Shutting down from the world
In a video that went viral, he can be seen pressing himself into the corners of his kennel, head down, trying to blend in with the concrete.
This behaviour, which specialists call 'shutting down', is an extreme response to trauma. For Joe, the noisy and stressful shelter environment had become a constant sensory assault. By hiding in the corners, he was simply looking for a place where the world couldn't reach him anymore.
A foster family offers a glimmer of hope
Fortunately for Joe, his silent cry for help was heard. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers and staff, the dog was able to leave the overwhelming shelter environment and move to a temporary foster home.
Although he was still very defensive at first, he began to relax thanks to the presence of another dog.
"He doesn't rush Joe. He doesn't overwhelm him. He's just there, quietly, in the way that matters," shared Vivian Powers, a volunteer at the shelter, with The Dodo.
As luck would have it, a family who discovered Joe's story on social media immediately fell for him.
Joe was therefore placed in a temporary home until he is ready for his forever home.
