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When I retired from teaching elementary school after 31 years in 2018, I knew I wanted a friend for our little 1-year-old Morkie that my daughter had brought into our home and then left for college. Our Morkie had so much energy, and I thought a little friend was just what she needed.

On Facebook, I saw that a rescue organization a horse friend of mine was involved in had a Maltese mix dog that was removed from a home due to severe abuse. She was severely matted and her jaw had been broken. She had not been provided the medical care she needed after the abuse.

DOG. PHOTO: PIXABAY / PETRA

The rescue took her to their vet, who determined her little jaw had already healed very crooked and would have to be broken again to fix it. They decided that since she could eat and drink fine, they would leave it.

When I saw the video of her cowering and shaking in the back of her crate, I knew I had to try and help her heal, not just physically but emotionally. She was delivered to my family by her rescuers. It was a rough go for quite a while for her to learn to trust.

The first three nights she was at our house, I slept with her on our couch. When she would start to get up and I would reach and put my hand on her, she would relax. When I would take her outside, she was literally terrified of her shadow. If a butterfly flew by, she would shake.

PHOTO: KR BAILEY

She soon became my best friend. She needed and depended on me. She has been a part of our family now for five years and has transformed into the most sassy, loving, loyal little white dog anyone could wish for. I don’t know what we ever did without her and her sweet crooked smile. I didn’t rescue her, she rescued me.

Story submitted by KR Bailey from Burnsville, North Carolina.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!