Tag Page Dogs

#Dogs
Courtney Casey

🐾 Day 16 with Grace: she hid, and I felt lost 😞

Tonight was tough. I came home after a long day, thinking maybe Grace would be waiting by the door like last time. But she wasn’t. Not there, not anywhere obvious. I called her name softly, then a little louder. No response. My heart started to sink. I found her hiding under the dining table, trembling. Her eyes wide and scared, refusing to come out. I guess… she’s still carrying the weight of losing her old owner. Maybe being sent to the shelter and moving into a new home has made her really anxious. And some things in this apartment probably scare her — like sudden noises or movements she can’t predict. I think she’s afraid because she doesn’t know what to expect. I knelt down slowly, speaking softly, trying to coax her out. But she backed further away, ears flat, tail tucked. It hit me hard. I felt helpless and frustrated — like I was failing her. Like maybe I wasn’t the safe place she needed me to be. I sat there on the cold floor for what felt like forever, just whispering, “It’s okay, Grace. I’m here. You don’t have to be afraid.” After a long while, she finally peeked out, and I felt a tiny spark of hope. It’s not perfect, not even close. But it’s progress. This journey isn’t easy. It’s messy and painful. But I’m still here, and so is she. And that has to mean something. #Pets #Dogs

🐾 Day 16 with Grace: she hid, and I felt lost 😞
Courtney Casey

🌙 she walked over, and she stayed

It was just another Tuesday evening. I was sitting on the floor, nursing a cup of tea, mindlessly scrolling through my phone. Grace was on her blanket across the room, quiet as usual, just watching me. Nothing out of the ordinary.↳ Then I heard it — the faint sound of her nails clicking on the hardwood floor. Slow, careful steps. I froze. My heart started racing without me even realizing why. She was coming closer. Closer than she ever had before. I didn’t dare to look up or move. I was scared she might change her mind and run back. When she finally reached me, she rested her chin gently on my knee. Just for a few seconds. It felt like the smallest, most fragile gift I’d ever received. In that moment, I couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions — relief, hope, and something like happiness all wrapped into one. I wanted to cry but didn’t want to scare her away. So I stayed still, letting her decide how long to stay. She didn’t pull away. She didn’t run off. She stayed. For the first time since she came into my life, Grace chose me. And honestly, it felt like the first time I could breathe again. Like maybe, just maybe, we were going to be okay. #Pets #Dogs

🌙 she walked over, and she stayed
Lisa Gibson

Kevin stole my kid’s underwear and presented it to the guests.

I was in the kitchen, half-distracted, trying to keep an eye on the oven and stop Leo from feeding toast to the rabbit again. Kevin was suspiciously quiet. And when Kevin is quiet, it’s either poop or crime. Then I heard the prance. That ridiculous, wiggly Frenchie strut. He trotted into the living room like a parade marshal, tail flying like a flag, proudly holding... something. It was Leo’s underwear. Not clean. Our guests—two polite parents from school—were already seated, sipping wine. Miso jumped off the window ledge like she’d seen a ghost. Toast, the rabbit, froze mid-chew. Kevin dropped the underwear dead center on the rug, sat beside it, and looked at me. Eyes full of pride. I stood there blinking, mouthing “why” into the abyss. This is not the kind of “guard dog” behavior I signed up for. At this point, I just hope he never finds my bras. #Pets #Dogs

Kevin stole my kid’s underwear and presented it to the guests.