Scared dog falls in love with shelter veterinarian who can’t adopt. She needs a home
A skittish dog with a questionable past needs some serious love — and a new home — a New Hampshire shelter says.
Whatever happened to Veronica in her younger days has had a serious domino effect on her life today. The 3-year-old mixed breed is frightened and reacts to even the smallest inconveniences, the New Hampshire SPCA in Stratham said in an Aug. 21 Facebook post.
“We’re not entirely sure what this tall, beautiful girl has experienced in the past, but based on her behavior, we know it has left a significant impression,” the post said. “Veronica is incredibly uncertain in new situations and appears to have trauma-like responses to certain triggers and movements (flinching, retreating, etc.).”
It took a single person to change the way others saw Veronica, and who turned her from a terrified dog into a complete lovebug.
“We’ve seen how one person truly can make a difference to a dog like Veronica, who has fallen head-over-heels in love with our veterinarian,” the post said. “Even in moments when the world is feeling particularly overwhelming, once she sees our vet, Veronica’s stress melts away. She drops her emotional baggage off at the door and her eyes soften, her face relaxes, and her goofy side emerges.”
The vet is unable to adopt the sweet girl, the post continued, but it has proven something extraordinary – that Veronica hasn’t lost the capacity to love deeply.
“Their relationship, though, has shown us that she really is a connection-craving dog. Over the last few weeks, Veronica has been given additional breaks from her kennel to spend time with staff members and volunteers,” the post mentions.
The pup has gotten more trusting in her nature, but she still needs that “safe space” where she can be herself.
“What this girl desperately wants and needs is someone to help her feel grounded and help her work through her triggers. She would do best in a quiet home without children, cats or other dogs. She needs a space where she can decompress and be given the time to learn that her new ‘home’ — space and people included — is her safe space. Safety, after all, is absolutely everything to this dog,” the post said.
For more online information on Veronica and other adoptable pets, visit the shelter’s website.
Stratham is about a 55-mile drive north from Boston, Massachusetts.
This story was originally published August 22, 2024 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Scared dog falls in love with shelter veterinarian who can’t adopt. She needs a home."