his other favorite things to do are chewing on bones, playing fetch, going on walks, exploring his backyard, and greeting his dad by jumping on him when he returns from work,” says Nicole. 

Advice For People Considering Adoption

Nicole has great advice for people considering welcoming a rescue pet into their lives, “Think it through. Dogs are a commitment, and it will take time and patience for them to adjust to your home. You don’t know what they may have been through in their life. If you cannot commit to a dog wholeheartedly and in every aspect of care, do not adopt one.” 

She adds, “They are innocent animals dependent on the humans that care for them. Dogs just want your love and attention and return what you show them tenfold.” 

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com. 

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and to read heartwarming bios of dogs available for adoption. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the chance to speak with Gail’s mom, Jenny, to learn about her life with Gail and how she’s grown from a timid and reactive dog into a happy, playful, and loyal pup.

Uncertain Beginnings In the South

Gail is a hound/mountain cur mix and hails from Kentucky, where she was in a kill shelter. She had been pregnant at some point, and a few of her teeth were in disrepair. Fortunately, Hopeful Tails stepped in to transport Gail and several other dogs up north to help them start their new, brighter beginnings.

Our rescue team soon learned that Gail was very reserved and reactive to men and children. It was clear that her early life contained unfortunate experiences. Gail would need a very special family to help her feel safe, grow, and heal from her tumultuous past.

Searching for the Perfect Companion Dog

In early 2019, Jenny was actively searching for the perfect companion for her dog, Lennie. Only a few months into having Lennie, Jenny realized he would love a furry companion. 

Her daughter happened to see Gail listed on our website, and Jenny immediately saw a resemblance to Lennie. She sensed she would be an excellent companion and scheduled an appointment to visit Gail at our rescue.

As luck would have it, Gail checked the necessary boxes for the type of dog Jenny was looking for – less than 50 pounds, able to roam in a yard without threat from hawks or owls, and friendly with Lennie.

Jenny knew, though, that Gail would require work, not only medically but also behaviorally. She was ready for the commitment, especially seeing how well Lennie and Gail got along.

The Road to Healing

When Gail stepped into her new home, she was initially nervous about many things. Her favorite thing was to be outside with her new sibling, Lennie. And Jenny could tell he was just as happy to have her companionship.

At the top of Jenny’s list was helping build up Gail’s confidence. They attended private training sessions and worked on basic obedience and leash skills. She was also taught to heel next to Jenny if she felt nervous.

They worked their way up from independent walks to visits to the dog park, the farmer’s market, and finally, busy events like Fourth of July parades, the Doggy Dip, and a fire station open house. This intentionally gradual exposure plan allowed Gail to blossom into her new, confident self. 

Several months after her adoption, Jenny took Gail to the veterinarian to remove her cracked teeth. “Gail became much more comfortable and affectionate with me,” Jenny recalls. 

Enjoying Life In the Lap of Luxury

Lennie is still enamored with Gail today, and the feeling is mutual. “Gail uses him as her emotional support pup,” Jenny shares. “She lets him meet new people and try new things and then follows if they look okay.” They spend their days going on walks and playing, wrestling, and cuddling together at home.

Jenny’s favorite qualities about Gail are that she’s her shadow around the house – sleeping under her desk while she works and beside her in bed. She continuously checks to make sure she’s safe and is very eager to please.

Gail loves to ride in her mom’s convertible with the top down, climb trees at the dog park to try to capture squirrels, and be the neighborhood watch. “She makes sure to express her displeasure about scooters, bikes, skateboards, delivery trucks, and school buses anywhere near her house,” says Jenny. 

When it’s time to rest, Gail isn’t lacking options – she’s spoiled with several dog beds throughout her house, two couches, and plenty of blankets and pillows. “She loves luxury and can be found nestled in a pile of pillows whenever possible,” Jenny shares.

Lessons from Gail

Adopting Gail and welcoming her into her life has taught Jenny a lot. But most of all, she’s taught her about love and resiliency of spirit. 

For families considering adopting a dog, Jenny recommends conducting thorough research about the type of dog that would best fit their lifestyle. “Gail would not have been the right dog for many people, but she has been perfect for me and Lennie.”

