PACA

Meet Paca (A559091), lovingly known to many as the “St. Claire Place Dog.” Her story began back in April, when she appeared in the St. Claire Place neighborhood with no known origin and no idea how to trust the world around her. Too shy to approach anyone, Paca survived thanks to kind neighbors who quietly watched out for her, leaving food and trying again and again to help her get safe. In May, those efforts paid off and Paca was humanely trapped and brought into our care. From the very beginning, it was clear she was overwhelmed and unsure how to exist as a pet. When a member of the St. Claire Place community offered to foster her, we hoped that familiar faces and patience would help her bloom. Sadly, Paca escaped and returned to roaming the neighborhood, slipping out of reach for months despite continued attempts to bring her back to safety. On December 16th, Paca was finally captured again and returned to the shelter. This time, she was even more shut down, keeping her head low and trying to disappear into the background. Still, our team did not give up on her. Slowly and steadily, we began meeting her where she was. One of our staff members, Nichole, has dedicated herself to helping Paca learn that people can be safe. Through daily quiet time, gentle exposure to new spaces, and lots of patience, we have started to see real progress. Paca now seeks out familiar staff, comes when called for soft head pets, and recently reached a huge milestone by taking treats directly from a hand. ?? Nichole also began fostering Paca overnight to help her experience life outside the shelter. In the home, Paca showed herself to be cautious but curious. She preferred staying close to her person, followed along quietly, and showed no destructive behaviors. She was anxious around fast movements and young children, but once things settled, she relaxed enough to curl up on the couch and later sleep peacefully beside the bed. She did well with a calm, friendly dog, showed polite interest without play, and became noticeably more relaxed on her return trip to the shelter. Paca is still very much a work in progress, but her progress matters. She needs a calm home with secure containment and someone who understands that trust will take time. She will need help learning how to “dog” at her own pace, without pressure or expectations. A quiet home, patience, and consistency will be key to helping her continue to come out of her shell. We truly cannot wait to see what kind of dog Paca becomes once she feels safe enough to fully be herself. Her story is not finished yet. If you believe in second chances and quiet victories, Paca is waiting for you. Paca is guesstimated to be 1 year old and weighs 50 lbs. All dogs adopted from Huntsville Animal Services are spayed/ neutered, microchipped, dewormed, appropriately vaccinated, and receive a topical 90-day flea/ tick preventative. Ready to meet Paca? All you have to do is stop by our shelter at 4950 Triana Blvd and head to our dog areas. You can find her in kennel D22. All adopters must be 19 years or older with a valid ID

Meet Paca (A559091), lovingly known to many as the “St. Claire Place Dog.” Her story began back in April, when she appeared in the St. Claire Place neighborhood with no known origin and no idea how to trust the world around her. Too shy to approach anyone, Paca survived thanks to kind neighbors who quietly watched out for her, leaving food and trying again and again to help her get safe. In May, those efforts paid off and Paca was humanely trapped and brought into our care. From the very beginning, it was clear she was overwhelmed and unsure how to exist as a pet. When a member of the St. Claire Place community offered to foster her, we hoped that familiar faces and patience would help her bloom. Sadly, Paca escaped and returned to roaming the neighborhood, slipping out of reach for months despite continued attempts to bring her back to safety. On December 16th, Paca was finally captured again and returned to the shelter. This time, she was even more shut down, keeping her head low and trying to disappear into the backgr

Meet Paca (A559091), lovingly known to many as the “St. Claire Place Dog.” Her story began back in April, when she appeared in the St. Claire Place neighborhood with no known origin and no idea how to trust the world around her. Too shy to approach anyone, Paca survived thanks to kind neighbors who quietly watched out for her, leaving food and trying again and again to help her get safe. In May, those efforts paid off and Paca was humanely trapped and brought into our care. From the very beginning, it was clear she was overwhelmed and unsure how to exist as a pet. When a member of the St. Claire Place community offered to foster her, we hoped that familiar faces and patience would help her bloom. Sadly, Paca escaped and returned to roaming the neighborhood, slipping out of reach for months despite continued attempts to bring her back to safety. On December 16th, Paca was finally captured again and returned to the shelter. This time, she was even more shut down, keeping her head low and trying to disappear into the background. Still, our team did not give up on her. Slowly and steadily, we began meeting her where she was. One of our staff members, Nichole, has dedicated herself to helping Paca learn that people can be safe. Through daily quiet time, gentle exposure to new spaces, and lots of patience, we have started to see real progress. Paca now seeks out familiar staff, comes when called for soft head pets, a