Shelter volunteer says surrendered dog is a ‘people pleaser’ in need of a good home

FARGO — Darian Slama, a volunteer with the Homeward Animal Shelter in Fargo, has fostered dogs since 2021.

“I take in old dogs, little dogs, pregnant dogs; we’ve had three litters here,” Slama said. Her longest foster stay was eight months, and her shortest was just 12 hours.

Two years ago she took in three 8-week-old siblings named Reese’s, Butterfinger and Hershey.

Contributed / Darian Slama

A friend of Slama’s adopted Reese’s first, so she still gets to see him. Butterfinger, the girl, went next. Hershey was in foster care for 2 weeks before a West Fargo family adopted him.

This winter, Slama got a call on Hershey’s second birthday letting her know the the family planned to surrender him because they didn’t have time for him any longer.

Chris Flynn / The Forum

Slama said when they picked Hershey up, they could see his ribs and his hips sticking out.

“He was shut down and wouldn’t come out of the kennel,” she said.

But once she got him to her house, he bolted out of the vehicle.

Slama said it took him a couple of days to adjust, but soon he was eating again. And he made friends with Slama’s dogs and her boyfriend’s kids and dogs.

“That’s always a worry when you bring a dog in with other dogs and kids,” she said.

Chris Flynn / The Forum

Hershey is kennel-trained, but he can also wander free in her home without supervision. He’s not destructive.

Hershey is an active dog. Slama said that the people who initially adopted him had a small yard. When she let him out into her large backyard, he ran in circles for 10 minutes. They put a tracker on him that shows since he returned to Slama’s, he’s put on more than 500 miles. In one day, just by going on walks and running around the backyard, he tracked 26 miles.

Chris Flynn / The Forum

“He’s very active. We had to switch him to puppy food because he wasn’t putting on weight,” Slama said. “I thought maybe it was because they weren’t feeding him as much, but I also think it’s because he’s active.” Slama said whoever adopts Hershey should have a fenced backyard for him to run, be active themselves, and take him for plenty of walks.

After being in foster for 6 weeks with Slama, Hershey was adopted, But he was surrendered after only a few days and is now back at her home.

Chris Flynn / The Forum

“I think if anyone adopts him, they’ll be very lucky. He’s very loyal. He knows what you want. He’s a good, pleasing dog; he wants to please people,” Slama said. “He loves to be with others. He’s a good companion with kids and dogs.”

“It’s a sense of joy with these dogs,” Slama continued. “If I could do it, I’d get a bigger house and just have a billion dogs, but Hershey’s great.”

For information about Hershey or to consider fostering or adopting, contact the Homeward Animal Shelter by phone at 701-239-0077 or email at info@homewardonline.org.