A Smile Says It All
Peaches arrived at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter like many of the other canines from the October hoarding case: terrified of the world around her and unsure of what the future held. People, sounds, and new smells and environments were overwhelming for this 1-year-old Tibetan Mastiff/Great Pyrenees mix who had never known what a normal life looked like.
But we knew that with time, patience, and the right family, Peaches could begin to rediscover what it means to simply be a dog.
And just a month after her arrival, Peaches found just that. This week, we received an update from her new family, and it perfectly captures the beautiful, messy, hilarious journey that is helping a dog learn how to live and love again.
An Update From Peaches’ Family
"The past three months with our new (very much not puppy-sized) fur baby have been an adventure to say the least. When we brought Peachy Keen, now known as Peaches, home, we didn’t totally know what we were signing up for. What we did know was that she was a puppy who, with time, patience, and love, was going to blossom into the most incredible dog.
At just over one year old and a very confident 110 pounds, Peaches is a big girl. But when she first came home, she was shy, overwhelmed, and unsure of literally everything. The first week was honestly scary. There were moments we wondered if we made the right decision and if we were ready for a dog who had clearly been through so much. (Spoiler alert: she was worth every second of uncertainty.)
One of the best things we did for Peaches was introduce her to an older role model, our four-year-old dog, Tilly. Tilly was… not immediately thrilled. She looked at us like we had lost our minds, especially considering Peaches is still much bigger than her. While Tilly enjoys playing with Peaches for approximately five minutes before she’s completely done, those five minutes were exactly what Peaches needed. She learned how to play, how to go on real walks (not just down the block), and how to just be a dog.
Fast forward three months, and the scared, unsure dog we brought home has turned into a spunky, personality-filled menace, in the best way possible. Peaches has learned that car rides aren’t actually terrifying, though she briefly considered trying to drive herself. While she is not a front-seat princess, she has claimed the seat directly behind the driver and will absolutely let you know if the window is not down. This includes when it is ten degrees outside. Her preferred method of communication is a dramatic sigh that somehow carries through the entire car, no matter the volume of the music.
Speaking of sighs, if Peaches feels she has not received enough pets or attention in a day, she will make that everyone’s problem. The sighing does not stop until the situation has been corrected. She also has very specific interests. Her favorite game is removing the squeaker from toys as fast as possible, but tough toys are boring and not worth her time. She has a very strong preference for plastic items only. She will chew shoes, but strictly only the plastic parts, and stuffed animals exist solely to access the plastic inside. She also enjoys dumping her food bowl out and not picking up the food.
Despite being 110 pounds, Peaches has somehow claimed a bedroom to herself. It is officially her bedroom now, and we’ve accepted that we are simply guests in her home.
With my work schedule, Peaches has discovered a love for naps, especially at the local ice arena, which she has decided is the best place to stay cool. She also enjoys office naps and has turned it into her personal sleep room whenever possible.
Knowing that Peaches came from a hoarding situation, watching her grow has been incredibly special. She’s still working on her people skills, but every day she becomes more curious and confident. She especially enjoys baby talk and playing with people she trusts, because what dog wouldn’t?
We love Peaches more than we ever expected and can’t wait to see how much more she continues to grow and thrive. Thank you to everyone at the shelter for giving her a chance and trusting us to be her family. Because of you, she now has a safe home, a full belly, her own bedroom, and absolutely zero shame.” - Abigail M.
Updates like these are what drive our work every single day. Messages like Abigail’s remind us why this work matters so much, not just in the moment of rescue, but in the weeks, months, and years that follow for animals like Peaches, discovering what it means to feel safe and loved.
Peaches’ story is also a direct result of the kindness and generosity of our community and donors. Year-round, dogs from every walk of life get the second chances they deserve and the chance to become the spunky, toy-destroying, bedroom-claiming, drama queen companions they were always meant to be. Thank you for being a champion for our community’s pets.
