With a hopeful spirit, a shelter pup offers warm hugs to those who pass by, longing for the loving touch of a family and the prospect of a new beginning.t
Stray dogs roam the streets hoping to find scraps of food to satisfy their hunger. Each new day they spend on the streets represents a new hope that they will finally be saved and taken to safety. Tanner was one of those stray puppies. As he wandered the streets of Houston, Texas, he anxiously awaited the day someone would notice him and rescue him. That day finally came and Tanner was rescued and taken to a local shelter. Shortly after he arrived, the shelter staff was thrilled to discover that he was a very special dog. Since he was taken to the shelter, Tanner longed to find his forever family. Three weeks passed and no one wanted to adopt him. The shelter he was in was overcrowded and sadly, the cute pup’s name ended up on the euthanasia list. Madeline Garvis Smith, a local dog advocate, visited Tanner. She was impressed with the affectionate dog after he wrapped his paws around her and gave her the sweetest of hugs. He stole her heart and she knew she would do anything she could to save his life.
“He was pure love; almost starving for attention. Putting him back in his kennel was the hardest part, because he knew he was very lonely. I know a lot of dogs, but some just move you more than others. Tanner was one of them,” Garvis Smith said. Garvis Smith advocates for shelter puppies on her Instagram account. On August 26, 2023, she posted Tanner’s story. She wanted everyone to know that he was the cutest love bug that she just needed someone to give him a chance. The gentle boy snuggled with all the volunteers he met. He literally jumped into the volunteers’ laps and asked them to give him more love. Although Tanner was a one-year-old puppy, he liked to be held like a baby.
Garvis Smith urgently asked for a local foster home who could give him a temporary home. Tanner’s story caught the attention of Kari, a foster mother who said she would be happy to take Tanner into her home. When it was time to leave the shelter, Tanner wanted to say goodbye to his friends from the shelter. He hugged them gently as if he wanted to thank them for their care and affection. After arriving at his foster home, he seemed a little shy. Once he realized how loving and affectionate his adoptive family was, he became attached to them and began asking for pets. He soaked up all the love and affection they gave him.