My name is Clementine!

There are some dogs who show you who they are right away, and then there are others who are so completely shut down and unsure about everything around them that wait and hide who they are so completely that you think you might never get to see their true personality. But then, when they do, when they’re confident enough and trust you enough to start to actually show who they really are? That is one of the most rewarding things that can happen in rescue. And Clem? Clementine was one of those dogs.
When we first heard about Clementine, she was named Skye and she was just a picture in an email we received from the ACC, a list of all the dogs who were on the ‘at risk’ and we knew that we couldn’t help all of them, but we could help her.
Clem’s story is that she had lived with one family her whole life before they surrendered her for growling at the 3 year old in the home, even though they reported that she had a wonderful relationship with the 8 year in the home, so we think that there must have been something specific that prompted that response from her, and then after she arrived at the ACC - going from being with her home where she was comfortable and her family who had been the only people she knew, to the stress and noise and chaos that was that kennel environment - her spirit broke. She shut down completely. She didn’t want to interact with anyone and would get extremely anxious when other dogs would walk past her kennel. And she was put on the list.
When Clementine came to us in February of 2021, we saw a broken dog. She was so heartbroken and unwilling to have any interest in any of the people around her, because everyone she had known and trusted had let her down and abandoned her. And now she was in this strange place, with smells and sounds so very different from the city and the life she had known. She didn’t trust it and she didn’t trust us.
She wouldn’t make eye contact and every time we went to pet her, she would tense - not enjoying it in the least. It took her a solid week before we got even our first small tail wag from her. And then another week before she seemed to actually enjoy the affection. Then another week before she was the one who actually approached us for pets. Then, we got a late in the season snow storm, not a ton of snow, but enough to cover the ground and a perfect amount for the dogs to play in and that was when we first really saw the spark of what an amazing dog she could be. She was actually running and wagging her tail and just being a happy dog in the snow and it was amazing.
From there, the spark of life and joy continued to grow. She gained confidence in us and in the fact that we only wanted good things for her. We figured out a way to introduce her to new people so that it was always a good interaction and so that meeting new people was something she wouldn’t necessarily look forward to, but at least something she knew she would get a treat for. She now sits and politely gives her paw to people she’s meeting for the first time - not something she’s ever going to love doing (and as a true introvert, we don’t blame her for that) but something that isn’t the nerve wracking thing it used to be.
And once she knows you? Once she trusts you, there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for you, and that love - that trust - that she makes you earn, but then gives so completely? It’s something amazing.
Clemmy has been with us for years now and she’s unrecognizable from that timid, shut down shell of a dog that she was. What she is, is an amazing dog who loves car rides, snuggling up on the couch, and playing with toys. She’s absolutely fantastic at fetch, loves going on hikes, just with her people or with other dogs along too, and is a wonderful companion at all times. She’s super smart and deeply devoted to her people. She’s a total goober who may act delicate and polite, but is really an absolute dufus when you get to know her.
Clem is looking for a home where she’s the only pet - she likes other dogs for play dates and hikes, but is pretty selective about who she gets along with well enough to live with - and is looking for a family (whether that’s multiple people or just one) who is willing to fully commit to her, 100%. She doesn’t do well with change and is especially sensitive, so being adopted and then returned would be very difficult for her. She also requires a cat free home, because they are her mortal enemies.
She’s spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccines and, while we usually ask for a donation to be made at the time of adoption, her adoption donation has already been sponsored.
If you are interested in adopting Clem, or even just learning more about her, you can reach out (or fill out an application) on our website, waywardranch.org.