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com.

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and to read heartwarming bios of dogs available for adoption. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the chance to speak with Slinky’s mom, Penny, to learn about their life with Slinky and how he went from having his life uprooted to being adored and spoiled in his forever home.

Saying Goodbye to the Only Life He Had Known

Slinky’s story begins in the fall of 2022. Six years old at the time, he was an older chihuahua mix and had become used to life with his family, which included three other dog brothers. 

Unfortunately, due to financial circumstances, Slinky’s caretaker at the time decided to relinquish him and his siblings to Hopeful Tails. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to wait long before his forever family found him.

A Family Seeking the Perfect Companion For Their Dog

Penny and her daughter were looking for a companion for their two-year-old Chihuahua mix, Hunny, and decided to see what dogs were available for adoption at Hopeful Tails. Upon looking at the website, they initially found a dog they were interested in meeting, but it turned out that the dog was already going to be adopted by a different family. 

The Hopeful Tails team sent Penny a couple of other options, one of whom was Slinky. Given his age, Penny was initially uncertain if Slinky would be the right fit for their family. She thought a younger dog might be a better companion for Hunny. Nevertheless, Penny decided to move ahead with meeting him in person! She recalled of the time, “I couldn’t get Slinky off my mind.”

In October 2022, Penny, her daughter, and their dog, Hunny, went to Hopeful Tails to meet Slinky. You can say it was love at first sight because Penny knew immediately that Slinky was the dog for them! “Boy, I definitely learned my lesson to not factor a dog’s age into whether or not I should adopt them.”

Living His Best Life

It’s been over a year since his Gotcha Day, and Penny describes Slinky as “the best dog ever.” It turns out that he and Hunny are two peas in a pod – constantly feeding off of each other. He also has four cat siblings that he gets along with very well.

From the first day, Slinky felt right at home with Penny and her daughter. She says, “It’s like he always belonged [here].” That certainly sounds like destiny to us. 

When it comes to their favorite qualities about Slinky, Penny says her top ones are his loyalty and love. “He follows me everywhere – even to the bathroom in the middle of the night!”

Another cute quirk Slinky has is laying on his belly and rubbing himself back and forth when he’s very excited. He also gets zoomies – jumping off of beds, couches, and chairs around the house.

Outside of his home, Slinky loves going on walks and visiting his Nana across the street. At Nana’s, he’s always spoiled with special treats and runs around in her fenced-in yard. Another highlight is taking drives with his mom to get pup cups. In fact, if Slinky goes on a car ride and the adventure doesn’t include a special treat for him, he becomes disappointed.

Slinky is quite the foodie, mainly enjoying vegetarian options like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, and even cauliflower, just like his sister, Hunny.

Lessons from Slinky

Penny shares that the most significant lesson Slinky has taught her is this: “Age doesn’t matter, the heart does. I should have been more open to dogs of all ages, and I’ll never again weigh that as a factor when adopting in the future.”

She wants people considering adoption to be open to all types of dogs and follow their hearts. “Once you meet the one, you’ll know!”

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com.

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and to read heartwarming bios of dogs available for adoption. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the chance to speak with Oly’s mom, Janet, to learn about Oly’s journey and how she’s courageously blossomed into her new life with her perfect forever family. 

Scary Beginnings In Arkansas

Oly, a shepherd and black mouth cur mix, was born on Christmas Eve 2021 in Arkansas. Her early life was likely full of uncertainty and experiences that might induce fear in any young pup.

At just two months old, she and her siblings were found in a trailer park. Fortunately, AR Network Improving Animal Life saved them from their then-unknown fate. Shortly after, Hopeful Tails arranged a transport to bring Oly and other Arkansas pups up north. 

It didn’t take long for the Hopeful Tails crew to experience how friendly, gentle, and affectionate she was. But with such a tumultuous start to her life, Oly was understandably shaken up. Terrified of new things like meeting new people, walking outside, and loud noises, she needed someone patient and experienced to guide her on her journey to healing.

Oly was brought into a loving foster home with an experienced Hopeful Tails volunteer. There, she opened up a bit more and finally got to experience what life in a home felt like. 

