Abandoned or dumped at the Aspen Vista hiking trailhead, this boy – who some call Mountain Boy – spent weeks afraid and alone. People thought he was trying to find his owners by the way he approached each vehicle, only to dash off into the forest when he realized it wasn’t them.

Many people, including Monica, brought him food and tried to coax him to safety; finally, he was caught thanks to the dog-handling skills of Darlene Lily and others and taken to the shelter.

After a couple weeks working with the Behavior staff, he’s come out of his shell but is still quite shy. Recently, Monica, who says she can’t stop thinking about him, volunteered to take him into her home for extra TLC.

“He has such potential,” Monica said. “He has such a gentle spirit. He deserves someone who will be patient and very loving so that he’ll bond with them.”

She’ll be fostering him until a permanent home can be found. For those interested in learning more about him, call Monica at 505-982-9572. For information on fostering, email newhope@sfhumanesociety.org.