A badly traumatized puppy rescued after flooding in Bali is now living with Bianca Polizzi and her boyfriend, Logan Collins, after a local animal rescue asked the couple to foster him in September.

Polizzi and Collins agreed to take the dog into their home when contacted by the animal rescue, initially calling him Butter before renaming him Peanut as he settled in. The request came amid efforts to rehouse animals after severe flooding strained local shelters, a situation similar to what has been documented in major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, when large numbers of animals required rescue and rehoming.

On the first day at their home, Peanut ran and hid in the bushes at the bottom of Polizzi’s garden and refused to come out. Polizzi described the puppy as ‘small and scared’ and said he had been left without fur when found. Dogs like Peanut, exposed to trauma from abandonment or adverse early-life experiences, may develop long-lasting psychological effects such as changes in behavior, anxiety, or fearfulness.

‘‘He had been abandoned in a wilderness area with his siblings. That’s where he was found,’’ said Bianca Polizzi, foster dog owner, describing the scene that shaped the puppy’s early reactions to people and new places. Peanut’s journey to recovery is not just about regaining physical health; understanding trauma’s impact on his mental state is key to his rehabilitation.

Polizzi says the couple’s patience over the following days and weeks helped Peanut begin to accept human contact. His hair has now grown back, and he is comfortable being picked up by Polizzi and Collins, though he still seeks cover in the garden at times.

Polizzi linked that hiding behaviour to a memory of the place where he and his siblings once stayed. ‘‘It reminds him of when he was a puppy with his siblings,’’ she said, explaining why Peanut repeatedly retreats to bushes or the low corners of the yard. This instinctual behavior highlights the importance of providing a safe space for traumatized dogs.

She added, ‘‘We knew that we couldn’t give him back because of how scared he was; we just couldn’t possibly imagine having him go through any more trauma than he’s already been through.’’ Polizzi signed on to foster and ultimately to keep the dog as he adjusted to domestic life. The couple’s commitment reflects a larger need for fostering and adoption, as many animals are still in distress and require loving homes.

Polizzi has shared videos and updates of Peanut’s progress, and she said the positive response has been uplifting. ‘‘There are so many dogs that need to be fostered or adopted and have so much love to give,’’ she said. Community involvement is crucial; individuals can support local shelters through volunteering, donations, or fostering, which helps free up space for more animals in need.

Peanut’s rehabilitation is ongoing under Polizzi and Collins’s care. The couple say they intend to continue building his confidence and providing a stable home after the trauma he experienced in the wild and during the floods. Their efforts are a testament to the significant role that foster homes play in the recovery of rescue animals.

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Original reporting: view the original article.