After 4 Years in a Crate, Cardi Is Still Waiting for Her First Real Home
In September 2023, Cartier — lovingly called Cardi — was surrendered to a New York City shelter after her family decided they no longer had time for her. For most of her life, Cardi had been kept inside a crate. The confinement left her with deep anxiety and robbed her of the chance to just be a dog.
Thankfully, Rebound Hounds stepped in, and Cardi soon found a foster mom who truly understood her struggles. Living with Katy Brink, executive editor at The Dodo, and her husband, Collin, Cardi finally experienced compassion. Katy herself has battled anxiety and knew exactly what it meant to have someone meet you with patience instead of judgment.
A sweet soul who just wants peace
Cardi has made incredible progress. She’s learning to stay calm when she passes dogs on walks and is no longer haunted by separation anxiety. But in a home with two other dogs, she can’t fully relax. Cardi longs for a quiet, stable home where she can be the only dog, free to roam and snuggle without worry.
“She spent her first 4 years in a crate, so everything is new to her and can feel scary,” Katy explained. “But she’s working so hard to overcome her anxiety. She’s sensitive, special, and all she wants is a person to call her own.”
More than her anxiety
Cardi is not defined by her past or her fears. She’s goofy, empathetic, and full of personality. She zooms around the kitchen, plays with toys while lying on her back, and loves nothing more than curling up on the couch after a long walk. She’s a true Velcro dog, loyal to the core, who will follow her person everywhere.
“The dogs who nobody wants,” Katy said, “are the dogs who create the most joy.”
Still waiting after a year
For more than a year, Cardi has been patiently waiting for someone to see her for who she really is — a resilient, loving dog with so much to give. This holiday season, her only wish is to find a forever home where she’ll finally be loved unconditionally.
Because after everything Cardi has endured, she deserves nothing less.