I noticed something when I looked at Gemma the other day. I realized that the hair on her face had become even more white. It's sad for me to see that; to see Gemma spending her golden years homeless even after all she's already endured.

Gemma is about 8 years old. She has been with us for almost a year after a breeder in Missouri dumped her. She is a puppy mill dog. Gemma has never known what it was like to be loved. Her interaction with people was always a negative event. She has spent her life being viewed as livestock- not someone's pet or companion. Until she arrived in rescue, she had no idea what a warm bed was like. She didn't know how it felt to have a stomach that was always full, to live in clean conditons and she certainly didn't understand our intentions. Gemma is not aggressive- she's never made any offer to bite. But, she is terrified of people. In the past year, we've seen Gemma make progress. Yet, to this day, we can't call Gemma a “normal” dog. She has found her bark, discovered that peanut butter is tasty and has found the courage to approach her foster family. There was a time when Gemma retreated to the corner and did not move until nightfall. That has changed now and Gemma explores the house. When visitors arrive, she will poke her head out around the corner and bark a few times, but she will not run up to you.

We've done the very best we can to show Gemma that people will never harm her again and to try to gain her trust, but understandably so, she is not convinced. She is an IG- a breed which is reserved to begin with. She will probably never be a normal dog. The emotional trauma that she has endured will remain with her for the rest of her life. But, the fact is that Gemma deserves to have a home to spend her golden years. She deserves stability and to have a person who shows her love and continues to right the wrongs in Gemma's life. She will very likely never show her appreciation for her person, but you should know that by adopting Gemma, you will literally save her life. There are very few people that will take on the challenge of adopting an antisocial dog. That does not make her any less deserving of a forever home. If you ask us, it makes her even more deserving than the hundreds of bouncing, younger, friendly dogs that have been adopted while Gemma continued to wait for her chance at a new life.

If you are the hero that Gemma needs, please contact us or submit an adoption application.