Some dogs find their way home quickly. Kippy took the long way — and along the way, she taught us a little something about patience, understanding, and what it really means to meet a dog where they are.
When Kippy came to Labradors and Friends, her whole world had fallen apart. She had lost her owner, lost her home, ended up in a shelter and then boarding, and she was completely shut down. She wasn’t eating, barely responded to her name, and was frightened and unsure of everything around her. One of our volunteers took Kippy for a walk shortly after she arrived at boarding. When it was time to go back inside, Kippy desperately didn’t want to go. So what was supposed to be a walk turned into, “I’ll just take her home for the weekend so she can decompress.” That weekend was only the beginning of Kippy’s journey. Kippy had two potential homes that didn’t work out. Each time she returned to LAF, it meant another transition for a dog who had already experienced so much change. Along the way, it also became clear just how significant Kippy’s separation anxiety was. She needed more than a loving home—she needed someone who understood her anxiety, would move at her pace, and could help her feel safe.
It Took a Village
The volunteer who first brought Kippy home was committed to keeping her out of boarding, but needed a little help to make it work. Another LAF volunteer stepped in, and together they shared fostering Kippy between their two homes.
Little by Little, Kippy Came Back
At one home, Kippy had two other dogs to learn from, a big yard to run around in, and daily neighborhood walks. At the other, life was quieter, but there were adventures—walks downtown, coffee shops, farmers’ markets, trips to hardware stores, and plenty of car rides. Kippy wanted to meet just about everyone. And slowly, Kippy began to come out of her shell. They discovered Kippy knew how to sit—although her preferred version looks more like a circus dog sitting on a unicycle.
She also knew how to “speak.” Very, very loudly. Kippy was learning new routines and began feeling safe enough to relax. Car rides went from shaking and whining to her walking straight to the car when she saw the leash, hoping she was going somewhere. She became more independent at home, sometimes choosing another room to relax in by herself. And then there were the beds. Neither foster normally allows foster dogs to sleep in bed. Kippy slept in both of their beds. Apparently, some rules are negotiable when you have soulful brown eyes and a sugar-sprinkled face. Kippy still had challenges. Her anxiety could overwhelm her in busy situations, especially when she was expected to sit still. Lunch at a dog-friendly restaurant? Absolute disaster. But start walking again, and Kippy would immediately transform, happily prancing along like a little princess. She wasn’t a dog who needed someone to “fix” her. She needed someone who understood her.
Then the Right Person Came Along
Then an application came in from a woman who believed Kippy was supposed to be her dog. One of Kippy’s fosters talked with her extensively about everything they had learned about Kippy—the wonderful parts and the challenging ones. She listened. She waited until the timing was right to meet her. And then Kippy had what was possibly the worst meet-and-greet she had ever had. She barked. And barked. And barked some more. Her anxiety was through the roof. Her applicant still wanted to take her home. Then the updates started coming. Kippy relaxed. She slept on the couch. A few days later came a video of Kippy lying on her back playing with a stuffed toy for several minutes—something neither foster had ever seen her do.
Then another video came over. This time it was Kippy figuring out a puzzle to find treats. Her new mom was already giving Kippy the love, time, patience, and structure she needed. Every day, another little piece of Kippy emerged. By the next weekend, Kippy was adopted!
The Updates That Mean Everything
And the best part? Her mom still sends updates. Pictures. Videos. Stories about what Kippy is doing. Sometimes it’s something significant, and sometimes it’s simply Kippy being Kippy. Those updates mean more to our fosters than adopters may realize. Foster families don’t stop loving these dogs when they’re adopted. They wonder about them. They miss them. They invested a piece of themselves in helping a frightened or displaced dog become ready for the next chapter. So, adopters, send the picture. Send the silly video. Tell us what they did today. We promise—we want to see it. Kippy took the long way home. It took a rescue, boarding, two foster homes, a couple of placements that weren’t meant to be, and, finally, an adopter who saw past the anxiety and understood the dog underneath it.
Kippy took the long way home.
And now Kippy is safe, silly, happy, and very, very loved. That’s Kippy’s Happy Tail.
