06/02/2026
The Story of River & Rye ❤️
We have been working with these brothers since April 6th.
These siblings were unfortunately the product of backyard breeding and had zero positive socialization during their most important developmental months.
Simple things that many dogs take for granted—walking through a doorway, accepting affection, relaxing in a home, trusting a person, is overwhelming and scary to them.
If I’m being honest, there have been many moments over the last two months where I questioned whether it was fair to keep asking them to face things that made them so uncomfortable. Progress has not been linear.
Some days felt like we took three steps forward and two steps back.
But every single day, they have given me a little more hope. A curious glance. A wagging tail. Resting instead of remaining on high alert. Small victories that may seem insignificant to most people, but are monumental for dogs like River and Rye.
Recently, both dogs started medication to help reduce their anxiety and fear response, allowing them to better process the world around them and continue learning. Medication isn't a shortcut, it's simply another tool that can help fearful dogs break out of a constant state of stress and become available for learning and growth.
Their journey also serves as an important reminder that rehabilitation takes time.
Before arriving here, another rescue organization had these dogs for about a month and ultimately felt unable to continue due to the behavioral challenges they presented. This isn't meant to criticize anyone, every rescue has different resources, experience levels, and limitations. In fact, their decision helped bring River and Rye to us, where we've been able to continue their journey.
But it does highlight something important: dogs like these don't transform in a week or even a month. Sometimes trust is built over many months of consistency, patience, and showing up every day.
Rescue isn't always about dramatic before-and-after photos. Sometimes it's about celebrating the dog who finally chose to walk into the room with you. The dog who took a treat from your hand. The dog who decided maybe humans aren't so scary after all.
River and Rye still have a long road ahead, but today they are farther than they were yesterday, and for that, we're incredibly proud of them 💕
Today they have been offered separate crates to begin allowing them a little bit more freedom from each other. Rye is becoming barrier protective and with River present it seems to be making the situation more dramatic. Ideally we would LOVE to place Rye in a separate foster home all together, but no one has stepped up to help, so we are doing the second best thing for them 🙏