The Washington County-Johnson City Animal Shelter staff and volunteers waited for over six months to see their rescue dog, Roscoe, come out of his shell. He never smiled nor wagged his tail. Even after receiving treats, Roscoe would not let his guard down.
The shelter director, Tammy Davis, said that Roscoe was very timid and reserve during his entire stay at the rescue center. It was as if he did not have a personality and was not even acting like a dog.
Roscoe lived as a stray for years. He depended on the neighbors’ kindness for his food. Eventually, someone reported the brown and white dog running around, and Roscoe ended up at the shelter.
According to Tammy, Roscoe did not want them to comfort or touch him. He showed no emotion, no matter what the staff did. It was as if he was just existing.
The staff did everything they could to earn Roscoe’s trust. However, none of them worked. So, they decided that it was time to share his story on Facebook. Unknown to them, this small act would change Roscoe’s life forever.
Everyone at the shelter cared about Roscoe and wanted to make him more comfortable. According to Tammy, since the pandemic started, they have been using social media more than ever. Although Roscoe was not the most outgoing dog and might find it hard to find a home, they decided to still post about him with all honesty.
Then, a message appeared on their Facebook the moment the shelter posted about Roscoe. The man said that Roscoe seemed to be his dog, who had been missing for three years. Initially, Tammy was skeptical, but the man sent his dog’s photo, showing distinctive markings. So, Tammy set up a meeting to see if Roscoe would recognize him.
The shelter staff backed away to let the man and Roscoe be. The second the two of them got together, something amazing happened. Tammy said that it was like something clicked like Roscoe was saying that he was his daddy.
Tammy never saw Roscoe wag his tail, jump up, or show affection in the six months that he was at the shelter. However, Roscoe’s reaction within minutes of being with the man confirmed that he was indeed the pup’s owner.
For Tammy and the rest of the shelter staff, seeing Roscoe smile was everything they needed. It gave them the strength and reason to keep doing what they are doing.
