We don’t know what happened in sweet Dolly’s past, but she is a shy girl who gets nervous when people come close to her, or when there are sudden loud noises or movements. She was found roaming the streets very skinny and emaciated, but now she has reached her healthy weight. Recently, she is finally starting to open up more and show her true adorable self thanks to a kind regular volunteer who is spending more time with her and teaching her that humans aren’t scary! She welcomes touching and scritches more openly while inside her kennel, which is her safe space. She also always lets us touch her to put on her leash and collar because she is smart and she knows that it means she will be able to go out for a walk! Dolly has never shown aggression towards us, and we know that there is a happy trusting girl just waiting to come out!
Here's what our regular volunteer says about Dolly:
"I have spent more time with Dolly than any other dog at the shelter, often hours at a time each week. It’s not because she is the cutest, loveliest, or even wanting to interact. It’s because she is so uncertain about her environment that she needs human interaction more than any other dog.
We think Dolly was born in 2020. She arrived at the shelter in 2021, during the pandemic when she received few opportunities for interaction. And so, she grew up slightly timid, often nervous about the nearby dogs barking or jumping.
So, of course, she doesn’t trust people much. Whenever I enter her kennel, she retreats into the corner, back facing the wall and her tail completely tucked in. Yet, she would always come close for a piece of chicken, even if she then quickly retreats. And the first time I touched her, her whole body shook as if she was hit by lightning.
Over the last 3-4 months, I spent time inside her kennel, sitting next to her after our Saturday walks. Even though she has not completely opened herself up, I feel that we have developed a mutual understanding. Dolly learned to accept my presence: she will lay down after a while, exhausted from staring at me from the corner. When I give her a head scratch, she nudges her head just a touch forward. I even once caught her tail wagging when she saw me (with the kennel gate still separating us).
And a few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to take Dolly on a walk. This girl is so different when she is outside! Her tail was not tucked in, and she was keen to explore. She is a good walker, not too energetic. Dolly really wanted to interact with other dogs as she is housed by herself. When she was held from doing so, she grew nervous and could not understand why the leash was stopping her from getting to where she wanted to go. (I was really saddened that I couldn’t let her play because we just can’t be sure about how other dogs will react.)
There is no sugarcoating in this post, because Dolly is precious to me and I would want her potential adopter to be absolutely ready for the commitment to give her unconditional love. Dolly is far from the perfect dog. She is sensitive and will settle best in a quiet home with few noises. She will have to learn to trust humans, which I feel that she is absolutely capable of. You will have to spend time to bond with her, provide the right training, and be prepared for setbacks. But once she learns that you are the person who has saved her from the non-stop barking and howling in the shelter, she will most likely be the most loyal dog you will ever find."
