Fostering Changes Lives
Greenhill Humane Society’s Longest Term Canine Resident Adopted!
July 19th, 2016
Eugene, OR – If you had walked into the kennel at Greenhill Humane Society a year ago, you would have seen a gorgeous chocolate Labrador/pitbull mix losing his mind. Rikku, the shelter’s current longest term resident, was not meant for kennel life. He was anxious and high strung, greeting every visitor by barking and jumping at his kennel door.
If you saw Rikku in his foster home, you’d see a completely different dog. “Rikku tries real hard to fit in and follow my rules. He learns quickly,” his foster, Mark, said. “My biggest surprise was how sweet he is. I was sort of expecting a real problem dog. Rikku is such a cream puff.”
For dogs like Rikku, being in a home can be the make or break of their shelter experience. “Some dogs do very well in kennels,” says Lauren Merge, Greenhill’s Communication and Events Manager. “And some dogs need a quiet, home environment to relax and be themselves.”
Rikku was one such dog. His change after being fostered was remarkable. Greenhill staff says that home environment brought out the wonderful dog they knew was there all along. Thanks to his foster and shelter staff, Rikku was adopted this afternoon to a wonderful home after being in Greenhill’s care for 1 year and 18 days.
Greenhill Humane Society and 1st Avenue Shelter encourage any who are touched by Rikku’s story to help by becoming fosters themselves. There are many different kinds of animals who need foster care, and they welcome all families to contact them to find out how they can help at https://www.green-hill.org/foster_care/
One of the highest needs the shelter has is for fosters with adult-only homes where there are currently no pets, as these families are ideal fosters for adult dogs, such as Rikku.