While life in foster was good, Oly was still looking for her forever family. Fortunately, she would soon meet them!

A Hopeful and Patient Family

Janet was familiar with Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue and decided that she and her husband were ready to welcome a new furry family member into their life. Their beloved dog, Lucy, had crossed the rainbow bridge a couple of months prior, and they missed her terribly. 

Wanting a new dog to brighten up their home once more, Janet looked at Hopeful Tails’ adoptable adult dogs. She found Oly and scheduled a visit. That visit turned into several more over the course of three weeks. Oly was quite skittish and needed time to become comfortable around Janet. Brushing her fur, she found, was an excellent conduit for comfort.

“I knew the first day that she was part of our family. I just had to wait until she was comfortable with me,” Janet says. 

Oly’s Gotcha Day was April 1, 2023, after having been at Hopeful Tails for over a year!

A New, Confident Lease On Life

Fast forward to today, Oly’s fear has drastically lessened, and she is living a much more comfortable life. Janet credits a trainer they partnered with at Boughton Animal Clinic for helping her and her husband recognize and handle Oly’s emotions.

With lots of patience and love, Oly has grown into a more confident and playful young dog. Some of Janet’s favorite qualities about Oly are that she is brilliant with puzzle toys, loves to give kisses, runs around the yard, is responsive to commands, is good at tracking, and is very sweet. “She is perfect,” Janet emphasizes.

As her personality blossomed, Oly became best friends across the fence with her next-door neighbor, Ellie. In fact, if Ellie’s parents don’t bring her over to her house, Oly will sit with her back to them and refuse to engage. 

Ellie isn’t the only thing outside that Oly has come to love – squirrels, bunnies, and chipmunks leave their scent in her yard, and she just can’t help but track them. If her tracking doesn’t produce anything good, she’ll come inside and execute her attack on one of her stuffed animals. 

“She likes doing things for treats and will remind me if I forget to give her one after she goes out to do her business,” says Janet. Whether it’s treats after her time outside or inside with puzzle toys, Oly is headstrong in getting what she knows she’s owed. 

When it’s time to wind down, Oly enjoys sophisticated pursuits like being read stories by her mom from a good book; she’ll snuggle up right next to her, listening intently. 

New things aren’t as scary for Oly these days. As long as they aren’t noisy, she willingly tries them out. She’s made incredible progress transforming from a scared pup to a courageous dog! 

Life Is Better With a Dog

Janet believes life is simply better with a dog – “Especially one as perfect as Oly,” she notes. Oly is great company for her and her husband since their kids are grown, and she keeps them busy. 

When it comes to advice Janet has for people who are considering adopting a dog, she shared this tidbit: “Think about what type of dog will fit into your family and schedule. I knew a puppy was too much for me and wanted an adult dog.” 

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com. 

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and to read heartwarming bios of dogs available for adoption. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the chance to speak with Zoey’s parents, Kyle and Heather, to learn about their life with Zoey and how she went from living her days mostly confined to a cage to their loving, active family.

City Life, But Not the Sweet Life

Zoey’s story begins in downtown Chicago in 2016. Sadly, she was often confined to a crate for up to 12 hours a day. Her owners worked full-time and didn’t have the schedule or lifestyle to accommodate a young dog’s needs. As a one-year-old pitbull boxer mix, Zoey had no outlet to release her exuberant puppy energy. 

Realizing they weren’t in a position to be the best pup parents for Zoey, they surrendered her to Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue. Zoey didn’t know it then, but she wouldn’t have to wait long for her perfect forever family to show up.

A Growing Family Searching For Their Next (Fur) Child

Around that same time, Kyle and Heather moved to the southwest suburbs with their son and were actively searching for a furry family member. Their search led them to several shelters and rescues, ultimately ending at Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue.

While they didn’t have a laundry list of requirements for their future dog, one essential quality was tolerance of loud, crazy kids, as their family would be growing. 

Enter Zoey!

Heather describes it as love at first sight, “We knew immediately we wanted to take Zoey home when we met her!” However, they wanted to see how Zoey would take to their then 3-year-old son in the home environment. 

