It is amazing how a single moment can reveal just how overwhelmed an animal feels. That was the case for Toby, a senior dog who arrived at the Maui Humane Society and immediately tried to disappear into the smallest corner of his kennel. What looked like an empty space at first glance turned out to be a frightened dog pressed tightly behind his bed, doing his best to hide from a world that suddenly felt too loud and too confusing.
A Frightened Beginning
Nearly a year earlier, volunteer Cassondra Christman was walking through the shelter when she spotted the empty looking kennel. When she stepped inside, she noticed Toby curled up behind the bed, scared and unsure what to expect. He had been found as a stray in Haiku, covered in scratches and dirt, and no one knew how long he had been on his own.
Toby was thought to be around five years old. He was also vision impaired, which was immediately noticeable from the unusual way his eyes looked. On top of that, he had slight hearing loss. The combination made the shelter environment especially difficult to navigate. New sounds, new people, and new routines were overwhelming for him, and his body language showed just how lost he felt.
Why Shelters Can Be Overwhelming For Dogs
Shelters can be stressful places for any dog, especially during those first days. Research published in the journal Physiology and Behavior found that dogs often show elevated cortisol levels during the first three days after arriving. Cortisol is commonly associated with stress responses. The study noted that levels tend to decrease by day nine, but those initial days can be remarkably challenging.
For Toby, the adjustment was even harder. A month into his stay, staff learned he also had a heart murmur. Thankfully, it was treatable with medication, but it added another layer to his care. What he needed most was a calm, patient person who could give him a safe place to recover and feel secure.
A Foster Home That Changed Everything
That person turned out to be Andrea, a foster who stepped in and offered Toby a peaceful environment. In her care, he began to reveal who he was beyond the fear. He enjoyed gentle walks, quiet companionship, and long sessions curled up together. Yet even as he improved, adoption interest stayed low. Every Saturday, Andrea brought him to adoption events, hoping someone would see what she saw, but Toby’s shyness made it difficult for him to stand out. He often curled up in a corner or rested on a chair, while adopters tended to look for more outgoing dogs.
His age, his disabilities, and his unique appearance may have caused some people to overlook him. Still, Christman believed that someone out there would connect with Toby’s story, so she created a TikTok video on her account, @cassondrachristman. That video was viewed over 394,000 times, and it finally brought Toby the attention he needed.
A New Beginning At Last
The outcome was exactly what everyone hoped for. A family saw the video and wanted to adopt him. Now Toby is preparing to fly from Hawaii to the west coast, where a new forever home is waiting for him. The dog who once hid behind his bed will soon be resting in one of his very own, surrounded by people who appreciate his gentle nature.
Toby’s journey shows how patience, compassion, and a bit of visibility can completely change a senior dog’s future. With the right support, even the most frightened animals can rediscover safety and trust.
