Animal Corner protégé

From problem dog to friendly family member

Less than a year separates these pictures. Loud barking and bared teeth are a thing of the past. During a visit to the "Krone," the male dog appeared calm and playful.(Bild: Katharina Lattermann )

After a long time, the tide has turned for mixed-breed male dog "Rafi." Following a difficult past and a long period of rehabilitation, he has found happiness with a family in Vienna. His new owners visited the "Krone" animal corner with him and officially adopted him. 

However, this adoption jackpot was preceded by a long streak of bad luck. Street dog "Rafi" was brought from Romania to Austria and placed with Ute H. from Vienna. Completely naive and with no experience with dogs, as the single mother of two daughters admits in conversation. She lacked the experience, time, and money to give the young dog the proper training. 

Flashback to 2023
As a result, male dog "Rafi" became a ticking time bomb for his owner. The dog was reported for biting incidents, and fearing further escalation, a new home was desperately sought. The "Krone" animal corner took the animal into their care and looked for solutions. 

Specialist for these cases
"Extreme dog trainer" Georg Resch was asked to take a look at the male dog. His expertise was clear: "Rafi" needs "resocialization" – or behavioral therapy – to help him overcome his problems and fears. 

Everything has to be relearned
And so the handsome male dog spent several months in Styria, where he had the opportunity to relearn social behavior within a pack of dogs. Thanks to environmental training and a lot of patience on the part of his trainer, the animal's true character soon emerged. 

"It was clear that it would take a lot of time and that we would only pass Rafi on when the new owner was a perfect fit. I am very happy that the M. family now gets on so well," said Maggie Entenfellner, head of the animal corner, at the handover. 

A successful new start! Maggie Entenfellner with Rafi's new family in front of the Pressehaus.(Bild: Katharina Lattermann)

A new start in Vienna
Patrick M. from Vienna took "Rafi" into foster care back in March. "It was always clear to me that we would only take in a dog from an animal shelter. There are so many waiting for a chance in shelters. Georg Resch gave us good advice and is also on hand with tips, but so far everything is going smoothly. Rafi is already familiar with public transport, but he's not so keen on car rides," says the new dog owner, stroking his four-legged friend's head. 

As a little surprise, there are vouchers from Fressnapf for Rafi!(Bild: Katharina Lattermann)

Love at first sight 
The children are also happy, and 'Rafi' is showing them his cuddly and playful side. For daughter Valerie (12), it's clear that she now has to take responsibility and look after her pet. "He cuddled up to us when we first met him and was very sweet. He walks very well on a leash with me and we're practicing not jumping on the couch," says Valerie M., delighted with the new family member. 

A touching ending to what was initially a sad story. But it clearly shows that even difficult dogs deserve a second chance and that with the right approach, their true nature can shine through. 

Die Tierecke wishes the M. family and Rafi all the best for their future together!(Bild: Katharina Lattermann)

Update from 2026: Following the latest developments, Krone Tierecke expressly distances itself from Georg Resch.