Meet Ghost

Meet Ghost. This extraordinary little dog has come a long way since he first arrived at Living Free.

Over a year ago, Ghost was found living amongst other Jack Russell Terrier mixes in what might’ve been a hoarding or backyard breeding situation. He had very little contact with humans and was practically feral. Our kennel staff decided to rescue this fearful little guy as they knew that with the right environment and plenty of love and patience, he had the potential to flourish. 

Unlike some of our other shy rescue dogs, Ghost struggled to open up. Even after several months, he would still run whenever anyone came near him.

Ghost was paired with an older dog, named Gypsy, as his kennel mate to try and help him open up. Gypsy was a very friendly dog that had come from a similar background as Ghost. She too had once been scared and shy, but with the help of our amazing staff, she turned into a very confident dog. The kennel staff hoped that Gypsy would transfer some of her experience onto Ghost.

Gypsy did help Ghost become a little more relaxed, but the big change for him came when he met Sophia. Sophia is a member of our kennel staff and our social media marketing team. She took an interest in Ghost right away. “I have always been drawn to shy or fearful animals. I have a deep empathy for them. I want the animals to see and understand that they are safe, loved, and that they could have a very happy life if they learn to trust.”

Sophia patiently sat with Ghost and Gypsy every day. She would sit petting Gypsy and give her lots of treats while Ghost watched. His curiosity began to outweigh his fear. Slowly, cautiously, Ghost would approach Sophia to sniff her hand. 

Everything changed after Sophia was finally able to pet Ghost. “I was within arms length, at the point when he’d normally just sniff my hand, but instead I slowly reached over to pet him. Ghost looked me straight in the eyes and it seemed like there was a little light that turned on in his brain when he realized this was all I was trying to do for the past few months.” From that moment on, Ghost began to allow Sophia to pet him and approach him more frequently. Eventually, Sophia and Ghost became the best of friends. Sophia taught Ghost how to walk on a leash and together they explored the trails around the sanctuary.

Today, Ghost will now approach and ask for pets from all our kennel staff members. He loves playing with other dogs and especially enjoys going on walks. He has opened up to show that he is incredibly lively, curious, and intelligent.

Even with all his growth, Ghost still struggles meeting new people and reverts to old habits of running away. Because of this, the kennel is looking for a very special, experienced adopter for Ghost. He will need someone who is patient and compassionate. He will benefit from having another dog in the household to help show him the ropes of a new environment. Ultimately, Ghost is looking for someone willing to put in the time and effort to gain his trust.