“She came with anti-anxiety medications. Zelda paced. All day long she was either pacing or hiding.”

After some time, the two got to know each other a bit more.

Each dog has their own way of processing things and Zelda was no different. Seneca noticed that the dog seemed to be more receptive and calm when on a leash. Soon, the dog began to trust her new foster mom.

“When I was home, she was attached to me,” Krueger said. “Over the course of two weeks of tether training, I had also weaned her off of her anti-anxiety medications, and the pacing had decreased. She was even willing to come out of hiding on her own for brief periods of time.”

It took two months for Zelda to even wag her tail.

After two months, Zelda finally made huge progress. Wagging her tail for the first time, the whole family knew that she was on the upswing. Two months after that, she barked and played for the first time ever. Officially weaned off her medication, Zelda was a transformed pup!

Seneca knew that their time together was over.

Like any type of fostering, it can be tough to say goodbye. She knew that Zelda had made so much progress and was ready for the next step in her life.

“As Zelda began to gain a little more confidence, I decided it was time for her to find her forever home,” Krueger said. “This is what you are supposed to do as a dog foster; help them adjust and then happily say goodbye as they go and live their best lives.”

Driving 40 miles to her new home, Seneca had to stop because of how hard she was crying.

For the first time in over a decade, Seneca was genuinely feeling like she was giving her own dog away. After dropping off Zelda, things continued on as normal.

Ten days later she got a call that nobody ever wants to get.

Zelda has slipped out of her leash and had escaped. With a volunteer search team, dozens of people were helping find the missing dog. Using trail cams, feeding stations, and more, the search was on.

After weeks of tracking dog prints through swamps and fields after sightings were reported, they got a sighting report in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis was exactly halfway between the new home and Seneca’s home. It all made sense. Zelda was trying to get home! Two weeks later, she was spotted near her home. Even more, the family surrendered custody back to Seneca, making the search her own.

Three months later, a couple trapped an emaciated dog they had been feeding.

When Seneca saw her, she knew it was her. Finally, after months of searching, she was home. Tears rolled down Seneca’s face as she held the dog for the first time in months.

Zelda never leaves her side.

Since that event, the duo has been inseparable. Zelda has recovered and they have a classic “happily ever after” story.