Member-only story
Helping Young People Set Boundaries
Amidst bullying and abuse
The first time I came across a child who needed help in my neighborhood, I was walking my rough collie, Annie. Annie herself had been abused, and had been adopted by me at the age of 10 years old.
Most people will not adopt an older dog which I find misguided.
Annie had been abused — she’d had her tail cut off and had shrapnel in her hind quarters from where someone had shot her.
Despite this, she was a sweet and truly empathic dog. She needed someone to love and care for her, and I was happy to do it. Plus she was already house trained and leash trained. I was able to focus on helping her the feel more confident and provide therapeutic care.
She herself was a very empathic dog.
When she saw the teenaged girl crying, she made a beeline for her.
So I introduced ourselves. She bent down and just hugged and cried on Annie while I stood by protectively.
“Do you need anything?” I asked when she finally stood up, wondering if I needed to call the cops.
She wanted to come over I asked if she could call or bring a parent. “I want you to feel safe, but it’s important your parents know where you are.” She told me she was afraid of her father but her grandparents…
