BANKS has already come so far from the scared, starving girl we first met. When she came to us, we were already beyond capacity, but there was no way we could leave her behind. A local bank had been trying to feed her, but she was too scared and shut down to trust anyone. The day we picked her up, we took her straight to the vet. She wouldn’t even go near the clinic door, so we sat outside together instead — giving her love, patience, and trying to figure out how to help her feel safe again. At just 40 pounds, heartworm positive, and covered in fleas, BANKS was in rough shape. We immediately started treatment for her heartworms and fleas and focused on helping her regain her strength. Surprisingly, despite being so underweight, she’s actually a little picky about food. This girl definitely knows what she likes! And once you get to know her, it’s impossible not to fall in love. BANKS is incredibly sweet, gentle, and deeply loyal to the people she trusts. She does well with the other rescue dogs in her foster home, but she would truly thrive as the center of someone’s world. She loves going on walks and has recently started doing the cutest little “skip” when she gets excited. She insists that her buddy Jack join her for walks, and she never misses the chance to stop, look into your eyes, and give the biggest hugs imaginable. She also absolutely loves having her hair brushed. She’s still learning that homes and buildings can be safe places. Going inside is scary for her, but once she makes it in, she quietly lays on her bed and relaxes. Every single day she gets a little braver. BANKS doesn’t need perfection — she just needs someone patient enough to continue showing her that she’s finally safe, loved, and home.