One yr in the past right now, you got here residence and adjusted our lives along with your light presence. You introduced with you scars–actually and metaphorically–and a mushy, 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 appeared such as you’d solely just lately completed nursing. Trying again via photos I took in December and January, I’d forgotten, too, how low to the bottom you saved your physique, how fastidiously you moved via area. I’ve forgotten it in opposition to the backdrop of progress–you’re doing superb!
I do keep in mind how a lot you slept that first month. I believe you bought right here and realized you have been lastly protected, and your physique simply caved in on itself. After an intensive 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 couple of weeks later, you awakened and ventured out.
Penny, you’re one quirky woman. I wrote in my calendar on January 7, “Penny discovered to stroll from the bed room to the lounge and again all on her personal!” Sure, it took you two whole weeks to determine tips on how 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 deal with 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 yr in… I assume you want extra time…)
However, regardless of the scary hallway (and I received’t even point out the eating room, laundry room, or lavatory that you simply nonetheless received’t enter as a result of, who actually cares because you don’t want to enter these areas) by the center of February you have been taking a coaching class with me, occurring every day walks within the park, and even hanging out at Lowe’s! You have been nonetheless tremendous hesitant to stroll within the neighborhood, however the trails have been your pleased place. It took us one other couple months to get you cozy doing a full circuit of our neighborhood, however now, a yr 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 greatest wrestle: You have been afraid of getting hit or kicked. I keep in mind Violet startling you someday and also you flinched and cowered. She crouched down and stroked your head and stated, “Penny, we’ll by no means hit you. You might be protected right here.” Tears streamed down her face when she requested me, “Mother, why do folks 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 sneakers or some other seemingly benign motion.
Now? These moments are uncommon. Very, very sometimes do you have got 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 view, you startle. There’s not a lot we will do to “work on” that, apart from proceed to point out you the way protected, beloved, and safe you’re.
It took a very long time for us to get you to go in your walks. First, we aimed to get to the tip of our driveway, then the tip 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 site visitors cone on the street or the rubbish cans lined up for trash day or a bizarre gust of wind–you have been cool. Over time, these surprising issues turned background noise, and now you’ll be able to stroll wherever and infrequently have these fearful moments anymore. However, once you do, I’m pleased with you since you merely flip again in the direction of residence and begin strolling me again. You don’t flee or cower anymore. You simply return to your protected 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 manner of maintaining 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 bounce up onto the chairs and seize meals off the desk. We’re all having to extend our watchfulness now that you simply’ve discovered this one! You’re terrified of Ripley however so desperately need Newt to play with you. (She received’t.) You like to stroll within the woods; your tail wags actually the whole stroll. You don’t know tips on how to chase a toy or fetch something, which I think has extra to do along with your imaginative and prescient than anything as a result of, holy moly, you have got a playful aspect that has emerged in these previous couple months. In truth, Penny, I’m fairly certain you need your self a little bit 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 children… and the women actually 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 likelihood. You like to stroll, although you favor to go tremendous slowly and soak up all of the smells at your personal tempo. (Critically, Penny, you’re clocking a couple of 45-minute mile proper now. Can we decide up the tempo only a smidge? Possibly a 30-minute mile within the new yr?)
You’re keen on assembly new folks and new canines. You lean in opposition to anybody who reaches out to pet you. You may have adoring followers at Lowe’s, our neighborhood, Complete Wine, ISD, and in every single place else you’re allowed to go.
Within the new yr we must always do remedy canine coaching collectively.
Truthfully, Penny, I’m undecided what we did to deserve you.
You’re the sweetest, gentlest, most loving canine. Pleasure follows you wherever you go. Previously yr, you’ve overcome a lot worry and apprehension, and now you face new adventures with a wagging tail and open thoughts. Once you do get scared, we’re heartened that you simply flip to us and also you flip to residence for reassurance.
We’re a crew, Penny, and I’m so honored I get to stroll alongside you in your journey.
Completely happy anniversary, my love. I’m so fortunate I get to be your particular person.
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