When a woman by the name of Belen saw an online post about a senior dog whose family decided to give it away, she instantly fell in love.
Knowing that not everybody is willing to adopt a 17-year-old dog, Belen decided that she wanted to foster her.
Foster Home
After negotiating with her partner, they were on their way to the shelter to pick up the senior dog, named Betty.
“When we picked her up, she was like ‘Please take me’,” said Belen.
During the car ride to her foster home, Betty was very calm and collected, as if she knew she was being saved.
However, Betty did need some time to adjust to her surroundings. The first day, she didn’t have much of an appetite and she seemed a bit nervous.
She was pacing back and forth through the whole house. She wouldn’t eat. I think she was very lost. Maybe she didn’t know if this was her house. She kept sniffing everything.
Belen decided to get Betty two beds at first, so that she could choose which one she felt the most comfortable in.
Even though there was a bed perfect for her size, Betty decided to pick the smaller one.
The little one we got, it was too small for her but she loved that bed and she, like, curls up in a weird position to sleep there.
Settling In
When the second day rolled around, Betty felt much more comfortable and relaxed.
“She just kind of lit up. She let us pet her, she was kind of exploring us. She was kind of sniffing around, moving around us,” said Mark, Betty’s foster dad.
Betty would go into the back yard and she would explore, sniffing everything she came across.
And, when she would get inside after a long day of exploring, Betty would enjoy a nice and yummy meal.
She had adjusted much better than we thought that she would. And she loves to communicate.
Every morning, between 6 and 7:30 AM, she would walk in and come to Mark’s side of the bed, making little grunts since she can’t really bark.
Betty becomes an adorable alarm clock, telling her fosters that it’s time to go on their long morning walk.
Spending so much time with her fosters, Betty made it clear how she functions. They know what she wants and what exactly her whines mean.
We know what to do to make her feel more safe or at peace.
New Life
Animal Haven, a New York City-based non-profit animal rescue, contacted Mark, informing him that there might be somebody who is interested in adopting Betty.
However, after seeing how comfortable she is around them, Belen and Mark just couldn’t let her go.
Now that she’s getting used to us and wagging her tail, we’re not going to be like, ‘OK, go to this other place’.
For Belen and Mark, adopting this sweet pup was one of the easiest decisions they have ever made.
They contacted the New York rescue, informing them that they were going to adopt Betty themselves.
Now, Betty lives a very happy and calm life, enjoying her days filled with long walks and sweet cuddles from her new parents.
Good girl, Betty.