Anson’s Happy Tail

When Anson arrived as a transfer in March 2024, his tail never seemed to stop wagging. Although that might sound like a good thing, in this case, it was a sign that the hound mix needed urgent help, as it was clear he was feeling dangerous levels of stress. His anxiety was causing “happy tail”, a condition in which dogs wag their tails so hard, repeatedly hitting things, that they develop wounds.

Thankfully, Rescue Village’s expert veterinary team gave him the medical treatment he needed for his stress while they worked with our behavioral support team to help him become the playful, goofy dog we knew he could be. Anson’s personalized plan involved lots of field trips and sleepovers with volunteers to help him get a much-needed break from life at the shelter.

Anson had been barking constantly due to his high stress levels in the shelter, but while in foster care, his symptoms disappeared, and he transformed into a happy, active dog. In foster care, Anson began to finally show interest in toys, playing like any other dog with a burger squeaky toy. Anson also enjoyed plenty of belly rubs and snuggles on the couch from his foster family, getting some much-needed love. He even went on several outdoor adventures, enjoying plenty of hikes and long walks. Anson’s time away from the shelter allowed him to have much-needed fun and time to decompress.

Anson’s time away from the shelter also gave the adoption team important insights into his personality so they could let potential adopters know what kind of dog he’d be for the lucky family who became his forever home.

After 35 days at Rescue Village, Anson was adopted. That’s double the length of our average stay, but thanks to our limited intake, and unlimited stay policy, we were able to give him all the time he needed. Now, Anson’s tail wags for the right reasons with his new family, as he gets all the love and care he deserves.