Adri and her partner were on a drive to their Georgia home when they unexpectedly came across a Beagle crossing the road.
Alarmed for the dog's safety, they didn't hesitate to stop the car and come to her aid. Holding the scared and visibly upset dog in their arms, they felt a deep sense of compassion and knew they had to help her.
Adri gently comforted the little Beagle, promising her that she was safe now.
Without a second thought, they brought her home with them.
They hoped to find the dog's family, given she had no collar or microchip.
The couple reached out to shelters and posted online, but no one came forward.
The poor pup was so terrified that she wouldn't even make eye contact, always keeping her tail between her legs.
Adri was especially saddened to see the dog, whom they named Mocha, hiding under furniture, overwhelmed by her new surroundings.
"It was pretty clear to us from the start that she wasn't used to being inside a house. [She] wasn't really used to human interaction either," Adri shared with The Dodo.
Adri and her partner took it slow with Mocha, feeding her by hand to build trust.
Worried that Mocha might have puppies somewhere, they even returned to where they found her to look for them, but there were no puppies to be found.
The sad realization hit them that Mocha might have been abandoned after having puppies, leaving her all alone in the world.
Introducing Mocha to their other rescue dogs marked a turning point.
The dogs accepted Mocha and played with her, showing her how to enjoy life as a dog.
Mocha was still wary of Adri, so Adri found a way to interact with her through a glass patio door.
At first, Adri encouraged Mocha to approach by placing her hand on the glass and calling her over.
When the other dogs responded, Mocha followed.
She felt safer interacting through the barrier, but would still run away if the door opened.
Gradually, Adri extended her hand out the door, and Mocha responded with gentle kisses, a sign of growing trust.
Four weeks later, a breakthrough: Mocha approached Adri of her own accord and sat beside her.
"The first time that she sat next to me and just sat, she wasn't looking for an escape route. I didn't have any treats to offer her."
"I could tell her eyes were kind of darting, but she just sat there with me," Adri recounted.
The couple continued to nurture Mocha with love and patience, slowly watching her fears fade away.
"And since then, we've made huge progress, where she'll climb on my lap and let me pet her all over. Seeing that transformation is - it makes every bit of the effort worth it," Adri reflected.
Initially planning to find Mocha a new home, they soon realized she was already in her forever home with them in Georgia.
Mocha's story is a heartwarming reminder of the incredible bond and healing that can happen with love and patience.
We're so glad Mocha has found her happy place.
