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Potential adopters rely on first impressions when choosing a dog. While some shelter dogs have mastered the art of socializing, some are too shy to make friends with people. Shy dogs end up not getting adopted. This is exactly the fate of Banjo, a beagle mix who was abandoned in the woods when he was a puppy.

The rescuers brought him to the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society in Virginia. Banjo liked to play outdoor, but he seemed to dislike living in the shelter. Apart from not playing indoors, he was also very shy and scared of people. Some dogs would greet shelter visitors with a tail wag or a lick, but Banjo chose to stay in the corner of the kennel.

His shyness was the reason he had not found a forever home. He spent three years at the shelter, making him the longest resident. However, shelter staff and volunteers didn’t give up on him. April Martinez, the shelter’s executive director, wouldn’t allow Banjo’s rough past to deter him from finding a loving home.

Staff and volunteers in the shelter worked hard to help Banjo find a home. He needed to go through a behavioral program so he could overcome his shyness. The program was designed to transform fearful dogs into friendly dogs. They are trained to be more comfortable around people.

It’s easy for dogs to get adopted when they’re not afraid of people. The staff members were confident that Banjo would be a fantastic addition to a family. It will also take time for the family to earn Banjo’s trust. Luckily, his story went viral, and it prompted dozens of people to submit their application to the shelter.

After years of waiting for a family to love Banjo, he had finally found his forever home on September 13th. The shelter made sure that Banjo would become well-adjusted to his new life and family.

We've received a lot of great questions about one of our favorite little guys, Banjo! 🐾🐾🐾Paws and fingers crossed his…

Posted by Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society on Friday, September 6, 2019

Image Source: Gloucester-Matthews Humane Society via Facebook

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