This adorable dog was discovered abandoned in a park, left tied to a pole, feeling utterly isolated.
The individual expected to care for her and love her unconditionally betrayed her trust, leaving her in a perpetual state of fear.
Upon her arrival at the shelter, her condition was concerning. The fear she experienced was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, someone across the country heard about her plight and took it upon themselves to rescue her.
Intense Fear of Men
Upon seeing Rain, previously named River, struggling in the shelter, the staff made a heartfelt choice to contact someone they believed could help.
Lee Asher, founder of the Asher House Sanctuary in Estacada, Oregon, has extensive experience in rescuing and rehabilitating victims of abuse and abandonment.
If anyone could aid Rain in overcoming her fears, it was him.
“This rescue, which I have worked with in the past, contacted me about this dog who was struggling in the shelter. She was left chained to a tree or a bench at a park. […] The only way they could get the dog out of the shelter was through a committed adopter. I said, ‘I will take the next flight to get her,’” Asher recounted to The Dodo.
During their initial meeting, Rain was quite vocal, barking often and showing unmistakable signs of fear, mainly around men.
During her time at the shelter, she couldn’t stop trembling, lacked self-confidence, and was overwhelmingly anxious. Clearly, it was not an ideal situation for her.
Her anxiety caused her to partake in self-destructive actions, such as chewing on her foot, which regrettably led to her limping.
“You know, you’re dealing with a dog who has been abused, in many ways, emotionally, physically, usually by a man. So, when they see a six-foot-five, 250-pound man, and they don’t know me yet, it can be quite intimidating,” Asher explained.
After spending some quality time with Asher, Rain began to visibly calm down. She started to realize that this man was not a threat to her.
Though, they still had a significant journey ahead of them, in both a metaphorical and literal sense, as they prepared for a road trip from LA to Rain’s new home in Oregon.
Rain at the Sanctuary
Rain bade farewell to the shelter staff and set off on her journey home.
“I have a long drive ahead of me; I assure you, by the end of it, she’ll be right by my side,” Asher stated.
To everyone’s surprise, Rain displayed excellent behavior during the trip, spending most of the journey peacefully sleeping in the car.
Eventually, they arrived at her new home – the Asher House Sanctuary, where many furry companions were eagerly waiting.
“I have no doubt the long drive from LA to Oregon helped forge our bond, bringing us to a level of trust where I can genuinely feel that she knows I am her dad. It’s a beautiful feeling. I can’t express how much I love her,” Asher expressed.
Now that Rain has embraced her dad’s love, she no longer fears men and revels in life at the sanctuary, surrounded by numerous furry friends.
She has transformed from being fearful of even sharing a space with Lee to not wanting to leave his side ever again.
Check out her incredible journey:
