Elsa is beginning to love and trust, but it’s a long haul.
As difficult as it is, I now aim for the floor to meet her on her own level. Elsa is our little rescue dog who has been with us for three months.
Getting up from the floor is the challenge of course but Big Foot (swollen foot that is now Slim Foot) is allowing weight bearing moves!
At first Elsa seemed confused and suspicious when I hit the carpet but she decided in two days it might be acceptable (if not alarmingly odd) human behavior.
She comes closer now when I am down there, close enough for a belly rub but not quite near enough for a hug.
We are making slow but positive progress.
Yesterday while Elsa and I were connecting on the floor,
the looming shadow of a man-person emerged.
Gentle Bill wanted to join the party too and was on his way down.
Immediately alarmed, Elsa gave a mighty jump and hit her head on the coffee table. Then she crouched nearby in a terror pose.
She finally realized we humans were down there for family love and noone wanted to hurt her.
She inched closer, sat between us, and rolled over for double belly rubs.
This is true progress because Elsa cringes when we try to pat her head and shows unmistakable signs of previous abuse.
For now, with patience and gentle handling,
Virginia Views 