From fearful, anxious and trembling to affectionate, playful and happy
Raz came to us from the island’s biggest dog shelter. We try to work together with them and take in some dogs who really struggle in the very busy environment or old dogs with no chance of being adopted. Raz is a shy and very calm dog, so the shelter was far too much for him. This little sweetie needed a calmer environment and a place to feel safe and loved – something he had never experienced.
However, after arriving here, he was still overwhelmed by the number of people and animals. The years alone in a big shelter left their mark on him and he was riddled with anxiety, overwhelmed by fear, and unsure of how to exist outside the walls that had confined him for so much of his life.
He trembled constantly, unable to understand the freedom he suddenly had after nearly a decade in a cage. The effects of his past were not only emotional but physical. Raz had spent so many years pacing in tight circles that his muscles, posture, and even the structure of his body had changed. For months after arriving, he continued this heart-breaking routine, wandering the finca in anxious circles, unable to settle, unable to rest. Despite all our patience, consistency, and gentle care, Raz struggled to let anyone in… until one day, something changed.
He connected with one of our volunteers, and it was like watching time rewind itself. This shut-down, fearful, trembling dog began transforming before our eyes. The shift was extraordinary. Raz slowly blossomed into a sweet, affectionate soul who wanted to play, make friends, enjoy treats and, most importantly, experience love for the very first time.
Raz finally learned what it meant to wake up excited for a new day. Although the trauma and neglect he endured still affect him in the form of stress habits like over-grooming and sensitivity around routine changes, he is no longer living in fear. These challenges will need lifelong management, but Raz now faces the world with comfort, safety, and genuine happiness. Raz may have had a very difficult past, but every day here is a reminder that he is healing, he is loved, and he is finally learning how to truly live.
