Tanner was not in bad shape, but the dog he was with, Lucky, was emaciated and had numbers shaved into his fur. The shelter instantly knew they were hunting dogs, as it’s common for hunting dogs to be dumped in South Carolina. Specifically, this is because it is legal to abandon hunting dogs in the state. South Carolina is the only state where it is legal to abandon hunting dogs, and the shelter mentioned that it is not uncommon to see people travel from Georgia to legally abandon their hunting dogs in South Carolina. Coming into the shelter, Tanner was very scared and antisocial, due to not having much experience with people. After being rescued, Tanner had bladder stones, an eye infection, and worms. Medical issues are unfortunately common for abandoned dogs, as the dogs are exposed to several vectors when abandoned in a rural area.

It took a while for Tanner to trust humans. When first adopted, Tanner would cower when a toy was thrown at him, thinking someone was trying to hurt him. Over time, Tanner learned how to trust humans and maybe even enjoy their presence. As a former hunting dog, Tanner has not had any experience having a human as a caretaker, so becoming a companion has taken major adjusting. After almost a year of being adopted, Tanner is unrecognizable from the dog he was when he was picked up on the side of the road. He’s enjoying being a companion animal and getting all the love and attention in the world.