Georgia Shelter Worries As Senior Dog Refuses To Leave Her Safe Spot
For most of her 12 years, Lenore never experienced the warmth of a loving home or the gentle touch of a caring family.
Instead, this senior dog spent her life confined to an outdoor pen, crowded alongside other animals, with little more than basic food and shelter to survive.
But this summer, everything changed when a rescue team stepped in to save her from a shelter shutdown, giving Lenore a chance at a new beginning.
Sarah Jones, a volunteer with the rescue organization that took Lenore in (Labrador Friends of the South), shared in an interview:
“She’s having a really hard time.”
When Lenore first arrived at the shelter, she was completely shut down, her fear so intense that she wouldn’t lift her head or engage with anyone.
She found safety only in hiding, curling up in corners, desperate to disappear from the world around her.
The rescue team shared on Facebook:
“She hasn’t moved from this position. She desperately wants to get away. She’s absolutely terrified.”
During her initial veterinary exam, Lenore’s anxiety was palpable. Surrounded by strangers and unfamiliar noises, she tried to burrow into a corner to escape.
Staff gently reached out to soothe her, offering soft pets and calm words, but while she softened for brief moments, she quickly withdrew again, retreating into silence and isolation when placed back in her kennel.
Lenore’s life before rescue had been far from easy. Living outdoors among other unsocialized, neglected dogs, she had only just enough to get by and never enough to truly flourish.
The vet’s examination revealed infections in both her ears, damaged teeth, and skin so rough and inflamed that it felt like “elephant skin,” according to Sarah:
“I can’t imagine how uncomfortable she must have been.”
A calming medicated bath brought Lenore a brief moment of peace, but that comfort faded quickly, leaving her still fearful and unsure.
Knowing Lenore’s anxiety was profound, Labrador Friends of the South reached out to their community, asking for a foster home with someone patient and gentle, yet strong enough to guide her through recovery. In their words:
“She needs a special person. Someone very patient, who can be gentle but strong.”
Soon after, a compassionate foster mom answered the call, prepared to give Lenore the safe space and time she desperately needed.
She created a cozy crate filled with blankets and played soothing classical piano music to help Lenore relax. At first, the dog would flinch at any attempt to touch her and never wagged her tail.
Two days in, Lenore still hid away in her crate, burying her nose in the blankets, too scared to venture out. But there was a small breakthrough: she ate some cheese.
A week later, another milestone arrived: Lenore stepped out of her crate, cautiously but willingly, to take a piece of cheese from her foster mom’s hand. It was a quiet victory, but one that meant everything.
Slowly but surely, home-cooked meals and tasty treats won over Lenore’s heart. Even on shy days, she eagerly devoured sweet potatoes, peanut butter oatmeal, and strawberry smoothies, all served with love.
Her foster mom shared with Labrador Friends of the South:
“Now, she sleeps with her head facing outwards and doesn’t try to hide when I enter the room. She wags her tail so hard when I say her name and bring in her meals.”
After spending more than ten years outdoors, unsure if life held more for her, Lenore is finally discovering the joy of trust and affection, one gentle touch and delicious snack at a time.
If you feel moved by Lenore’s story and want to open your heart and home to her, you can apply to adopt her through Labrador Friends of the South.
Lenore’s journey is just beginning, and she’s ready to blossom and spend her golden years with the right family by her side.
