Dog rehab program transforms Porter from frightened to flourishing

All Porter needed was one special person to give him a second chance. Thankfully, this fearful dog found a whole team of people willing to do just that and so much more. 

The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre 

Porter was originally rehomed to a rescue, which later brought him to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society for help finding him a home. To give him the one-on-one support he needed to work through some challenges, he was transferred to the Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre in Peterborough. 

“He was quite scared” says Kassie Dickson, Animal Behaviour Coordinator at the Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre. “He was really nervous, very high anxiety.” 

Kassie says Porter would startle easily and was very hesitant when interacting with people, often pacing and avoiding interactions. Porter was given VIP (Very Important Paws) status, a status given to animals who come into our care who need extra support before they are ready to find a loving home. An individualized animal care plan was created for him, which included trust-building exercises, as well as strategies to develop positive associations with people and things through food and play. Porter bonded well with the team and saw a lot of success in centre  

“Really just giving him the opportunity to have choice, and that autonomy to discover the lay of the land himself and be rewarded for it, we knew he would flourish in a home.” says Kassie. 

Building trust in the home 

The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre is equipped with unique features, including the Arlo Gattuso-Slaight Dog Living Room to help dogs practice appropriate behaviours in a home environment. It allows the team to simulate this and is great for decompression and setting the dogs up for success.  

“We can work on things, and definitely see success, but the ultimate way to affect change quickly is in a home environment,” says Kassie. 

The opportunity to place Porter in a home came when Kevin and Tina saw him online and went to meet him. Tina says when they met Porter, they knew right away he would be part of their family. 

“It broke our hearts when we saw that he was so untrusting. It was pretty clear that he literally just needed someone to give him a shot,” says Tina. “We couldn’t leave without him.” 

Jack’s transformation 

Tina says it took time for Porter (now named Jack) to adjust to them and their home, but once he did, the transformation was incredible.  

“He’s a completely different dog. It is insane that nobody gave him a chance. He is amazing,” says Tina. “He’s literally a perfect dog. He’s so cuddly and sweet.” 

Jack and his new brother, Gus, will play together for hours, according to Tina. They are continuing to train Jack, and she says he’s growing more confident all the time. After this experience, Tina says adoption will be their first choice in the future for any animals who join their family. “It’s just the reward of seeing them come from a bad situation to going to a good home – it’s a really good feeling,” says Tina. 

As a registered charity that does not receive annual government funding, the Ontario SPCA depends on the generosity of donors to change the lives of animals in need. If you were touched by this story, please consider donating today to help make second chances possible for more dogs like Porter.