The Cannon family’s favorite PAWS story doesn’t begin with a perfect meet and greet…it begins with a bulldog named Goose. Before coming into PAWS’ care, a dog named Business Bear had been left outside of the city shelter. Like so many animals who arrive at PAWS, his story was about to change thanks to the compassion of a foster home and the dedication of staff determined to find him the right match.

When Jennifer Cannon first learned about Business Bear, she and her husband Robert hoped he might be the perfect addition to their family. They scheduled a meet and greet at PAWS’ Grays Ferry clinic and arrived with their son and their two resident dogs, Stitch and Dunkin, ready to see if the dogs would get along. Unfortunately, the first meeting did not go as planned. Between the cold winter weather, the busy parking lot, and the excitement of multiple dogs meeting for the first time, the environment proved overwhelming for everyone. After the meet, Jennifer worried the match simply was not meant to be.

But the PAWS team saw potential and believed the dogs deserved another chance in a calmer setting. Instead of writing the potential match off after one difficult meeting, staff worked with the foster parent and the Cannons to arrange a second meet and greet at the foster’s home, where the dogs could interact in a quieter and more relaxed environment.

The difference was immediate. With space to explore and fewer distractions, the dogs were able to meet at their own pace. They sniffed around the yard, walked together, and gradually grew more comfortable with one another. Within an hour, it was clear that Business Bear had found his people. He went home that day with the Cannon family, where he was given a new name: Goose.

“Your staff and his foster could have easily written us off and moved on,” Jennifer shared. “But you didn’t…and my husband now calls Goose the dog he never knew he needed!”

Goose is now a beloved member of the Cannon family and a reminder that sometimes the right match simply takes a little patience. Finding the right home for every animal is not always instant, but with dedicated staff, compassionate fosters, and families willing to open their hearts, extraordinary outcomes are possible. Happy tails, Goose!

Do you have a PAWS story to tell? We’d love to hear it! Please share it here.

Goose, Dunkin, and Stitch all relaxing by the warmth of the fire