Pepper used an anxiety relief jacket to help him relax at HSHV.

Photos by Ann Edwards, HSHV Foster Coordinator

Pepper, a 2-year-old Shepherd mix, is a dog who was nervous and could not settle in when he arrived as a stray. He was already on edge because he was wandering outside in the cold, hungry and lost.

He couldn’t tell us the anguish he felt but we could see the signs of confusion and fear. Pepper is not a mean dog at all, just nervous of his surroundings.

After a medical evaluation by our shelter veterinarian it was also determined that Pepper was heartworm positive — another stoke of bad luck for this homeless dog.

Think about how it must feel as a pet to end up in an animal shelter. The lights, noises and, most certainly, smells are all very strange, and the adjustment is almost impossible to make without a period of time.

When a stray comes into the Humane Society of Huron Valley, we pay attention to its behavior and watch for signs of stress. Many animals will relax within two or three days, but, for some like Pepper, the new environment is just too overwhelming. For those pets we do have options.

Pepper’s treatment:

• TTouch - The Humane Society of Huron Valley is lucky enough to have wonderful volunteers and some with amazing training and skills. Manuela Hejna, from The Center for Animal Training, LLC, comes to the shelter to offer stressed pets an alternative treatment know as TTouch. The Tellington TTouch is a specialized approach to the care and training of our animal companions. Developed by internationally recognized animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones, this method based on cooperation and respect offers a positive approach to training, can improve performance and health, and presents solutions to common behavioral and physical problems. It also helps establish a deeper rapport between humans and animals through understanding and more effective communication.


• Anxiety Relief Jacket - This dog stress relief coat works by applying a constant soothing pressure to the dog’s torso. Although scientifically it is unclear exactly why this works, it is now widely recognized that in many animals and humans pressure can be used to relax, alleviate tension and reduce stress. An example of one is called the Thundershirt.


• Foster Home Care - Our foster home coordinator found a quiet home for Pepper with the option of adopting him right from the foster home.


• Medical Treatment - Pepper is undergoing heartworm treatment and he is expected to make a full recovery.

All adoptable pets including those with special needs, behavioral or medical, are treated with care and love at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Our programs are innovative and we remain open to new studies and therapies that can help all animals.

While all of the options we have at our disposal are great and will go a long way to helping dogs like Pepper, nothing can replace the day-to-day care and a love of a family.

Pepper is doing much better in his foster home and he is available for adoption now. It’s easy to arrange a visit with this friendly and affectionate Shepherd mix. Email fosters@hshv.org.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving all of Washtenaw County, Canton, and Plymouth, and relies solely on donations from businesses and individuals to support our community programs. The mission of HSHV is to promote responsible and compassionate care of all animals in our community. For more information, call 734-662-5585 or visit www.hshv.org.

Deborah Kern is the Marketing Director at the Humane Society of Huron Valley and can be reached at 734-661-3527 or deb@hshv.org.