From “Venom” to Honey: How a Name and a Little Patience Changed Everything for One Misunderstood Dog
In the bustling halls of a Southern California animal shelter, kennel doors slam, dogs bark, and the air is thick with tension. Among the chaos sits a dog with jet-black fur, pressed tight against the back wall of her kennel, trying to disappear. (Watch Video Above)
Her name is Venom.
That name alone might give you pause — and it should. When Rocky Kanaka first saw her, the label on her kennel screamed, “HELLO! I’M NEW HERE! PLEASE GO SLOW WITH ME AS I ADJUST TO MY NEW ENVIRONMENT.” Still, Kanaka could tell this wasn’t a dangerous dog. This was a dog who had given up.
Venom had a reputation. She had been involved in altercations with other dogs, had been adopted and returned, and now — once again — she was back in the shelter. But as Kanaka crouched down outside her kennel and gently asked, “Hi, can I come in and sit down with you?” the only response was a low growl. Not a threat — just fear.
“I wasn’t scared,” Kanaka recalls. “She was uncertain, not aggressive.”
He sat down, tossing her small pieces of jerky, leaving space for her to decide if she wanted to come closer. Slowly, she did.
This wasn’t a dog who needed discipline. This was a dog who needed time.
Misjudged from the Start
Venom’s story was more than just a tough demeanor and a scary name. Her first stay at the shelter had ended when her family picked her up after returning from vacation. The second time, when she was found loose again, the owners didn’t return the shelter’s calls for days. When they finally did, they declined to reclaim her, citing issues with their smaller dog.
“She hadn’t stood a chance,” Kanaka says. “If she had been named something gentler — if someone had seen her for who she was instead of who they feared she could be — maybe her story would’ve looked different.”
The truth was that “Venom” didn’t reflect this dog’s reality. She didn’t lunge or bare her teeth. She was shut down, curled up, and confused. She didn’t need discipline. She needed grace.
A New Name, A New Beginning
That’s when Kanaka did something powerful: he renamed her.
From that moment on, she wasn’t Venom. She was Honey.
“A name can be a mirror,” Kanaka says. “If we name a dog Venom, we project that energy onto her. We approach her with caution, with fear. But if we call her Honey? Suddenly, we’re speaking to sweetness. To gentleness. We expect kindness, and more often than not, the dog rises to meet that expectation.”
Honey slowly began to trust. She started taking treats by hand. She made eye contact. She allowed head rubs and even ventured forward in her kennel to say hello.
By the time Kanaka returned for a second visit, she was no longer hiding in the corner. She was standing at the door, tail slightly wagging — ready to meet someone new.
Honey, the Service Dog
But the story didn’t end at a name change or even a change in behavior.
Honey’s transformation caught the attention of Michelle, a longtime shelter volunteer and dog rescuer. Moved by Honey’s progress and spirit, Michelle decided to foster — and then adopt — her.
Today, Honey has a new name: Empress Puppentine, affectionately called Puppa. She didn’t just get a home. She got a purpose.
Puppa is now a certified service dog, supporting a family member with disabilities and living a life filled with outings, adventures, and unwavering affection. From hiding in a shelter corner to hiking trails and visiting malls, Puppa’s transformation is nothing short of astonishing.
“She’s mild-mannered and sweet,” Michelle shares. “I can’t believe anyone would let her go.”
More Than a Name
For Kanaka, the story of Honey underscores the importance of seeing dogs not for their worst days, but for who they could become with patience, love, and the right label.
“I’ve named hundreds of dogs,” he says. “And I always try to choose something that gives them dignity, that says, ‘You matter. You’re loved.’”
Honey’s journey — from overlooked and mislabeled to adored and empowered — is a powerful reminder of what happens when we take the time to truly see a dog, not just for where they are, but for who they might become.
After all, what’s in a name?
Sometimes, everything.
Want more stories like Macy’s? Dive into Sitting With Dogs book and discover the dogs—and the moments—that change us. 📖🐾
