Adopted: Tara

Tara’s Transformation: From Fearful to Family Dog in Just Weeks

📍 Michigan | 🎂 5 years old | ⚖️ 79 lbs

Meet Tara — lovingly called Hayleigh by her foster family — a 6-year-old, 79-pound Bernese Mountain Dog rescued from an Amish breeder. In just a few short weeks, Tara has made incredible progress as she learns what it means to be safe, loved, and part of a family.

When she first arrived, Tara was timid and unsure, nervous about her new surroundings and hesitant to trust. But little by little, her sweet personality began to shine. Now she gently seeks out pets, settles peacefully near her people, and loves to play chase with her foster siblings in the yard. She absolutely adores the 10-year-old in her foster home and gravitated to him right away — he’s her safe space. 🥹

Tara would thrive in a home with another confident dog to help guide her, and older children who can continue showing her that the world isn’t so scary. She’s mostly house-trained (as long as you’re paying attention to her cues), and while she doesn’t love her crate, she goes in willingly and rests quietly once inside. She may also do well free-roaming in a safe, dog-proofed space.

Leash walking and stairs are still a challenge, but she’s working on both. Going up is no problem, but going down longer flights of stairs is still tough, and she needs to be carried. She does fine with short flights, like the 3 steps off the deck at her foster home.

Tara is a quiet, gentle girl with a heart that’s slowly healing. She’s looking for a patient home that will meet her where she is, celebrate each little victory, and surround her with the love she’s just beginning to believe she deserves. 💛