Dog breaks out of shelter to go paddleboarding and touches water for first time
Chance arrived at Arizona Humane Society last year as an injured stray and was immediately treated for all of his wounds and ailments to get him ready to find his forever home. Unfortunately, Chance has been waiting for months, but so far no one has noticed him.
“At the Arizona Humane Society, as well as other shelters throughout the country, big dogs unfortunately are staying on the adoption floor longer than smaller dogs,” Kelsey Dickerson, public information officer at Arizona Humane Society, told The Dodo. “Chance has an absolutely adorable personality and is looking for a family that understands he needs both physical and mental stimulation to help get his wiggles out!”
Chance is an outgoing pup, who loves playing outside and going on adventures, so being at the shelter day in and day out is not easy for him. To keep his spirits up, the team decided they wanted to do something special for the pup — so they took him paddleboarding.
Shelter employees Ava English and Evalynn Seydlitz got Chance all prepped and ready, then loaded him up in the car and embarked on the adventure. After being stuck at the shelter for months, paddleboarding was a big change. Still, it didn’t take long for Chance to warm up and lean into the experience.
“At first, Chance was a little nervous while he was figuring out his balance on the board, which is completely understandable,” Seydlitz told The Dodo. “But once he got the hang of it, he became much more confident and relaxed. By the time we were out on the water, he was calm, balanced and seemed to really enjoy the experience. It was really great to watch his confidence grow, and he handled the adventure incredibly well.”
Both employees’ hearts melted watching Chance take it all in. They were so thrilled they were able to give him the opportunity to explore and try something new, and the experience helped him learn and practice new skills that he can take with him to his eventual forever home.
“Watching Chance grow out of his comfort zone to experience something not many shelter dogs get to was truly a blessing,” English told The Dodo. “I hope that him getting to touch his paws in water for the first time, seeing the mountains of Arizona and seeing the fish swim in the water was as great of an experience for him as it was for us. I hope people see who this dog really is and can give him a chance to show his big ‘ole heart!”
The shelter posted about Chance’s adventure on all of their social media pages, and while people loved seeing Chance so happy, he still hasn’t found his forever home. His friends haven’t given up hope, though. They know the perfect family for Chance is out there somewhere.
“As a part of the Arizona Humane Society’s ongoing Big Dog Adoption Special, Chance has a $0 adoption fee thanks to Hill’s Pet Nutrition,” Dickerson said. “Chance’s waived adoption fee includes his neuter surgery, current vaccinations, a microchip, and a follow-up wellness exam with a VCA Animal Hospital.”
