Rescue Dog Klaus Thrives With Old Dominion Humane Society Fosters After Heartbreaking Past
- Lenora Kruk - Mullanaphy
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Chrissy Hamilton, Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) founder, rescued the scared dog from a heartbreaking hoarding case in Patrick County, Va., in June. No stranger to rescuing dogs from neglect, mistreatment and hoarding cases, it was one of the worst scenes she’s witnessed. Hamilton’s heart went out to Klaus, the cream-colored dog, who made a hole in his crate in an effort to set himself free. Dozens of dogs were abandoned on the property, where they lived outside in 90-degree temperatures with no food and barely any water. ODHS and several other groups transported the dogs to rescue facilities to get care and examinations until being adopted.
Two-year-old Klaus was one of 14 dogs taken from the site and brought to ODHS to begin the next chapter in his life. This chapter would be filled with the things Klaus deserved all along, such as going on walks, enjoying meals and tasting cold water that would always be available to him. For the first time in his life, he’d feel the touch of a loving hand and gentle voices that would calm the frightened dog.
Klaus also arrived with scars on the outside—some old wounds and missing bits of his ears--from his rough past. As these have healed, so has his spirit, which is kind and hopeful.
The patience and dedication of fosters Stephanie Kahrs and Will Kuchinski, of Fredericksburg, is helping Klaus experience the pleasures of life while preparing him for a future with a loving family. Klaus is slowly becoming the fun-loving, sweet dog he’s now free to be.
“We have a soft spot for the scared, shy and shut-down dogs,” said Kahrs. “When we first took Klaus home, he wouldn’t make any eye contact. He’d try to hide under anything and everything, and he’d flail around, refusing to walk on a leash. He wouldn’t come out of his crate on his own, because he was so terrified.”
Everything was brand new to him, including the comforts of home and the friendly voices that spoke to him. It appeared he’d never been inside a house before.
In just four months, Kahrs and Kuchinski have seen big changes in the dog. He’s become their shadow, following them around the house and always wanting to be near them.
“He loves coming up to us to give kisses,” said Kahrs. “Klaus also likes to relax on the couch with us. His confidence has grown, and now he enjoys his walks and wags his tail when we pick up the leash.”
Where he had to have two leashes to ensure he didn’t run away upon his arrival to ODHS, Klaus now has the customary single leash. Instead of running away from humans, he runs toward his fosters to explore the outdoors on walks with them.
The couple has invested a lot of time getting Klaus to this point. They give him the space to decompress and figure out his new surroundings on his own terms, as well as providing a routine to help him learn what to expect and be less stressed.
“Klaus has come a long way and still has more to learn, but we have no doubt that he’ll continue to blossom with additional time and care,” said Kahrs.
Despite his sad past, Klaus is affectionate, sweet and curious about the world around him. He gets along with other dogs, takes treats gently, keeps a clean crate and likes to give kisses. Taking walks and riding in the car are favorite pastimes for the pup.
Kahrs and Kuchinski have volunteered for ODHS for nearly three years. They started by taking weekly Sunday hikes after their elderly rescue dog, Scully, passed away. From there, they began fostering dogs--Klaus is their 20th foster. The couple’s wish is for the resilient rescue to be adopted so they can continue helping more dogs like him.