Hopeful Tails allowed them to take Zoey home for two weeks on a trial to ensure she was the perfect fit they felt she would be. “Those two weeks flew by, and within that first week, we were begging to come back to sign the paperwork to adopt Zoey,” Heather joyfully recalls.

Then came the day everyone was waiting for – Zoey’s Gotcha Day! With her new forever family, her life was about to turn upside down in the best possible way. 

Thriving In Her Big Family

It’s been nearly seven years since Zoey’s adoption in November of 2016, and even as an eight-year-old dog, Zoey has endless puppy energy. 

“She is extremely rambunctious and so excited to go for walks ALL the time,” Heather shared. In addition to going on walks, Zoey gets a kick out of playing fetch (her favorite game in the world), chasing the neighbor’s dog along their fence, and greeting each of her family members (especially the little ones) when they return home from work or school.

Some of Zoey’s other quirky and loveable behaviors include barking at delivery drivers (even though half of the time they come bearing her treats, toys, or food), begging for food scraps at the table, leaping high into the air, and snuggling up with her family despite weighing 60 pounds.

Speaking of family, Zoey’s pack grew by two people over the last seven years! With two adults and three kids in her house, she’s never at a loss for ways to expend her energy. Heather notes that they’ll often find Zoey attempting to join their kids in playing soccer, football, jump rope, and many other activities. 

Lessons from Zoey

Zoey taught her family an important lesson: “Everyone deserves a second chance, a new opportunity. Because sometimes we just need a new environment to thrive,” Heather noted.

Heather wants people considering adoption in the future to understand that adopting a dog is a life-long commitment that comes with a lot of responsibility – “But the endless joys that come from giving a dog a second chance and everything they add to your life are so worth it,” she emphasized.

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com. 

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and to read heartwarming bios of dogs available for adoption. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the chance to speak with Mojo’s parents, Teigan and Trevor, to learn about their life with Mojo and how he’s worked to put his past behind him to live more confidently. 

Saved From the South

Mojo’s story begins in Arkansas. He and his brother were surrendered to KL Animal Rescue in Cedarville, Arkansas. In early October 2022, Hopeful Tails stepped in to transfer them up north so that they could have the opportunity to find their forever homes. 

For a short while, Mojo, about ten months old at the time, stayed in a Hopeful Tails foster home, but luckily, he would not need to wait for long before his forever family found him. 

Forever Family Found

Enter Teigan and Trevor. The couple was searching for a friend for their dog, Bama, and didn’t have a specific type of companion in mind, just one that was a little bit grown as their lifestyle wouldn’t be fit for the demands of a puppy.

They searched online and happened upon Mojo’s photos from Hopeful Tails. “We kept talking about how cute he looked in each of his photos, and we knew we had to meet him,” Teigan shared. So, they decided to stop by later that week during Hopeful Tails’ regular Friday open viewing from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the rescue’s building in Joliet.

Mojo captured their hearts, even though he was scared. Teigan described that night: “He hid under the desk and wouldn’t come up to either of us. We could tell he was terrified. Even in the play area, getting him to come to either of us was tough. But we saw something special in him and applied for him that night.”

Mojo’s Gotcha Day was November 25, 2022. He had found his forever family! But his story was just beginning. Mojo, with the love and unconditional support of his new parents, was about to embark on a journey of transformation and work hard to overcome his past wounds. 

Embarking On A Journey of Healing

That first night Teigan and Trevor brought Mojo home was challenging. He was anxious, didn’t want to eat, and couldn’t sleep. While distressing for his new parents, they understood that Mojo needed ample time to adjust. After all, his environment was completely different from the street and shelter life that, until now, was all he knew. 

Teigan laid beside Mojo on the floor to help calm and comfort him. She also took a gentle approach to feeding him directly from her hand. That night solidified Mojo’s bond with his new mom. “He has trusted me since that night and we share an amazing bond. He was scared of everyone but me at that point,” Teigan said.

The couple quickly sensed that Mojo likely had a traumatic experience with a male at some point during his young life because he would bark and growl at men, and displayed those behaviors especially toward Trevor. Mojo would run away from his new dad, be scared to go outside with him, and didn’t want to be fed meals by him, either. 

