Sheila is a black shepherd mix who was traumatized one year ago. She cowered in the woods as someone poisoned and shot more than 60 dogs in a rural logging forest in southern Searcy County.

The massacre made international headlines but no arrests were ever made. There is still an $8,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

The Searcy County Humane Society rescued six survivors; five are still recovering in the Humane Society shelter in Leslie.

"Sheila will now come up and sniff my hand -- yes, you will, won't you? -- where that was unheard of before," said Jean Passmore, treasurer for the SCHS, as she leaned down at Sheila's kennel to hold out her hand.

The other survivors in the shelter are Twiggy, Houdini, Rasputin, and Susie. Rasputin has fully recovered from a gunshot wound through her face.

The sixth survivor was Kincaid, the first dog to seek help when volunteers came to the crime scene to trap survivors. Kincaid didn't have to be trapped; he immediately jumped in a volunteer's pickup truck once he realized they had treats.

"Kincaid has a loving, wonderful home now. And that's what we're aiming to achieve with the rest of them," said Passmore.

The remaining five are still learning to be less skittish around humans. Twiggy still cowers behind her igloo when people are near.

"They are doing so much better. They don't freak out when people get up close to them anymore. We're actually able to hand feed them treats now," said Passmore.

Passmore says these five survivors need foster homes that can nurture their special needs.

"They're beginning to trust again," said Passmore.

After the massacre, donations poured in from all over the country. The money has helped the dogs regain their health and fund improvements to the conditions of the shelter which was an open-air, metal roof structure with some make-shift kennels and only tarps to block the wind.

Now there are walls and concrete floors, and no more wooden, make-shift kennels.

"We've bought all new kennels so that nobody can chew out anymore. We're keeping it a whole lot cleaner and a lot more sanitary for the dogs," said Passmore.

These underdogs have made a lot of progress, but still need help to get those tails wagging again.