Betsy was found by herself in the Anacostia area of Southeast D.C. Staff members were amazed by Betsy’s unabashed love of people when she arrived at rescue.
“[Betsy] will gaze at you and lean gently into you while you pet her,” Valm said. “She’s never met a person she didn’t like.”
But Betsy didn’t get along quite as well with the other dogs, and she found the shelter to be a stressful environment.
The rescue team knew that it could take Betsy longer to find her home. They waited and did their best to make Betsy feel at home. They made it a point to welcome her into their homes so she could escape the noise.
“She spent a lot of time in our directors’ offices, which she loved because there were no other dogs,” Valm said. “She would snooze on the couch in the office and cuddle with our staff all day. She was a doll and a dream to have in the office.”
Betsy was adopted because Clear the Shelters Day was celebrated. This is a nationwide pet adoption drive. The air was buzzing with excitement.
“There was already a party atmosphere happening,” Valm said.
When Betsy’s story began to spread, shelter staff radioed one another on walkie talkies to urge everyone to send her home.
They clapped and cheered and yelled words of encouragement as they watched the sweet dog they’d gotten to know so well depart for her next chapter, knowing that by showing empathy and compassion, they had played a role in changing her life.
