Shelter Dogs
Theresa Konwinski
Once, I adopted a rescue dog.
There was something in her
frightened face…
She had been overbred,
starved and beaten.
At first she was timid,
trembling at the smallest sound.
Later, she clung to me.
Everywhere I went, she followed,
the click of her toenails on the hard wood floor
a constant accompaniment
as I went about my work.
I understood her.
So many souls are stuck in cages
where the bars are not seen,
but felt.
People walk by,
pausing long enough to smile-
beneficent, and at the same time
full of pity.
When someone finally opens the door,
it’s hard to know whether to step forward
or cower.
In the cage for so long,
shelter dogs can barely trust
being free.
theresakonwinski.online 
Greetings,
You so accurately described many of our rescued animals, especially the dogs. It’s heartbreaking to see them so afraid and most of the time that fear is expressed as aggression; then they are deemed unadoptable and euthanized.
Thank you for your words…and rescuing your Sweetie.
Jean
On Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 12:48 PM theresakonwinski.com wrote:
> theresakonwinski posted: ” Shelter Dogs Theresa Konwinski Once, I adopted > a rescue dog. There was something in her frightened face… She had been > overbred, starved and beaten. At first she was timid, trembling at the > smallest sound. Later, she clung to me. Everywhere I went, she fo” >
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