Written by Mary Boucher
In February 2023 a beautiful, brindle Anatolian Shepherd showed up at Rock Golf Course in Table Rock, North Carolina with a man’s leather belt around her neck. Her den was in the forest surrounding the course in a hollowed tree she shared with a beaver. Staff members, who named her Hope, put out food and water until June when they contacted Anakin’s Trails to try and trap her so she would be safe and healthy through the harsh summer months. Anakin’s Trails placed a trap in June and it took a month for her to feel brave enough to enter. The group always has a foster lined up before trapping a dog to ensure a quick and smooth transition. Unfortunately, the transition was anything but smooth.
Hope’s foster came and, contrary to Anakin’s Trails protocols, put a choke collar on Hope before removing the belt. She attempted to walk her out of the trap on the leash. When the foster lost control of Hope, she dragged the scared dog 15 feet across the ground back to the trap. The door swung open, and Hope bolted, not to be seen again for another 3 days. When she reappeared, she had chewed the leash off, and was understandably more skittish. Anakin’s Trails went to work resetting the trap and scouring for a replacement foster. They found a rescue in Florida who would accept her, but they required her to decompression period at a foster home for 2 weeks before making the trek. Rhonda, an employee of Anakin’s Trails, decided she would take her for the decompression period
On October 19, 2023, after four months of working to earn her trust, Anakin’s Trails was able to entice Hope into a trap. Over the 2-week decompression, Rhonda found out the rescue in Florida was planning to make Hope a working dog. Given her history, she knew in her heart that was going to be a mistake. The likelihood she would bolt again just too high. They looked for a foster until December, when Rhonda decided to officially adopt her. Hope finally had a forever home filled with love, patience, and Ziggy her very own therapy dog. Her life of uncertainty and base survival came to an end, and with a new beginning came a new name: River.
Part 2 coming soon! Learn more about River and how she and Rhonda became part of the CCC family!
Mary Boucher
Mary Boucher has been a trainer with Carolina Classic Canine since 2022. While she works with dogs of all ages, developmental stages, and histories; she is especially adept at working with dogs who have experienced trauma. Her patience and kindness based approach allows her to help dogs who are suffering from anxiety and reactivity – dogs many would give up on.