On Daisy the dog, whose life was saved by her cuteness

 

Our Daisy is a “special” dog
with such peculiar fears,
we wonder what is going on
between those soft, warm ears.

We got her from a shelter;
she was born completely deaf --
so twice within her first three months
she was abandoned, left.

A communication “expert”,
eagerly the task I met:
to train a dog who couldn’t hear
to be our family pet.

Through positive conditioning,
hand signals, flashing lights,
she mastered all the basics,
aced the class - oh what delight!

But deep within her heart
she held the fears of past rejection.
It took four years before she would
approach us for affection.

Deep trauma and anxiety;
she has so many quirks!
Somewhere within her mind
there is a monster and it lurks

in slippery floors and closing doors
and people’s reaching hands;
sometimes she just short-circuits --
frozen solid, there she stands.

But other times, she’s frantic,
running circles like a wheel
to overcome the terror
of crossing “lava” for her meal.

And now, at ten years old
she’s truly settled in our “pack.”
She’s taught us to receive her love,
and how to give it back.

Exasperating as she is,
more proof you’ll never see
that patience and acceptance
set the wounded spirit free.


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