February 20 is Love Your Pet Day, a time to celebrate the special bond we share with our animals! Like any relationship, that means loving them through the good and the bad, because it's worth it in the end. Bogart's story shows how far patience and dedication went for one little dog.

Sue adopted "Bo," a 5-year-old terrier, from AHS in late 2016 after our Humane Investigations team removed him and 93 other animals from a home in Pine County, MN. The animals in the home had health and behavioral issues due to inconsistent medical care, uncontrolled breeding, and lack of socialization. When Sue spotted Bogart in our adoption center, he looked so sad and lonely that she couldn’t imagine leaving him in the shelter for one more night. “Bo came to us broken and timid,” she says. “He had no idea that humans were great companions and not just for feeding him.” In addition to being skittish and fearful, Bo had accidents in the house and a habit of lashing out at other dogs on walks. 

Bo's progress has been slow, but with consistent human companionship and training, Sue has seen a tremendous change in his personality. “Bo's such a different dog than he was a year ago,” she says. “A lot of patience, love, and understanding has gone into Bo and it’s really starting to show.” While he still has the occasional accident indoors, he's learned to trust people for the first time in his life. “He greets us at the door at a full run. He seeks us out for attention [and will] even let you rub his tummy,” Sue says. “Now he loves us as much as we love him.” 

Do you have a special adoption story like Sue’s you’d like us to share? Submit your story.