Stories > Lucy
Lucy, a beautiful black lab/pit bull mix was only 6 months old when she was dropped off at the county animal shelter with her sister. When the owners learned that it was a kill shelter, they decided to take Lucy’s sister home and leave Lucy behind because she was “difficult”.
The shelter told us about a scared little dog that had a special talent…she smiled when she got excited. We couldn’t understand how a smiling dog could have issues, but when we first met Lucy, we understood right away what the problem was. She was terrified of fast movements and she would crouch and cringe, shaking in fear.
When we got her home, we also found that she was afraid of brooms or virtually anything you might carry in your hand. It was very clear how her owners had “disciplined” her. Over time, Lucy learned to respond to simple commands, and as much as she likes playtime, she also values her quiet time. She has befriended some of the Sanctuary’s smaller dogs, who are not intimidating.
Lucy still has fear problems with strangers and is gradually learning to make friends with new people. Lucy is a work in progress who continues to grow stronger and more confident — and she smiles all the time.
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