Kammie Black Labrador Retriever Fort Collins, CO

This pups adoption fee has been partially sponsored by All Aboard or an All Aboard partner! The new adoption fee is reflected on the profile.

ADOPTION FEE: $75

Kammie is a shy older gal looking for a very special home.

Kammie was found as a stray in Texas with her 3 babies. All of Kammie's pups but one did not survive the conditions they were in prior to arriving at the shelter. Poor Kammie had most likely been roaming the streets her whole life, and had more than a few litters of pups throughout her life.

Once Kammie arrived to AAAR she was placed with an experienced foster. Because she had had so much trauma, this girl was timid and determined to run to the streets as the only home she knew. When the fosters where gone Kammie had bust through the door, and fence to escape. This was in February of 2020 so the weather was very snowy and frigid. The nights in the single digits, Kammie was determined to find somewhere familiar. Our team was tracking Kammie right away, the whole community got involved. Kammie was a pro at being a stray, and knew exactly how to stay clear of people, and avoided being caught. We spent 9 days tracking, trying to trap her, and talking to professionals. Kammie was in our sight always, which was very frustrating, and caused us sleepless nights.

Finally, on 2/7/20 Madison got a call that Kammie was hiding, freezing under someone's deck. This called for a plan that had to be executed very carefully, or Kammie would be on the run once again. Madison and her dad, Shawn showed up with a rabies pole, blankets, and Kammie's puppy to try and show her we meant well. It took 15 people to barricade the deck with blankets, while Shawn crawled under the deck and slipped the lead over Kammie's neck. Once he pulled Kammie out from under the deck, Madison put another lead on her to secure. Everyone took a deep breath, after 9 LONG days and the whole community's involvement, Kammie was finally safeand warm.

Madison and Shawn took Kammie to the Animal Hospital of Colorado where she could get checked out. She was a bag of bones, her paw pads bloody raw, and her nose frost bitten. Madison wasn't going to let Kammie out of her reach.

From her foster, Madison (rescue director):
Fostering Kammie has been baby steps of process, but she has made major improvement over the years! This sweet girl took 3 months to even come out of her kennel by herself. She would hide as far back in her kennel as possible, and had to be dragged out with much effort to come out of her "den". Kammie was always on guard, keeping eyes on you at all times, walking slowly and close to the ground. She was never aggressive, just has never learned how to be a dog. She spent her years wandering the streets of Texas, protecting her babies, and fighting for her life.

Kammie started to bond with me over cleaning her ears, brushing, and giving her chicken. This was a slow process and seemed to be one step forward, two steps back for over a year. I would celebrate over little accomplishments like "she wagged her tail briefly when I opened the door!!" She is very specific about where I am standing, looking, and what I am doing. She was quick to run back into her "safe place" - her kennel.

One day I brought home a very insecure foster dog named Tank. He was a shy, nervous ball of anxiety and was also unsure of how to be a dog. He was very fearful of other dogs and would scream if they even sniffed him. I noticed Kammie was a little interested in Tank and he didn't seem to look at her in fear. I decided to open Tank's kennel to see if he and Kammie would want to sniff noses. Tank beamed out of his kennel right into Kammie's kennel. Kammie ran into her kennel as well, unsure of what was going on. Tank would then run in and out of the kennel, forcing Kammie to be his friend. It wasn't long before they were running around the yard together, learning how to be a dog and have fun! This was like night and day for the both of them. Tank eventually got adopted.

Kammie decided she was Queen of the house, and welcomed new fosters kind of like a mother figure. She is still shy, specific, and not fond of new people. But she has come a LONG way! She finally will play, and has fun. She doesn't have to watch her every move and live in fear. She is now safe and she knows it.

I am in no rush to find Kammie a home, as she is a wonderful house guest. She has taught me a lot in her growth. Patience is key! If the right owner comes along, I will be so grateful for Kammie to find a home where it is all about her!