Under-Socialized Dog Blossoms After Experiencing Kindness for the First Time

A little dog named Cho came to Colorado’s NOCO Humane after being rescued from a hoarding situation. She arrived frightened, under-socialized, and covered in mats and every time someone approached her, she would tremble with fear. It was clear she needed to learn that people could be safe and fun.

The shelter decided that foster care would help determine how Cho might adjust to life in a home. Her foster mom quickly noticed how terrified Cho was—she would shake so hard it seemed like she was vibrating. “I would just sit on the couch and pet her for a couple of hours,” her foster mom shared. She repeated this gentle routine every day for several days, and the results were remarkable and heartwarming.

When Cho returned to the shelter, her transformation was evident. She eagerly sought attention, playfully bowed, and wagged her tail with joy—a huge improvement. Seeing her progress, the shelter decided it was time to put Cho up for adoption.

Meanwhile, Pam, who had read about the hoarding situation and recently lost her own dog, decided to visit the shelter. She immediately felt a connection with Cho and decided to adopt her, renaming her Hazel. While Hazel is still shy at times, she adores having her ears rubbed and has slowly started to open up. Pam says she can feel Hazel’s love and is confident that, with a little more time, Hazel will grow into an amazing dog.