When Ali Tisdall first met a gentle pup named Scarlett, she had no idea how much this sweet dog would come to mean to her.
Scarlett showed up in Tisdall’s neighborhood in Spring Creek Township, North Carolina. She wore a collar and wandered around as though searching for someone.
A neighbor eventually brought the pup to Tisdall’s home, assuming she might belong to her.
The Tisdall family immediately felt compelled to help.
As they stroked her, Scarlett’s face lit up with a wide smile, happy to have found such kind humans.
Discovering Scarlett’s Story
The family gave Scarlett a bath and showered her with attention.
The children couldn’t stop petting her, and Scarlett basked in their affection, smiling with joy.
They decided to care for her over the weekend and have her scanned for a microchip afterward.
From the moment Scarlett stepped inside their home, she relaxed. She lay down on the floor, finally feeling safe.
The sweet pup quickly won everyone’s hearts, and the family grew attached to her over the weekend.
On Monday, they took Scarlett to the vet, where she was scanned and revealed to have an owner.
After speaking with him, Tisdall learned that he adored Scarlett deeply. He had rescued her years earlier and given her a home.
However, Scarlett lived outdoors with three other dogs because some family members had allergies.
After her dad’s job change, he spent less time at home, and Scarlett developed separation anxiety.
Missing her favorite human, Scarlett began running away to look for him.
“Ever since he’d switched jobs, she’d been escaping from their fenced land and running down the highway. They tried all kinds of fencing solutions but none held her in,” Tisdall wrote in an Instagram post.
A Heart-Wrenching Decision
Tisdall understood that Scarlett’s dad cared for her deeply.
Both of them worried about Scarlett’s safety, so Tisdall offered to rehome her.
Her owner took her home and promised to consider the idea.
The Tisdall family missed Scarlett dearly, already wishing she could stay with them.
The very next morning, her owner called. Putting Scarlett’s well-being first, he made the difficult decision to accept Tisdall’s offer and surrender her.
The Tisdalls were overjoyed when Scarlett moved in permanently. They showered her with the love and attention she craved.
Scarlett thrived indoors, soaking up affection from her new family.
Yet her anxiety didn’t vanish overnight. She often tried to escape, as running had become her way of coping.
Her family understood and patiently worked with her.
Scarlett’s New Beginning
After researching ways to ease her anxiety, Tisdall began taking Scarlett for morning runs.
The pup loved the routine, and it helped her feel calm.
Her husband also took her hiking, and the family included her in everything they did.
Gradually, Scarlett blossomed into a joyful, content dog.
Tisdall, who also struggles with anxiety, formed a deep connection with her.
“I describe myself as both even keeled and someone with anxiety. So there’s a deep connection there I actually haven’t felt with any other dog. And growing up I never really saw it as something that I could lean into as almost like a huge part of me. And Scarlett made me realize that it’s okay to open your heart,” Tisdall told Cuddle Buddies.
Now Scarlett lives her best life in North Carolina, loved and understood beyond measure. She enjoys adventures with her parents and the children who absolutely adore her.