PARMA, Ohio — Tahoe's wagging tail thumping side to side is an unmistakable sign of his happy new life.
The 3-year-old tan and white colored cattle dog/husky mix has come a long way from just nine months ago, when he was among 36 dogs found in horrific conditions inside a Parma.
For Tahoe's mom, Tammy Pakis, adopting the affectionate pup has given her a second chance, too.
"I just love this guy, and I really thought that I was doing the right thing for him," Pakis says.
Two years ago, Pakis adopted Tahoe from area animal rescue group Canine Lifeline, but his severe anxiety coupled with her health issues led to a difficult decision: to return Tahoe to the rescue group, whose founder, Barbara Wible, assured her that Tahoe would be fine.
"She was going to try to find him a home on a farm, or something like that," Pakis recalled.
However, some time later, Wible and her rescue group descended into unimaginable abuse.
Last June, Portage County authorities discovered the decomposing remains of 146 dogs in and around Wible's home in Mantua. Most of the dogs had been locked up in cages and had been starved to death.
When law enforcement was alerted to a second home that Wible owned in Parma, animal control officers discovered another 36 dogs inside. Twenty-four dogs had managed to survive, according to the latest tally by the Parma Animal Shelter. Officials estimated that the surviving dogs had been without food or fresh water since March.
"I was literally sick," Pakis said of hearing he news. "I was physically ill over the fact that I had taken him back to a situation that I had no idea."
But then, she learned Tahoe was alive. When she and her significant other arrived at the Parma Animal Shelter to see him, "He immediately recognized us, and he is just such an affectionate dog."
The surviving pups also included a 5-year-old brown and white beagle named Sophie.
"Sophie is the queen," her new mom, Pam Wagner, relayed with a chuckle.
Sophie was so malnourished, she only weighed 16.9 pounds when officers saved her. But today, the quiet but friendly pooch weighs a healthy 29 pounds.
"I think she was just happy to be in a safe space," Wagner told 3News. When asked about her thoughts on Wible, she responded, "I'm trying to reconcile that she had good intentions."
Wible faced close to 200 animal cruelty charges in Cuyahoga and Portage counties, but before any trials could begin, she died of cancer. Canine Lifeline later pleaded no contest to 25 animal cruelty charges and was ordered to shut down.
A spokesperson for the Parma Animal Shelter said that all 24 surviving dogs have been adopted and are doing well. Their new families have a message.
"As opposed to buying designer dogs, the shelters are full [of dogs]," Wagner said, "and they all need a second chance."
And for Pakis and Tahoe, it's a second chance at love.
"I have an extra layer of guilt having had him in the past," Pakis admitted. However she's reminded of what volunteers at the shelter told her: Don't look in the rearview mirror; rather, look through the windshield — forward.
"I think one of the things that dogs can teach us is that they live in the moment. They don't have the guilt or the regret like we do," Pakis added, before turning to Tahoe.
"He really seems to enjoy life. I think he's living his best life now."