11/05/2026
Our apologies, we missed sharing this in March when it came in, but sometimes things happen for a reason and today we were reminded of this wonderful email that lifted our spirits.
So, here we are, sharing an amazing and heartwarming Happy Tail we received on a day when we really needed some uplifting ‘light’, please enjoy. 😊 ❤️
P.S. Bear, formerly Timmy, wants you to save a life like his parents did, and Adopt, not Shop. 🥰
Message from Bear (aka “Timmy”):
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I just celebrated the first anniversary of my Gotcha Day — a day that changed everything.
When I first came to the shelter, you called me Timmy because I was timid… scared of everything. I had every reason to be. I had lived through hell and then was abandoned, a stray.
I slept beneath snow-covered branches in the woods near a construction site, trying to make myself small enough that nothing could find me. Hunger was a constant ache. Every rustle made me flinch.
Then one day one of the workers noticed me — not in a loud way, but in the quiet, gentle way kind people sometimes do. He shared his lunch with me each day, tossing me little pieces like secrets. I started to trust him, and I moved a little closer, picking up the pieces of food. Then one day, I got too close, and he grabbed me. He caught me because he wanted to save me, but in that moment I didn’t understand. I thought the world had closed in on me. I was terrified.
The Sheriff came to the work site and brought me to the animal shelter. It was warm, but the crying of the spaniel with the broken leg echoed through the metal cages; day and night she howled in pain. I was even more scared. I didn’t know if I’d ever belong anywhere. I had never felt so alone.
And then… someone came for me.
A woman, kind and gentle. She saw me. Not the fear, not the trembling, not the past clinging to my ribs like shadows — she saw me. She took me home. A home that didn’t smell like cold metal or fear. A home filled with warmth, with soft blankets, with voices that never rose in anger. Hands that touched me gently. Bowls that were always full. Toys for me to snuggle.
Every morning now, I jump on their bed to wake them up because I can’t wait to start the day. At night, I curl against them and feel safe. We go on walks every single day. The car, which terrified me that first night, is now one of my favorite things. We go on drives to hiking trails where we go on great adventures and to restaurants where I order off the menu and am treated like a celebrity!
I am no longer the dog hiding in the woods.
I am no longer the dog who is afraid of everything.
I am home.
I am loved.
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Thank you to all who rescued our pup from the cold, hard streets. He is the light of our lives.
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Stray dog photo posted to New Kent Humane Society webpage in February 2025