The world outside of his new home seemed scary, too. Teigan noted Mojo would always have his tail tucked when they took him out of the house and he would sometimes shake. He was very fearful of meeting new people and just wanted to stick by his mom’s side.

The couple wanted to help Mojo feel more comfortable and secure in his daily life, so they signed him up for classes through Petsmart. After just one class, Mojo displayed a small level of trust with Trevor, which was heartening to see. Outside of class, Teigan and Trevor worked with Mojo at home using the tips their helpful trainer provided. Teigan noted that Trevor showed incredible patience and love for Mojo to help him feel like he can trust him. 

With each class that followed, Mojo grew in his confidence, comfort around other dogs (especially his friends in class), and overall trust in humans. He was no longer hiding under stools and became excited to go into Petsmart, socializing with other dogs and doing tricks for his trainer, Bobbie. “Everyone in class was so amazed and proud of Mojo,” Teigan said, “We started bringing him everywhere with us, along with Bama, to help him socialize more and continue building trust with other people.”

An Incredible Transformation

Today, Mojo is somewhat of a social butterfly – a complete 180 degree change in a matter of months. He loves attention and thoroughly enjoys going up to people at the dog park to get pets. He also loves to cuddle with his dad and enjoys playing with him in the backyard. They even have a special “high-five” that they share together. 

The couple is still working on getting Mojo completely comfortable with going outside for his dad, though, but are sure that will come in time. Teigan and Trevor work with Mojo every day in order to continue building his confidence.

A Bright and Happy Future

When asked what they love most about Mojo, Teigan had this to share – “It would have to be his love for all other animals. He loves making new friends with any animal. He even sits at our rats’ cages whining because he genuinely wants to meet them. And when he sees a dog he knows, major wiggle butt kicks in. Mojo has such a sweet soul and that extends to people now, too. He is so gentle, cuddly, and loving.”

Mojo isn’t afraid to ask for affection, either. He loves to nudge if he wants to be pet and flops onto his mom and dad, letting them know when he wants to cuddle. 

Today, in his new life and newly found confidence, Mojo’s typical day includes lots of cuddles and pets, playtime with his sister, Bama, running around outside or going for walks, and watching dog TV. But Teigan and Trevor think his favorite activity is probably visiting Cherry Bomb for ice cream pup cups. 

Teigan’s Advice For Future Adopters

“Sometimes the shy/anxious dog turns out to be the most loving/best dog for you,” Teigan shared. “It takes time, patience, and lots of love to show a traumatized dog that there are safe people and that they can live a life free of fear and full of love.”

She added, “Don’t judge dogs based on their behavior at a shelter or rescue. They are different in a home environment, especially when consistent training and effort is invested to help them adapt and grow.”

“Mojo has been such a blessing, and he is living proof that no matter what traumas you go through, you can still learn to love and trust others. You can overcome anything and everything.” 

Mojo loves his new life, having worked hard to overcome his past, and lives it to the fullest with Teigan, Trevor and Bama. 

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com. 

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoy our latest Tail of Hope. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn about newly published adoption stories and our heartwarming foster stories. 

For this Tail of Hope, we had the opportunity to speak with Gina’s parents, Victoria and Paul, to learn about their adoption journey and how their lives have changed for the better since welcoming Gina into their home!

Rough Beginnings in Kentucky

Picture this: A severely underweight one-year-old labrador mix is running loose near a sketchy property in rural Kentucky. Malnourished, she’s in no condition to feed the pups she just birthed. By her side is her sister, also malnourished and also a new mother. The scene is dire. 

With the help of local police, Gina, her sister and their puppies were brought to the nearby Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter. Shortly after, in late July 2022,  Hopeful Tails learned about Gina and the situation, arranging a transport team to drive down to Hazard, Kentucky, to pick them up and bring them back to Illinois. Sadly, not everyone made it to Hopeful Tails – three puppies in the combined litter passed away. 

Despite their hardships, Gina, her sister, Nina, and their remaining pups were fighters and would soon be on the road to recovery. Little did Gina know that her future family was just a few miles away in nearby Plainfield.

