Entrant's Name
Christa

Pet's Story or Bio
We adopted Copper in June 2018 from FORTE Animal Rescue, several months after our first fur baby passed. Copper had been in a shelter twice and had likely spent some time on the streets of LA. We’ll never know his full story, but it’s clear that he suffered from some trauma and possibly abuse. Those first few weeks were heartbreaking for all of us as we worked through Copper's separation anxiety. However, we instantly fell in love with Copper and his sweet, gentle nature, and we were determined to make him feel safe, cared for and loved.

3 years later, Copper still shows some signs of his past trauma, and will always require a little extra patience and TLC. He is scared of strangers (mostly men) and loud noises, and is nervous when on a leash or in our car. However, he has come SO far, and rescuing him has been nothing short of worthwhile and fulfilling. When he is at home with our family, he is completely comfortable and adjusted. He is the most loving and gentle dog we’ve ever known. He literally hugs us each morning, and whenever we get the chance throughout the day (we never knew dogs could do this!). And watching his enthusiasm when running and fetching is infectious! Although it took Copper about 6 months to learn to play, we were so excited when he finally reached this milestone, especially knowing that he wasn't always able to experience this sense of pure joy and freedom.

We couldn’t imagine our family without Copper, and we're so grateful to say that we have been able to provide him with the loving, secure family and life he deserves. We are equally grateful to FORTE for uniting us with Copper, and for finding second chances and loving homes for so many dogs.

City and State
Irvine, CA