How Fostering Helped Major in a Major Way

Major was nervous, shy, and stressed in the shelter and needed a change of scenery to open up and come into his own. Read how one foster family helped make all the difference for this boy and set him up for his new forever. 

Today, Major is as happy as can be in his forever home. He no longer cowers in fear of the other dogs barking in the shelter kennel and the strange people walking by his run. But it was hard to picture this happy future for him when he first arrived at Cape Ann Animal Aid. Scared and lonely, it took the love and attention that only a home and a family can provide to get this gentle dog out of his shell. 

Major's story started out typically. He was adopted as a puppy from a since-closed Texas rescue and spent 4 happy years in a home, where he lived with a 2 year old child. Then, COVID hit and things took a drastic turn. The virus put a strain on their finances, and Major's family was forced to move. Their new housing did not allow dogs. Heartbroken and sure that if surrendered to a local TX shelter he would not make it out, his family reached out to Chance's Dog Rescue and Relocation and asked that he take the trip north, where he had a far greater chance of being adopted. 

Major in his home in TX before heading to CAAA

​In the shelter, Major struggled to adjust. Stressed and anxious, he cowered in the back of his kennel run, shrinking smaller still when a staff person would approach. He had worn a small sore onto the end of his nose from frantically rubbing it against his kennel. In the yard, he would pace about and whine. It was clear that in order to observe his true personality, he would need to get out of the shelter.  ​

"Major was very nervous and scared in the kennel. The kennel was full and loud at the time and that can be scary for some dogs, especially ones coming from a home and family. It must have been very confusing to him as to why he was there. What helped him, while he was with us, was being outside with another, more confident, dog. It was then that he started to come around a bit. But what helped him the most was going into foster with a family." - Kate, CAAA Staff Member

​CAAA's foster team decided to reach out to find him a placement that could help him flourish. Fosters Kate Glidden and Jesse Dole have fostered several dogs for us during COVID, and with another dog in the home, it was the perfect environment to put Major's stress at ease. 

"Everyone knew there was a happy dog in there, we just needed to give him the chance to show us."  -Kate Glidden and Jesse Dole, Major's foster family

Kate and Jesse, Major's Foster Caregivers, write: "Major is the fifth dog that we have fostered since COVID began back in March. When we were contacted  about Major's story, we couldn't say no to trying to relieve some of the stress that the poor boy was experiencing in the shelter environment. Major had lived with the same family in Texas since he was 4 months old and, due to economic circumstances beyond their control, they had to surrender him. The confusion and sadness that he must have felt as he boarded the transport that brought him to Cape Ann Animal Aid is terrible to think about. The photos of Major huddled in the back of his kennel was enough to know that we had to try something different, everyone knew there was a happy dog in there, we just needed to give him the chance to show us."

Major in his foster home, curled up and cozy!

"When we got Major home he hung his head, he had a sore on his nose from rubbing it against the cage and he wouldn't eat. We gave him time and before we knew it he was sitting next to us, head still hung, but looking for pets and some sweet words. He wouldn't eat for the first two days, but soon he began to eat all of his breakfast and dinner. We were also pleasantly surprised that he is housebroken, a good boy that sweetly let us know when he needed to go outside. He also found a warm spot on our couch and began to play with our dog; we had found that happy dog we knew was in there. It only took a couple days to see the happiness in his eyes."

"Without his time in foster, we wouldn't have been able to share all the fantastic things we learned about him with a potential adopter. We believe his time in foster allowed him to decompress and show us what a good boy he is. We feel very fortunate to have been part of his journey to his forever home." 

Major has since been adopted by a family member of his foster family, and Kate and Jesse have already taken in a new charge. Major's new family reports: "Major is a four year old, Texas bred, shepherd mix lovebug.  He's very laid back, playful, intelligent and is the part of our home that we didn't know was missing.  He likes to be with his people and was apparently well cared for by his former owners before he was surrendered and made his way to us.  We will love and care for him and continue to let him watch his favorite Western movies." 

​We are very fortunate to have dedicated fosters willing to take a chance on animals like Major. Major's story shows just how much that getting out of the shelter environment and into a home can change the attitudes and demeanor of some of our most anxious animals. ​

Major in his adopted home

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​Interested in helping pets like Major? Fostering can be a fun, rewarding experience! Learn more and apply to foster for Cape Ann Animal Aid by clicking "Learn More".