Rescued Husky With Separation Anxiety Heals Emotionally After Bonding With A Little Girl

Sometimes, the most beautiful, most heartwarming stories come from the least expected places! A terrifyingly injured husky named Balto found a miracle in the most unlikely of heroes, a little girl with a heart large enough to heal all his emotional scars forever. In a world where shelter pets frequently wait in silence for years and years to be taken to their new forever home, Balto’s story truly stands out. 

Arrival of the Wounded Husky at Austin Animal Center

Balto’s story, unfortunately, opens with a whimper! He was a truly distressing sight when he arrived at the Austin Animal Center with a large laceration on his neck and a terrible necrotic cut above his left eye. The injured husky was in unimaginable pain that no one could possibly understand, and to make it worse, his breathing was very shallow. Without a moment of hesitation, the shelter staff quickly started his treatment, and because of Balto’s fighting spirit he actually survived.  

Balto’s eye was saved against all odds by the amazing work of the Austin Animal Center veterinarians, who successfully stitched him back together, and soon, his physical health improved. However, for the next eight long months, he remained at the shelter with no chance of emotional healing! He was even returned from a foster home after he couldn’t adjust there. Luis Sanchez, the director of public relations and communications at Austin Pets Alive, said later that “He was lovable, energetic and often overlooked simply because he was a husky with separation anxiety”. 

Luis Sanchez’s Dedication to Improve Balto’s Wellbeing 

After Balto’s return from the foster home, Luis Sanchez decides that it is time to become a foster father himself! He was determined to keep Balto from becoming just another lost soul in the shelter. Luis decided to turn to his family, brought Balto home, and took him everywhere so that people would know about this wonderful husky! He took him to adoption events and started posting his story on social media to reach more people, and that truly helped. Suddenly, he received an email from a family in New Braunfels, Texas who were looking for a husky good with children. Luis didn’t waste a moment of time, he just took Balto, and after an hour-long drive, they reached the family’s home.  

The Little Girl Fell in Love with the Husky – A True Event of Love at First Sight 

To the surprise of everyone, the little girl of the family then instantly took hold of Balto’s leash, and without any hesitation, she quickly began to show him around with a pure smile on her tiny face. She started explaining, “This is my room, this is my parents’ room!” as if she was talking to a long-lost friend! What’s more, Balto showed not an ounce of stress in the company of the child, and they became best buddies in no time.  

But how can a young child cure the unimaginable stress of an injured dog like Balto? The answer lies in science. According to a study from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the so-called “love hormone,” oxytocin that promotes feelings of warmth, lowers anxiety, and boosts pleasant emotions, can be greatly increased in dogs when children engage with them. What’s more, the advantages can undoubtedly be more beneficial for shelter dogs whose mental wounds still require careful attention even when their physical ones have mostly healed.

Balto Found His Forever Home and The Selfless Love of a Child 

Finally, after so many months of suffering, stress, and anxiety, Balto’s journey ended in happiness! He quickly transformed from an anxious shelter dog to the beating heart of the family. Now, a little girl and her furry best friend spend their days playing, fake fighting, and running around the backyard with hearts full of joy!