Dog overcomes fear — with some help from her friends

It’s not uncommon for dogs to feel fearful in shelters amid so many new sounds, smells, and experiences. That was the case with Nala, a 4-year-old German shepherd who came to an Arkansas shelter.

Nala’s story is similar to countless pets like her across the country. In the past, before the no-kill philosophy became common, Nala likely wouldn’t have made it out of a shelter at all. But today, more shelters than ever have programs and partnerships that save dogs like Nala.

Nala proved what shelter workers are keenly aware of. “When you see a dog in a shelter, you have to remember they’re going through some of the most dramatic experiences of their life,” says Dani Rakestraw, training and behavior specialist at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Once, though, dogs like Nala feel safe, they reveal their true nature. In doing so, they open themselves up to a family — in this case a family who had no plans of adopting.

Nala had been on the loose for several weeks before she was caught in a humane trap and brought to West Memphis Animal Services in West Memphis, Arkansas. Her fear was evident from the start. The shelter staff couldn’t touch her, and she would cower in the back of her kennel whenever somebody approached. In fact, the only way staff could get her outside was by lassoing her with a slip lead.

Not long after Nala arrived, a team from Best Friends, including Dani, made a trip to West Memphis. They were there to take some dogs back to the pet resource center to help the shelter make room for more dogs who needed a place to go. Nala was part of that group. But getting her out of her kennel for the trip would be tricky.

Yet the German shepherd lover in Dani wasn’t deterred. She took tasty treats into Nala’s kennel and sat for about 30 minutes. Nala would come close enough to take a treat but then scamper away, moving to the back of her kennel while barking at Dani.

[How a Baltimore shelter saved a scared dog named Tanner]

When the shelter staff mentioned that Nala seemed interested in other dogs, Dani thought that could be the secret sauce to bringing this scared girl out of her shell. She came up with a plan: Bring a dog who got along well with other dogs to the front of Nala’s kennel. If Nala could remain interested in the other dog long enough, Dani could leash her and take her outside. The plan was a success.

The real surprise, though? As soon as Nala got outside, she morphed into a different dog. “The second we got her to the playground with another dog, she lit up,” Dani says. Nala even stopped running around the yard long enough to put her paws on Dani in a friendly gesture. The staff members were in tears. “They had no idea she could be like that.”

Nala traveled back to the pet resource center, where she turned out to be a playgroup rockstar. “She acted like a mama dog to the other dogs,” Dani says.

Students in Arkansas are required to complete 75 service hours before graduating from high school, which is how a teacher named Haven LaCour found herself at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center.

Haven completed several different volunteer tasks, including making dog toys, and was asked at the end of the day whether she wanted to hang out with the dogs. Nala caught her eye.

[Helping a skittish dog learn to trust]

When staff asked if she’d like to visit with Nala one-on-one, Haven didn’t hesitate. The two became fast friends. Within 15 minutes of being with Haven, Nala pawed at Haven’s hands as if to say, “Pet me more!” “She’s gentle and wants love,” says Haven, who already had another German shepherd named Samantha. The hour Haven spent with Nala convinced her that she would make a good addition to her family, so she left the center that day in hopes that she’d be back for her new friend.

Once at home, Haven and her husband, Chance, had a serious talk and made a deal. “If I stopped getting my hair done as frequently, we could adopt her,” Haven says.

Best Friends staff arranged for Haven and Chance to take Nala home for a weekend to see whether she would be a fit before officially adopting her. They picked her up on Friday and made their decision the next day. Nala was home.

There was a bit of excitement as Nala adapted to life in her new home. She even gave Haven a scare on their first day together when Nala bolted out of the car and went running down the street. Fortunately, Haven caught her and carried her home half a mile.

Haven and Chance also have been nursing Nala through heartworm treatment. That means time on kennel rest because it’s important to keep her heart rate down during treatment or she could have complications. “She’s getting lots of cuddles and treats, which has given us the opportunity to build trust,” Haven says. Initially, Nala disliked whenever someone would pat her sides. Yet in recent weeks, Nala has allowed her people to do so — and she’s positively smitten with Chance.

Nala is the first dog Haven and Chance have adopted, and to say it’s been rewarding is an understatement. “Nala is paying us back in-kind with her loyalty, as she’s become one of the best dogs we’ve had,” Haven says. “She just needed somebody to love her.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. 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.