“We needed each other”: How one shy dog and his adopter are helping each other heal

When Tanu first arrived at WAIF after being rescued from a hoarding situation, he was hungry and terrified.

It’s amazing what a little love can do.

When Tanu arrived at WAIF in January of 2025, we didn’t know whether he would ever learn to accept love from humans. The 4-year-old Australian shepherd/Labradoodle mix was one of several dogs rescued from a hoarding situation.

It might be difficult to imagine that his owners had the best intentions, but that’s usually the case. They simply became overwhelmed with providing care, so their animals’ living conditions severely deteriorated. Tanu and the other dogs had been fed a meager diet of chicken and sweet potato treats. They were kept five to a kennel, and most of them were never allowed outside for sunshine, fresh air or exercise.

Tanu arrived at WAIF severely emaciated. He had a large patch of fur missing from his back and was terrified of people. Thanks to our animal care staff and volunteers, however, his life was about to change forever.

We started Tanu on a proper diet and began treating his skin with fish oil. We soon discovered he had a thyroid condition that was also impacting his fur growth and started him on medication. His body began to heal, but he remained extremely timid and fearful of people.

It would take months for Tanu to start trusting humans, but under the devoted attention of our dog trainers and volunteers, he started to show signs of progress. WAIF’s on-staff dog trainers spent time sitting with Tanu in his kennel, offering treats and allowing him to approach them at his own pace. Eventually, he allowed staff and volunteers to walk him on a leash.

Now, Tanu loves to cuddle up with his adopter and continues to make great progress on his socialization.

Though he was still a shy dog, we determined that he was ready for adoption. All he needed was someone special, patient, and willing to give him a chance. That’s where Frances came in.

Frances had lost her own beloved dog, Elsie, in November of 2025. Though Elsie’s passing had left Frances heartbroken, she knew she still had love to give to another pup in need. She decided she wanted to adopt a senior or another dog who had been passed over by other adopters.

When Frances saw Tanu on WAIF’s website, she knew she had to meet him. After learning about the terrible ordeal he had been through and seeing how timid he was, she wanted to give him another chance at a happy life.

On January 6, almost a full year after Tanu first arrived at WAIF, Frances took him home.

In the few weeks since Tanu went home, he has already made great progress. Frances said that Tanu, who goes by Buddy now, loves to sleep on her lap and take treats from her.

“He’s getting all the love and attention he can handle, and is slowly learning how to ‘dog.’ He’s still unsure about many ‘normal’ situations, but he seems to trust me,” Frances wrote in an email. “My heart still aches for my Elsie, but my Buddy and I are going to be fine. We needed each other.”