Sampson was the last of the dogs owned by backyard breeders and was kept as an outside dog all his life.  They wanted to travel and had no one to take care of Sampson, so they dumped him at the shelter.   Sampson is very unsocialized, but is improving.  Once he warms up to a person, he is very social and lovable.  At the shelter, one of the Animal Control Officers would sing to him and he would do the “Akita Happy Dance”.  He is currently being kenneled and adores the kennel owner.  He is slowly coming out of his shell, day by day, person by person.  When he was initially transported from Lee County to Richmond Va, he was so terrified at the transfer point that he just flattened on the ground.  He had to be lifted into the second transport vehicle.  He showed no aggression at any point during his handling.  In a couple of weeks,  the kennel owner was able to get him in the car with a little coaxing to take him to the vet.  Again, while fearful of the circumstances, he was great with the vet and the staff.   Here is what the volunteers who went to walk him had to say:

"Samson notes: He is a big boy! He is shy, and a bit slow to warm up (of course all of them absolutely adore Stacey - comments are limited to how the dogs react to us). He's not aggressive - just wary. Walks reasonably well on lead, and actually seemed to enjoy his walk-about." He seems to be one of those dogs who has to warm up to each person he meets, but then is polite and even sociable.

Sampson is looking for a foster home to help him on his journey towards adoption.