Shy’s Story

From Kimmy:

This is my FAVORITE shelter story. Shy and her mama were brought in by Navajo County Animal Control from the Painted Desert Park near Winslow. They suspected Shy’s mama was abandoned while pregnant or shortly after giving birth to this pup; she might’ve even had more pups that didn’t make it.

By the time animal control was alerted to their plight and they were captured, the puppy was 3-4 months old and likely had not had any human interaction. Due to her young age we hoped she could adjust to being around humans. Her momma obviously had a family at some point. She wasn’t as afraid and was adopted quickly.

I fell in love with this little dog. I named her Shy.

Stubbornly determined to bring her around, to get her adoptable, I spent every day over spring break to read to Shy. I’d heard feral pups (like Shy) need to get used to human interaction…slowly. One of the first things they need to get used to is the human voice, so I brought a book from my classroom, “Hank the Cowdog,” and sat outside her kennel and began to read. I read for 30 minutes to an hour each day. The first couple of days I sat outside the kennel. Then I moved inside the kennel, staying by the gate, letting her stay on the other side of the kennel. That week, after being wary and shy of me, she started falling asleep while I read to her. At the end of the week, Shy let me reach out and touch her, gently petting her (but only a little).

After that, Shy started climbing into my lap and letting me on love her. I would have adopted her myself, but I was at max capacity with 4 dogs at home already. She was such a cuddly little love…once she opened up. She loved other dogs, loved running around to play. After a few weeks, a disabled veteran came to the shelter to find a companion and found our girl, Shy. It was a perfect pairing for them both.

A few months later the Shelter Friends hosted an adoption event at the Old Courthouse in town. Guess who stopped by? Shy and her new owner. They were both so settled and happy together. It was lovely to see Shy grown up and happy in her new life.