Tank once had a family he adored. He believed he had found his forever home, but everything changed when his owners surrendered him to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter on Long Island, New York.
They explained that their other two dogs didn’t get along with him. For Tank, losing the people he loved shattered his world.
When he entered the shelter, his heart sank. He curled up in the corner of his kennel, too devastated to face anyone. Tank longed for his family, holding onto the hope that they might return for him.
Waiting For His Owner
Every time footsteps approached, Tank’s ears perked up and his eyes filled with hope. He would rush to the door, convinced his family had come back.
“Anytime you would come to the door, he’d kind of get perked up and be like, ‘Oh my God, is it my owner?’ And it’s just so heartbreaking to see him get let down,” Presley, a shelter staff member, told Cuddle Buddies.
When Tank realized it wasn’t them, he would lower his head and retreat to the corner of his kennel.
The staff tried to cheer him up and coax him outside, but Tank resisted. His trust was broken, and he guarded his heart from more pain.
When Presley heard from a co-worker that Tank refused to go on walks, she decided to meet him herself.
Seeing Tank trembling with fear in his kennel broke her heart. She spoke gently, encouraging him to come closer, but he wouldn’t budge.
Still, Presley refused to give up. She kept talking to him, offering him treats, showing him that she cared. Eventually, Tank took a chance—and agreed to walk with her.
Tank Opens His Heart To Love
The moment they stepped outside together, everything began to change. Tank relaxed and started trusting again.
“He turned into a completely different dog. He was so affectionate,” Presley said.
That first walk became a turning point. From then on, Tank eagerly waited for Presley to visit, showering her with kisses and climbing into her lap whenever she came by.
Tank’s heart craved affection. Soon, he also bonded with Paige, another kind volunteer who earned his trust.
When Presley took him on his very first foster field trip, Tank was overjoyed. Free from the shelter, he wagged his tail nonstop and smiled the entire time.
Presley loved seeing him so happy and relaxed. She hopes that future adopters will be patient with Tank, visiting him a few times to let him build trust.
Tank still waits at the Hempstead shelter for a family who will finally give him the love he’s been missing. He’s ready to give his whole heart to the right people.
This sweet Pittie deserves a second chance—and hopefully, soon, he’ll find humans who will never let him down again.