A New Home for Barry

Many thought that Barry might never be able to interact with other dogs or children because of his troubled background. At PAWS, we have seen numerous dogs facing a similar prognosis who soon prove everyone wrong. Barry was one of them.

From the time he was a puppy until he was four years old, Barry had never left his home, never been walked or housetrained. It was unclear if he was being mistreated by his guardians or if they were simply unable to care for him. Regardless, it was clear that Barry needed to get out if he was going to have a chance at a normal life. Luckily, his guardians agreed to give him up to PAWS.

Barry was now facing a whole new world. PAWS Companion Animal Shelter Manager Lisa Hockins recalled, "Once Barry had a taste of the outdoors and all the exciting smells, he rarely wanted to be stuck inside anymore. The hardest part was actually trying to keep him in his kennel." Only a short time after staff began socializing and introducing Barry to other dogs, Anna Lising came to PAWS.

It was an unplanned visit. Anna was just back in town from Washington, D.C., where she now lives, because her beloved family dog passed away. She had wanted her own dog for almost three years, but the timing never seemed right. As soon as she met Barry she knew the time had come.

Barry went from never stepping outside in four years, to flying across the country to live in a big city. Since his arrival he has become the ultimate urban dog. Anna says it took him only a week to be fully housetrained and within a month he could safely walk off-leash and play with other dogs at the dog park. He has also become pals with Anna's four-year-old niece.

With Anna by his side, Barry has shown us what extraordinary changes can happen with love, patience, lots of treats and a second chance.