Spending time with a shelter dog is not always about playing, walking, or teaching them new tricks. For some pups, simply having a calm person nearby can be an important step toward helping them feel safe and comfortable. A recent video shows how one volunteer chose to slow things down for a fearful dog who was not ready for a typical outing.
Shelter dog’s visits with human don’t include walks because she’s too scared
A video shared by Instagram user @specksfosterfiles shows a different kind of shelter outing between a volunteer and a dog named Dusk. While volunteers often take shelter dogs outside for walks, Dusk is not yet comfortable enough to do that. Instead, her 30-minute outings focus on helping her feel safe and giving her much-needed time away from the shelter.
The video begins with text on the screen that reads, “Pssssst. Dusk and I are going to tell you a secret.” It then shows Dusk sitting outside alongside the volunteer. Rather than walking around, the two simply spend time together as Dusk takes in her surroundings at her own pace.
The volunteer explains that although she sometimes volunteers to walk dogs at her local open-intake shelter, “we don’t walk” every time. She says some dogs, including Dusk, feel too scared to go out for a walk.
For Dusk, the outing is instead an opportunity to decompress outside the shelter. The volunteer shares that giving her that time allows Dusk to gradually relax and gives her personality a chance to come through.
That patience could be particularly important for a dog who may behave differently once she feels secure in a home environment. A shelter can be an overwhelming place, especially for a fearful pup, and spending quiet time with a patient person can help create a sense of trust.
According to the post’s caption, Dusk is a 1-year-old, 35-pound sweet dog who is available through Cincinnati Animal CARE.
The post Human Meets Shelter Dog & Admits They Don’t Go on Walks During Visits for a Heartbreaking Reason appeared first on DogTime.
