23-021 Clark, a Golden/Lab mix, was three years old when he was surrendered to AGR in April 2023. The 2-year-old daughter in the family that had gotten the dog from Ghost Town Dog Rescue developed allergies to the dog and GTDR would not accept the dog back, since he’d been adopted a year prior (NOTE: AGR will always take a dog back). We were told that Clark was a bit anxious when first meeting people, then warms up and is friendly, gentle and very obedient. A "bit anxious" was understating Clark’s behavior. He was so anxious and fearful of any new situation that he was started on fluoxetine, which really helped him calm down. We tried him as a foster in two homes, but he just couldn’t adapt to either of them. Finally, we placed him with a foster family and their two teenaged daughters in Peoria. They had the patience to let Clark settle in without trying to make him do anything he wasn’t comfortable doing. He found a “safe spot” by the sliding door and spent a lot of time there looking out the door. During the time Clark was in and out of foster homes and boarding at one of our partner veterinary offices, he developed allergies and the habit of licking and chewing on his feet. So, we started him on allergy medication. While with the foster family, Clark had a meet-and-greet with three other families. None of these went well. After having Clark as a foster for 5 months and seeing that he reacted poorly to families other than theirs, the fosters decided they had to give him a permanent home. Since Clark will need anti-anxiety and allergy medications for the rest of his life and since he had a great home, the AGR Board approved accepting Clark into our Gentle Paws Hospice Adoption program, so AGR will cover any of Clark’s vet and medication needs from now on. We asked the family for an update on Clark. They wrote: 

Once upon a time, in a warm and loving home, there lived a dog named Clark. One year ago, Clark found his forever family. He came with a heart full of anxiety, unsure of what the future held. But from the moment he stepped into his new home, he sensed something special. This family didn’t just choose him; Clark chose them. Clark quickly discovered the joys of his new life. He loved going for walks, his nose always on the hunt for the scent of rabbits. Every corner and bush were a new adventure, and his tail wagged with excitement at every discovery. At home, Clark felt safest when all his humans were around. He knew he could go to any of them for hip rubbings and endless love. His ears were finely-tuned to the sound of any potential snack, and he never missed an opportunity to catch a treat mid-air. However, when it came to balls, Clark couldn’t care less. Food was his true passion.