Meet Ace

About Ace

Ace came to HUA in 2018. From the very beginning of his life it was clear that something was amiss. As a very young puppy he became inexplicably aggressive, and his family, who had no idea how to handle such behavior, brought him to a rescue organization.  The people in that rescue discovered that Ace was completely intolerant of humans. His one mission was to attack. He terrorized his foster family so badly that he was eventually sent to a boarding facility for specialized training. His time there did nothing to improve Ace’s behavior.

In short, everything humanly possible had been done to help Ace acclimate to a more peaceful life, but this emotionally damaged dog just could not control his intense fear, which led to such serious aggression. As a last ditch effort, Ace came to Hearts United for Animals.

When he arrived, Ace could not and would not be touched without lashing out in fury. His resource guarding with food was unlike anything we had ever seen. Over time, though, Ace learned his routine at HUA and with structure and expectations set for him, his guarding greatly diminished. It still rears its ugly head now and again, but Ace and his caregivers have come to an understanding–they won’t take his food away and he will not lash out at them.

Ace has learned to tolerate a muzzle for grooming and vet visits, making it easier for humans to give him the care he needs. Ace feels safe at HUA and he cherishes his life of routine, He has a wonderfully cozy dog bed, piled high with stuffed toys, and he loves long walks on his leash.

For the people he knows and trusts Ace will perform adorable tricks–he howls and sings, and does funny little dances when his favorite friends visit. There are even a very select few who are allowed to give him a quick pat on the head. Ace may never snuggle in a lap or enjoy a belly rub, but this Sanctuary Sweetheart knows we love him just the same.