A Dog-Loving Couple

Victoria and Paul had moved to the area a couple of months before and were actively looking to foster a dog initially, hoping to adopt eventually. Self-proclaimed ‘dog people,’ both Victoria and Paul had grown up with dogs throughout their lives and thought of each one of them as family members. 

The same month they moved to the area, Victoria lost her beloved cairnoodle of 16 years, Charlie, to cancer. The loss devastated her, but she had been feeling a strong pull to foster, missing the consistent presence and love of a dog. 

On August 1, the couple decided to submit a foster application to Hopeful Tails. As Paul tells it, he knew immediately that they would be foster failures. Victoria, however, wasn’t so convinced. 

Love at First Foster

Two days later, they visited Hopeful Tails to meet with a couple of dogs Stacy, the rescue’s foster coordinator, said needed foster homes. The very first dog brought out was Gina, running right up to Paul as if she had known him forever. Over the next twenty minutes, Gina got lots of hugs and pets. Victoria and Paul saw just how sweet Gina was, and their hearts melted. 

After an out-of-town wedding the following week, they returned to Hopeful Tails, hoping and praying that Gina would still be available to foster. And she was!  

August 14 was the day they brought Gina home. Over that following month, the couple fell in love with her, hard. Gina especially enjoyed cuddling and sleeping. “We could tell she knew she was finally safe and felt relaxed in our home. And she slept really well, often snoring! It was precious, and we’re sure she was catching up on some much-needed rest,” Victoria shared. 

Slowly, another side of her personality began to emerge – Gina turned out to be super goofy! From whipping her rope toy around to rolling over on her back and making goofy faces to zoomies in the yard, Gina was undoubtedly coming into her own. 

Gina’s New Life

Within a month and a half, between Hopeful Tails and her foster home, Gina transformed from a super skinny 34-pound dog who didn’t enjoy being touched to a much healthier 52-pound dog. On September 19, knowing for a while at that point that they would be foster failures (just as Paul had predicted), the couple officially adopted Gina into their family. 

Fast forward to the present day, and Gina is coming up on her one-year anniversary of being in her forever home. “Our lives were changed for the better the day we officially adopted Gina,” Victoria shared. “She is one of the most affectionate and genuinely sweet dogs I’ve ever known. You could never guess how difficult her life was by the way she acts. Plus, she’s got personality for days, which we adore. She’s spunky, goofy and loves to ‘talk.’” 

Victoria firmly believes that Gina came into their life at the perfect time, saying, “I think us finding and adopting Gina was meant to be. I call her my angel because I feel like Charlie sent her to us. His passing was devastating, and Gina has been such an incredible light in our lives.”

In July, Gina celebrated her second birthday with a cake, her favorite treats and some new toys to add to her already overflowing toy bin. 

Some of her favorite things are going on long walks with her mom, taking naps, getting special treats, doing zoomies around her big yard, going on car rides to anywhere but the groomer and the veterinarian, and playing with her many dog cousins. 

Gina loves her new life with her family and lives it to the fullest daily.

If you are interested in adopting a Hopeful Tails dog, please visit our adoption page for more information or email hopefultailsadoptions@outlook.com

In March of 2019, I bid a heartbreaking goodbye to my 13-year-old Border Collie, Badger. The pain was gut-wrenching, he was my best friend.

One day I saw a photo of a puppy on Hopeful Tails’ Facebook page, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I decided to go meet him, it would be therapy. Pet a dog. It was a first step to healing. That evening, the pup sat in my lap, put his head on my arm and went to sleep. I closed my eyes and it was almost spiritual. When he looked at me it felt good. It felt right, just when I didn’t think I could ever feel good again. It was meant to be.

That pup, Bandit came into our lives when we were swallowed up by the darkness, he was the light that Badger sent to help us move forward. Less than a year after Bandit joined our family, I almost lost my husband due to a heart condition, where he spent months in the hospital. It was just Bandit and I, he kept me going when I didn’t think I’d be able to. Over the years, he made the dark days brighter, and I truly believe that he rescued me. I’ll always be so grateful to Hopeful Tails for rescuing my sweet boy and putting him into my arms”

– Peggy