Cookie the Fairhaven Shelter Dog Finds Hope Through Training

Cookie spent months watching families walk past her kennel, but a volunteer determined to help the dog find her home recently stepped onto the training floor with the tail-wagging pit bull mix.

With a few treats and a lot of patience, shelter volunteer Karen Furtado is helping Cookie’s journey toward adoption take on a new direction.

At the Fairhaven Animal Shelter, Animal Control Officer Kelsey Figueiredo oversees volunteers who care for dogs, cats, and small animals, including rabbits. Since February 2025, Cookie, a spayed female dog weighing just under 60 pounds, has been with the shelter.

Why Cookie Struggled to Get Noticed

Living at the shelter for months is not ideal for any pet. For Cookie, one possible barrier to adoption is that meeting her through a kennel hides her best qualities, Furtado explained.

How Volunteer Training Is Changing Everything

Furtado, who has been volunteering at the shelter since the spring, said volunteers have been working together to help Cookie feel comfortable and safe, as well as to help her improve her manners.

“With a lot of love and understanding from all the volunteers, she melted and showed us a different side of herself,” Furtado said.

She explained that Cookie wasn’t easy at first and can be excitable in her kennel.

“Leash walking is a must,” said Furtado, who is already starting to practice leash walks with Cookie.

Cookie’s Progress at MJ’s Pet Training Academy

Last week, Furtado brought Cookie in for a training evaluation to determine the next steps for her. She quickly warmed up at the training facility, inviting belly rubs and she was unfazed by distractions during a busy day. Cookie practiced a bit of leash walking, had her photo taken, and even stepped onto the skateboard, which is a popular trick at MJ’s Pet Training Academy, where Furtado has trained her own dogs.

After her initial evaluation, which included discussing equipment, goals, and getting to know Cookie, she was approved for Level One Manners classes, where dogs and handlers work on obedience and everyday skills. She might also enjoy scent work or Trickovation for added mental stimulation.

READ MORE: Wet Nose Wednesday: Tips and Tricks for Training Your Dog

Dogs in training are evaluated regularly as behavior can change for many reasons, and potential adopters are encouraged to speak directly with the shelter team to learn more about Cookie’s behavior.

What Adopters Should Know About Cookie

As Furtado and all of the volunteers at the Fairhaven Animal Shelter continue working with Cookie, they encourage potential adopters to reach out and learn more about whether she might be a good fit.

Furtado shared a bit of advice for anyone adopting a dog.

“Please be patient with them,” she said, noting it can take weeks for dogs to feel safe in their new homes. “With patience and understanding, your new pet will become a new family member.”

To learn more about Cookie and all of the other adoptable pets at the Fairhaven Animal Shelter, visit the shelter’s Facebook page.

Melissa Viera is the owner of MJ's Pet Training Academy in Acushnet.