It breaks my heart to imagine how many dogs spend their days feeling afraid and alone.
Dogs who are abandoned or neglected grow up without feeling safe and comfortable. They don’t know what it feels like to curl up in a cozy home next to someone who loves them.
Living this way has a huge impact on the dogs’ souls. They become scared, and many pups shut down emotionally.
When they finally arrive at a shelter, they find it hard to trust people. These struggles often make it challenging for them to be adopted, and they end up stuck, waiting for a chance that rarely comes.
Riley’s Rocky Start
By the time Riley was rescued, she was highly pregnant. She didn’t know how to relax around people or other dogs. Nothing felt safe to her.
When Caitlin agreed to foster her, she knew Riley needed patience and consistency more than anything.
Riley’s early days in her foster home were tense. On her first day, she had a confrontation with Caitlin’s dog.
Caitlin empathized with her and refused to give up on her.
She understood that Riley wasn’t being difficult. Riley was scared. She was determined to be the steady presence Riley had been missing her whole life.
The pup was most likely a breeder dog.
“Every trainer that I talked to said that she was probably like a breeder dog and kept in a small combined space. And when she came here, she had no socialization skills in terms of people, dogs, sounds, cars,” Caitlin shared with GeoBeats Animals.
Riley started working with a trainer.
She separated Riley from her dogs at first, so she could adjust without pressure. She focused on helping her decompress and overcome her fear.
Caitlin stayed close, giving Riley space but also letting her know she wasn’t alone.
The pup got attached to her foster mom.
“She warmed up to me pretty quickly. It just made me sad that it took that late in life for her to feel safe and loved,” Caitlin added.
A Journey of Healing And Hope
Slowly but surely, Riley started to believe she finally mattered. Each day nudged Riley forward, even if the steps were small.
It took six months before Caitlin felt Riley was ready to meet the other dogs. For Riley, that moment was huge. It showed how far she had come.
She began to explore the yard with confidence, and eventually, she started playing. Seeing her trust the world again made every difficult moment worth it.
When Riley finally moved to her new home in North Carolina, she walked into a life filled with immense love.
It was bittersweet for Caitlin, but she knew Riley was ready. The dog who once trembled at every sound now had a family who adored her.
“I have so many emotions navigating this, but one that stays near the top is gratitude. I’m so grateful that I got to be such a big part of Riley’s journey. She has stretched my heart into ways I didn’t know possible,” Caitlin reflected after Riley was adopted.
“There will be a piglet-shaped hole in my heart forever. But this is why we do it. To save more and give families the gift of resilient magical dogs like Riley,” Caitlin said.
Riley overcame her troubled past and learned to trust again. Thanks to Caitlin who believed in her, she found the life she had always deserved.