Bedtime for Alice

Alice is a sweet, delicate soul. She spent her first 16 months of life as a kennel dog. Her interaction with people was limited to her breeder delivering food and cleaning her kennel twice a day. She rarely left her pen and never left the property. She had food, water, and shelter, but her emotional needs were never filled.

When she came to live with us, it took her quite a while to acclimate to life indoors. Sights, sounds, and smells that should have been comforting were unknown and scary. She was cautious around new people and more fearful of men than women. Knowing she felt safe in my company, I quickly became her “security blanket,” which brought me great joy. Alice refused to climb up on the furniture like the other dogs. However, she eventually accepted a twin mattress on the floor. This was the first soft bed she had ever known.

Today, 1,758 days after her arrival, she climbed up on our bed for the first time. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up. Alice is finally home.