Rickey Henderson

In Their Forever Home

Their Journey So Far

1. Rescued

   July 17, 2026

   After weeks spent building The Comeback Pack from the ground up, we were finally ready for our very first rescue. We didn't ask for a specific breed, age, or color — we asked the shelter to introduce us to the longest resident with no applications. They brought us Louie: quiet, sweet, and almost hesitant, as if he couldn't quite believe we were there for him. We gave him a new name too — Rickey Henderson, after baseball's greatest leadoff hitter, because every great game begins with one opportunity. This is where the comeback begins.

2. His First Ride

   July 18, 2026

   This was his very first ride as a Comeback Pack dog — no more shelter kennel, no more waiting. Just a backseat, a smiling face beside him, and the beginning of a brand-new life.

3. Clean Bill of Health

   July 22, 2026

   Rickey had his wellness exam with Dr. O and got two paws up! This sweet boy was an overlooked long-timer at an overcrowded shelter before joining The Comeback Pack — now he's healthy, safe, and one step closer to finding the family he's been waiting for.

   

4. Home Sweet Home

   These days Rickey spends his time on the couch, soaking up all the love he missed out on for too long.

   

5. A Stay at the Pet Hotel

   August 5, 2026

   While the team was away, Rickey and his buddy Dumplin' spent a few days at Pawtriotic Pet Hotel — and the updates from the staff were the sweetest. This gentle boy loves to play and wrestle, but don't let the antics fool you: he's affectionate and gets along with just about everyone he meets.

   • Meet Pawtriotic Pet Hotel

6. Still Looking, Still Goofy

   August 20, 2026

   Rickey's making his case with a wrestling costume — but don't let the bandana fool you, he's a giant baby underneath. About 2 years old, house trained, crate trained, great with other dogs, and (unofficially) an experienced brewery dog. He'll take a treat, but he'd rather have a belly rub. The costume's even negotiable if you adopt him.

7. An Offer for the Overthinkers

   August 24, 2026

   Two amazing boys, zero applications. Neither Rickey nor his buddy Dumplin' had received a single adoption inquiry, so we tried something we don't normally offer: foster either of them for up to two weeks, or take either one home on a two-week trial adoption. Both options are free, both are short term, and both leave the door open to adopt if you realize you can't live without him. We'll even loan you a crate and other supplies to make it easy.

   • Read the full announcement

   

8. Two Weeks to Fall in Love

   August 26, 2026

   Ryan spent an afternoon with Rickey at Grey Iron Brewing Company, and by the end of it he was grinning ear to ear — proof that this dog has never met a stranger he couldn't win over. Rickey is still waiting for his own family, so we're trying something we don't normally offer: a two-week, no-pressure trial. Not sure you're ready to foster? Try Rickey for two weeks. Wondering how a new dog would fit into your household before you commit to adopting? Take him home on a two-week trial adoption instead. No big leap required — just two weeks to see if he fits your life the way he fit into Ryan's afternoon. And if you're already sure, he's still available for a full, permanent adoption too.

9. The Difference a Foster Home Makes

   September 1, 2026

   Put the dog we met at the shelter next to the dog in this video and it is hard to believe they are the same boy. Back then he was quiet and hesitant, the kind of dog people walk past. Now he is on a living room floor grinning through a round of snuggles, completely certain of the people around him. That change is not something we did — it is what a foster home does. The hard part is that he still has not found the family who gets to keep him. If you would like to put that kind of smile on a dog's face, apply to foster: we provide the supplies and the support, you provide the safe place to land.

   • Apply to foster

10. Rickey Has Left the Building!

    September 6, 2026

    Our very first Comeback Pack rescue has officially gone home on a trial adoption, and we are feeling all the feelings. This is an emotional one for us. Rickey Henderson was The Comeback Pack's very first rescue, and today he went home with someone who has been following his story for a long time and is excited to finally give him the chance he deserves. And Rickey already looks pretty darn happy about it. We don't typically offer trial adoptions. Moving from home to home can be disruptive for dogs, and we want adopters to understand that adoption is a commitment, not a test drive. But rescue also isn't one-size-fits-all. We know Rickey incredibly well. He's happy, stable, adaptable, and pretty much goes with the flow. His potential adopter is a first-time dog owner and understandably a little nervous, but she's also excited, committed to giving this a real try, and has been rooting for Rickey for a long time. In this case, taking some of the pressure off felt like the right thing to do. We also owe a huge thank-you to Rickey's most recent foster. When Rickey moved from our home to theirs, it opened a spot for us to save another dog who needed us. That's the magic of fostering. Now we wait and see. We really think this could be Rickey's forever home, and we're rooting so hard for them. If it is, we'll be over the moon. And if it isn't, Rickey always has a place with us, and we'll still be grateful that someone gave this wonderful boy a chance.

    

11. Making Himself at Home

    September 8, 2026

    A few photos of Rickey making himself at home during his trial adoption. So far, things are going great. He's just being such a good boy, and we're so proud of him.

    

12. Settling In and Testing the Rules

    September 17, 2026

    Rickey's trial adoption is going great. He's been a very good boy, and as he gets more comfortable in his new home, he's started testing the boundaries just a little — which is exactly what we'd expect from a dog who's settling in and feeling safe enough to figure out the rules. His new mom is patient, consistent, and doing an amazing job helping him adjust. It's still a trial, so we're not calling it official just yet, but we're feeling very optimistic. Keep being a good boy, Rickey — we think you may have found your person.

    

13. Today

    Rickey is home on a trial adoption, and we're rooting so hard for him and his new person. Here's to new beginnings, big adventures, and what we hope is the very best chapter of his Comeback yet.

    

14. It's Official!

    September 27, 2026

    The trial is over, the paperwork is done, and Rickey's forever officially begins today. Rickey spent the last few weeks settling in, learning the ropes, testing a boundary or two, and most importantly, learning that this is home. We're incredibly thankful to his adopter for her patience and her commitment, and for taking the time to really understand Rickey and make sure he has everything he needs to thrive. She didn't just give him a place to live — she committed to giving him the best life possible. There are no more trials, and no more wondering what comes next. Rickey is home. Forever.

    

Since Adoption

1. This Is Why We Rescue

   October 30, 2026

   Rescue is hard. Really hard sometimes. But stories like Rickey Henderson's make it all worth it, and we wanted to share this little win with you! Rickey was out of time at the shelter when he became The Comeback Pack's very first rescue. We named him after the legendary leadoff batter because he was ours! Rickey took a little time to find his person, but a wonderful woman named Thao had been following his story from the beginning and just couldn't stop thinking about him. She had very little dog experience, but she wanted to give him a chance. We're not going to lie. Those first few weeks were TOUGH. Rickey is a very good boy, but perhaps not the ideal "starter dog." Thao was anxious (okay, VERY anxious!) about whether she could give him everything he needed. But here's what makes this story so special. She didn't give up. She asked for help. She listened to our guidance and actually put it into practice. If you're in rescue, you know what a treasure that is! We also connected her with our wonderful training partner, Better Together Dog Training, where Rickey has been making fantastic progress with Juli. We get regular updates, and today's was the perfect way to end our week. A huge thank you to the shelter staff who loved Rickey and advocated for him, our incredible team and donors, his amazing foster dad who set him up for success, and Juli for helping Rickey and Thao thrive together. And most of all, thank you to Thao for choosing to work through the hard parts instead of looking for the easy button. To all of our wonderful adopters who show that same patience, commitment, and love, thank you. Just when we start to lose a little faith, we're reminded that there are so many good people out there who truly get it. Rickey was our very first comeback, and watching him thrive is everything.