Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from shy to shining

Abraxas looks like a butterfly — or should we say a social butterfly. When he’s running and playing with other dogs, he’s so carefree that it looks like he’s floating. Abraxas adores people, too. From scratches to snuggles, he simply can’t get enough affection.

This good-natured guy couldn’t be further from the scared pup the team met when he first came to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Los Angeles. Foster care ended up being Abraxas’ cocoon — a safe, patient place to transform into the dog he is today.

We don’t know much about the first three years of Abraxas’ life, but we know it wasn’t easy. When he arrived at an L.A. County shelter, he was covered in fleas, suffering from mange, and wearing a collar so tight it had become embedded in his neck. Understandably, he was terrified and totally shut down. So the shelter reached out to Best Friends to get Abraxas the medical and emotional care he needed.

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At the pet adoption center, Abraxas was still overwhelmed by loud noises and shy around other dogs and people. But underneath the fear, the team could see a dog who desperately wanted to connect. It would just take time and nurturing.

Abraxas' metamorphosis was slow but steady. Despite his initial hesitation, the team discovered that he actually enjoyed the company of other canines. With each walk and playgroup session, his confidence grew.

To help with his transformation, Abraxas stayed in several foster homes. There, he got to decompress and experience life in whole new ways. His foster volunteers provided toys and activities to keep his mind engaged and took him on outings to the park, the beach, and hiking trails.

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Perhaps most impactful, foster care gave Abraxas the chance to feel like part of a family. He developed friendships with resident dogs, spent lots of time snuggling in bed, and learned to love being petted. His true personality emerged: gentle, sweet, playful, and even goofy.

Thanks to the confidence he gained in foster care, Abraxas was ready to shine when he returned to the pet adoption center. It wasn’t long before he charmed his adopter. Today, this once closed-off pup continues to spread his wings in a home of his very own.

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.