Quiet and quarantine help a nervous pup

GUS HAD A TRAINING PLAN TO HELP HIM IN HIS NEW HOME, BUT A SLOWER PACE DID THE TRICK JUST AS WELL

Even the best-laid plans can go awry, so sometimes you have to simply hope for the best. In Gus’ case, that’s exactly what happened: the best-case scenario. When Gus arrived at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York, it was clear that he’s high-strung. He is a good boy, but he startles easily, making him a flight risk, and he lunged and barked at other dogs when out on walks. He needed training and help to build his confidence.

His training had just started at the center when Melissa Ruiz and her boyfriend, David Hanson, fell for the handsome dog. Gus went home with them around the time that the couple began staying home full-time.

As it turns out, quarantine suited the new family of three beautifully. The quieterthan-usual streets helped Gus ease into his new life. “Usually, it’s really busy around here,” Melissa says. “Social distancing has helped him adjust.”

David adds that having Gus has helped them adjust to a new normal, too. “It’s been good for our physical and mental health,” he says. A less hectic time allowed Gus to ease into his new life, and they’ve had a great start for their future together — even while many other parts of life, at the time, didn’t go according to plan.

“Usually, it’s really busy around here. Social distancing has helped him adjust.” ~ Melissa Ruiz, Gus’ adopter