A dog doesn’t have to be abused or abandoned to feel betrayed by a human. Sometimes, leaving him chained in the backyard for a long time is enough to break his heart.
This was exactly what happened to one Husky in Oregon whose neighbors were only able to see him behind the fence of his yard. One neighbor who occasionally fed him couldn’t stand it anymore, and one day, she decided to do everything to get him out of there.
Given that she was unable to find a common language with his owners and did not want to do anything herself, she called an experienced rescuer for help.
The Joy Of Freedom
As soon as Lee Asher, the founder of The Asher House, a non-profit sanctuary located in Salem, Oregon, got a call from this woman, he was on his way to that place.
When he came there, she showed him the way to the backyard where the Husky named Joey was. The moment they reached the entrance to the yard, Joey’s head peeked through the fence and Lee could clearly see the sadness in the eyes of this suffering Husky.
As soon as they got inside, the poor dog started jumping around Lee, displaying a mix of aggression and playfulness, a common trait in neglected dogs. Even this experienced rescuer and dog lover had problems calming him down, but he eventually succeeded.
After he managed to get the situation under control, he stroked Joey and gently placed a collar around his neck. Right after that, he opened the patio door and let Joey out first. The reaction of this dog was a true reflection of the joy of freedom.
“Right in front of your house isn’t going to be the most fascinating part for the dog,” Lee said in The Asher House video. “But for him, this is like a whole new world.”
When she saw Joey, the neighbor who started this whole story was especially overwhelmed with emotions. She couldn’t even hold back her tears of joy.
She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and it it finally came.
On His Way To A New Life
Although Joey was finally out of the backyard, the fight for his freedom was not over yet. Namely, it took several weeks for Lee and his partner to convince Joey’s owners that it was better to let this Husky go.
Fortunately, they eventually succeeded, and Lee couldn’t hide his excitement, stating: “We’re gonna get him and I’m just so thrilled for this news!”
However, since Joey spent so much time separated from people and other dogs, Lee knew it would take him a little longer to socialize. Because of that, he didn’t want to bring him to his sanctuary right away.
Instead, he took him to Suite Dog Daze Boarding, a boarding facility located in Salem, Oregon, where he was welcomed by the experienced dog trainer, Lisa. In order to gradually get to know other dogs, Lee brought several members of the pack as well.
Although Lee and Lisa were afraid that Joey would not adjust well, this amazing Husky soon dispelled all their doubts and fears. He more than successfully made friends with other dogs and was quickly ready to meet the rest of the pack.
This Husky was soon on his way to his final destination – his new home.
Happier Than Ever
Already on the way to the sanctuary, Lee noticed that Joey was a completely new dog. He enjoyed the company of other pups, happily played with them, and kept a smile on his face all the time.
Yet, he truly blossomed when he finally came to his new home. He was no longer that neglected dog with a sad look. Instead, he was full of positive energy that he radiated far and wide and brought joy to Lee and all the other dogs with whom he shared his home from that moment on.
Joey thoroughly enjoyed every moment of his new life and was happier than ever, and his savior was proud that he made that possible for him. Yet, none of this would have happened if it weren’t for a big-hearted neighbor who was determined to help this dog and give him freedom.
She is the true hero of this beautiful story and an inspiration to all good people to never stop helping those who need help the most.