One 12 months in the past at the moment, you got here house and adjusted our lives together with your light presence. You introduced with you scars–actually and metaphorically–and a comfortable, regular demeanor a lot appreciated in our family.
It’s humorous how I’ve forgotten sure particulars, just like the scabs that dotted your face and ears. I’d forgotten that it regarded such as you’d solely lately completed nursing. Trying again by footage I took in December and January, I’d forgotten, too, how low to the bottom you stored your physique, how fastidiously you moved by area. I’ve forgotten it in opposition to the backdrop of progress–you’re doing superb!
I do bear in mind how a lot you slept that first month. I feel you bought right here and realized you had been lastly secure, and your physique simply caved in on itself. After a radical checkup on the vet, she suggested us to allow you to take as a lot time as you wanted to relaxation and get better out of your trauma. And relaxation you probably did! Then, a number of weeks later, you awakened and ventured out.
Penny, you’re one quirky woman. I wrote in my calendar on January 7, “Penny realized to stroll from the bed room to the lounge and again all on her personal!” Sure, it took you two complete weeks to determine the way to stroll from one finish of the home to the opposite. It was an enormous achievement that we celebrated. And, Penny, sometime, in the event you ever determine to sort out the hallway from the again of the home to the entrance, we’ll have a good time that, too! (For actual, you actually CAN go down that hallway, however we’re solely a 12 months in… I assume you want extra time…)
However, regardless of the scary hallway (and I gained’t even point out the eating room, laundry room, or rest room that you simply nonetheless gained’t enter as a result of, who actually cares because you don’t want to enter these areas) by the center of February you had been taking a coaching class with me, occurring every day walks within the park, and even hanging out at Lowe’s! You had been nonetheless tremendous hesitant to stroll within the neighborhood, however the trails had been your blissful place. It took us one other couple months to get you comfortable doing a full circuit of our neighborhood, however now, a 12 months later, you’re a professional and even have neighborhood pals you cease to go to with in your every day rounds.
For the longest time, we struggled with your largest wrestle: You had been afraid of getting hit or kicked. I bear in mind Violet startling you someday and also you flinched and cowered. She crouched down and stroked your head and stated, “Penny, we are going to by no means hit you. You’re secure right here.” Tears streamed down her face when she requested me, “Mother, why do individuals hit canines?” In fact there’s no reply. However all of us felt brokenhearted every time you cowered from us once we tossed a ball or tied our footwear or every other seemingly benign motion.
Now? These moments are uncommon. Very, very sometimes do you may have a flinch-and-cower second, and we’ve realized it’s extra associated to your imaginative and prescient and the way you don’t see so effectively within the sunshine. When a shadow unexpectedly crosses your visual field, you startle. There’s not a lot we will do to “work on” that, aside from proceed to indicate you ways secure, cherished, and safe you’re.
It took a very long time for us to get you to go on your walks. First, we aimed to get to the top of our driveway, then the top of our entrance yard, then so far as the neighbor’s driveway, and so forth. You incrementally expanded your world, and so long as nothing wildly uncommon or surprising occurred–like a visitors cone on the street or the rubbish cans lined up for trash day or a bizarre gust of wind–you had been cool. Over time, these surprising issues grew to become background noise, and now you possibly can stroll wherever and hardly have these fearful moments anymore. However, while you do, I’m happy with you since you merely flip again in the direction of house and begin strolling me again. You don’t flee or cower anymore. You simply return to your secure area.
Amongst your different quirks on the one-year mark: You set your paw in your canine dish each time you’re consuming. It’s a fairly intelligent approach of conserving it from sliding round. You additionally like to chew up pens, pencils, and markers, and have solely in the previous couple of weeks found which you could soar up onto the chairs and seize meals off the desk. We’re all having to extend our watchfulness now that you simply’ve realized this one! You’re fearful of Ripley however so desperately need Newt to play with you. (She gained’t.) You like to stroll within the woods; your tail wags actually your entire stroll. You don’t know the way to chase a toy or fetch something, which I think has extra to do together with your imaginative and prescient than the rest as a result of, holy moly, you may have a playful facet that has emerged in these previous couple months. In actual fact, Penny, I’m fairly positive you need your self somewhat canine to play with. You attempt to play bow and skitter with all of the canines within the neighborhood, so we’ve determined as a household to search for one other unicorn canine in 2025 (good with canines, cats, and youngsters… and the ladies really need one other deaf canine).
You’re a pleasure and a delight. You’re a go-anywhere, do-anything canine. You LOVE Violet and Astrid and can spend all of your time cuddling them in the event that they’ll provide the probability. You like to stroll, although you favor to go tremendous slowly and soak up all of the smells at your individual tempo. (Significantly, Penny, you’re clocking a couple of 45-minute mile proper now. Can we choose up the tempo only a smidge? Possibly a 30-minute mile within the new 12 months?)
You like assembly new individuals and new canines. You lean in opposition to anybody who reaches out to pet you. You will have adoring followers at Lowe’s, our neighborhood, Complete Wine, ISD, and all over the place else you’re allowed to go.
Within the new 12 months we should always do remedy canine coaching collectively.
Truthfully, Penny, I’m unsure what we did to deserve you.
You’re the sweetest, gentlest, most loving canine. Pleasure follows you wherever you go. Up to now 12 months, you’ve overcome a lot concern and apprehension, and now you face new adventures with a wagging tail and open thoughts. Whenever you do get scared, we’re heartened that you simply flip to us and also you flip to house for reassurance.
We’re a staff, Penny, and I’m so honored I get to stroll alongside you in your journey.
Comfortable anniversary, my love. I’m so fortunate I get to be your individual.
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