Faces of No-Kill: Escape artist dog finds her zen

There’s nothing wrong with loving a quick jaunt down the street. But Queen Bee loved them so much that she took matters into her own paws, sneaking out for her own independent walks in New York City. Before coming to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, the brown-and-white pup was quite an escape artist.

This smart cookie learned to open not only her crate but also the doors in the home where she was living and later the door to the wide-open streets. Eventually those antics became more than the people taking care of her could manage, and she landed in the shelter.

Queen, a sensitive dog with big feelings about the world around her, struggled with increasing anxiety, barking and lunging at other dogs. She came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for a fresh start and help to address the challenges she faced.

In Dogtown, a sprawling section of the Sanctuary full of parks and trails, caregivers, behavior specialists, and veterinary staff provide care, rehabilitation, and companionship to dogs of all kinds to prepare them for adoption. Queen would get the individualized support she needed to help her be her best self.

“Initially, she struggled with some of the same behaviors,” says Best Friends supervisor Kimmy Grimes. Since finding her rhythm at the Sanctuary, Queen’s anxiety has all but disappeared.

Caregivers created a structured plan to help reduce her stress, which always spiked when she needed to walk past other dogs. In the beginning they made sure her neighboring dogs were outside in their play yards before walking her past their rooms.  That helped a lot, and as time went on, caregivers would allow a few dogs inside, and with a combination of treats and toys, Queen learned that having dogs inside as she walked through wasn’t so bad. Her cozy spot at Dogtown is designed so that she doesn’t have to see other dogs throughout the day, and she likes that a lot.

Family falls for shy canine escape artist

These days, she is settled, content, and — most importantly — no longer looking for a way out. She’s even become a bit of an interior decorator. She loves lounging on the recliner in her enclosure, but every so often she decides it’s out of style. So, she “redecorates” with all the recliner’s stuffing, throwing it around like confetti. And when caregivers can’t quite get all that confetti stuffing back inside, the hunt for a new-to-Queen recliner starts again, so she’s never left without her most favorite piece of furniture.

While Queen is cozy in her plush chair, she’s truly happiest and most relaxed when she’s enjoying the miles and miles of peaceful hiking trails around the Sanctuary. “When she goes somewhere quiet like a car ride or adventures out to the sand dunes, you get to see her brain slow down and she can just be,” Kimmy says. Kimmy describes Queen’s perfect day as a hike in the middle of nowhere and then falling asleep in the backseat on her way back.

Queen is also relaxing on sleepovers, where volunteers take her for overnight stays to help build her comfort in a home-like setting.

Volunteer Adam Sokol has taken her on several sleepovers to the Sanctuary’s on-site cabins.

“What surprised me most was how quickly she settled in,” he says. “I thought it might take her a while to relax, but she was cuddled up next to me on the couch in no time.”

Faces of No-Kill: Pet sleepovers spark second chances

On her overnight excursions, Queen’s softer side shines. She happily follows her person from room to room, curls up close on the couch, and even sleeps with her head resting on their chest. “She’s the cuddliest dog I’ve ever spent time with,” Adam says. “She just wants to be right next to you.”

Adam also takes Queen on hikes, and he says one of his favorite Queen quirks is she seems to have a built-in compass. “As funny as it sounds, she is more enthusiastic about walking south than north,” he says. “During our out-and-backs along Angel Canyon, she tends to kick it into another gear once we hit our turnaround point since we typically start our walks heading north.”

Queen Bee has always been true to herself when it comes to one thing: her love of people. “Anyone can meet her, and she’s calm, sweet, and affectionate,” Kimmy says. Queen may not be signing up for dog playgroups, preferring to enjoy time with human companions over canine friends, but she shows just how much love she has to give when she meets new people, showing off her toys and zooming in for sweet cuddles.

These days, in the quiet moments — on a peaceful trail or curled up after a long day — Queen Bee is finally comfortable enough to let her guard down. The Sanctuary has given her the time, patience, and understanding to get there, but the goal has always been a home of her own: one with a quieter pace, plenty of cozy places to nap, and people to love with her whole heart.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.