As the colder season settled over Houston, Texas, Samantha and her boyfriend, George, dedicated themselves to helping as many abandoned dogs as possible.
Samantha had years of rescue work behind her, and George later joined her mission. During one of their outings, they came across a terrified Terrier mix named Boomer.
Boomer had been living in a parking lot with three other strays. He was filthy, limping, and clearly in pain. Later, they learned he had been shot with a pellet gun.
Seeing his suffering, they knew rescuing him was urgent. Still, Samantha and George made sure the other dogs were also safe.
Even though she already had several dogs of her own, Samantha often fosters between 10 and 20 animals at once.
Fear At The Doorway
From the start, Boomer’s fear was overwhelming. Catching him took two full days because he startled so easily.
When Samantha finally managed to bring him home, his hesitation was heartbreaking.
“We tried to call him to come in, and it was like there was a forcefield right at the door, like he had been conditioned to just never come inside the house,” Samantha told The Dodo.
His struggle to cross the doorway revealed how deeply his trauma had scarred him.
Beyond his fear, Boomer faced serious medical challenges. He had heartworm and a torn CCL that required surgery.
Recovery demanded time, patience, and constant care. Slowly, Boomer began to understand he was safe.
“As long as you’re near him, he’s super happy,” Samantha said.
Just one month later, the once-frightened stray was unrecognizable, transformed into a joyful and affectionate dog.
Beginning A New Life
After healing fully and undergoing surgery, Boomer was ready for adoption.
Through Dodge County Humane Society he found a home in Madison, Wisconsin. With his new life came a new name: Porter.
Now he enjoys the sweet life he always deserved, no longer afraid of stepping inside a house.
His adoptive family had been considering adding a dog for some time. The moment they saw Boomer’s photo, they knew he was meant to be theirs.
“He was pretty comfortable as soon as he walked in. He was smiling, and his tail was wagging. You could tell he knew he was starting a new chapter,” Mike, Porter’s dad, told The Dodo.
Porter adjusted quickly, bringing happiness not only to himself but also to his family.
“We’re really excited for all the time we’re gonna have with him,” said Mike.
Porter now lives the life he always deserved. On his one-year “adoptaversary,” Porter’s mom shared a heartfelt Instagram post:
“🐾 ONE YEAR 🐾 Happy “Adoptaversary” to the sweetest boy who ever lived. It’s amazing how quickly a year goes. We can’t imagine life without you shadowing us (especially to the kitchen), herding us to the back door for a walk, and best of all your sweet snuggles.”
Follow Porter on his Instagram, @porterinthehaus, for more life updates and, of course, more adorable photos.
Check out Samantha and Street Life to the Sweet Life for more incredible rescue stories.