Bailey

One fearful foster dog's journey to health.

My next foster was Bailey, who was one of my most dramatic transformations (visually and behaviorally). When I first met her, I was told she was a senior and might be a hospice candidate. We did not know her age, but she looked so old and frail. She was underweight, her hair was missing in patches, and she couldn't walk.

In addition to the scared dogs, I have a huge soft spot for the seniors, so I immediately went to her kennel to meet her. It was then that I realized that she wasn't walking because she was too old; she wasn't walking because she was too afraid to. Not too long after, I brought her home as a foster. She spent the first few days in a self-imposed punishment, nose to the wall in the corner.

Over the months, she slowly let her guard down. My dogs were such great teachers for her; they gave her the time and patience and allowed her to dictate if, when, and how she played. Soon, she started playing with them and then with toys. My coworkers watched videos of her playing with my dogs or shredding a toy with astonishment; no one could believe this was the same dog.

Not only did her vibrant personality shine through, but her hair started returning. We never knew her exact age, but she proved she had a lot of young dog energy. That was a common thread I would see; once these kiddos felt safe, their energy and personality would start to peek through. I began to understand that I never knew who they were at the shelter; I only discovered who these dogs were once they trusted that they were safe around me. Bailey went on to succeed in her adoptive home, and I brought another scared dog home to foster. A sweet boy named Scout.