When Balto first arrived at the Austin Animal Center, he was in bad shape. A severe wound to his left eye was causing him significant pain, and it was clear he needed immediate help. Austin Pets Alive! stepped in, providing the specialized care he needed. Although it was a tough road, they were able to save his eye and set him on the path to physical recovery.
While Balto’s body healed, his emotional scars lingered. The trauma he’d endured left him with severe separation anxiety, making life in the shelter challenging.
“He spent about eight months in the shelter,” Luis Sanchez, director of public relations and communications at Austin Pets Alive!, told The Dodo. “He was lovable, energetic, and often overlooked simply because he was a husky with separation anxiety. After a short-lived sleepover stay, he ended up back at the shelter, where he became incredibly stressed and started chewing at his kennel. That’s when I called my wife and told her I’d probably be bringing a dog home later that day.”
Before Sanchez could finalize his decision, an email from a family in New Braunfels changed everything. They were looking for a husky who was good with kids. Eager to see if Balto was the right fit, Sanchez drove an hour to visit the family.
The connection was immediate. Balto quickly charmed his potential new family, especially their young daughter, who took his leash and began giving him a tour of their home. “This is my room; this is my parents' room,” she said, proudly introducing him to his new life.
That same day, the adoption was made official, and Balto left his stressful shelter days behind.
Now thriving in his new home, Balto has formed an unbreakable bond with his little sister, staying by her side every chance he gets. After months of waiting, Balto’s story has the happy ending he deserved — and it couldn’t be more perfect.
