Over the years, one question has always stayed with me as someone who cares deeply about animal rescue: what really makes a dog shut down after ending up in a shelter?

Some people say it’s the noise or the small space, but many dogs have lived with those same conditions before. Then it hit me: it’s losing the person they love.

Winnie, a dog transferred from Oak Park Animal Shelter to Michigan Humane, was one of those quiet souls struggling to adapt.

She was withdrawn and clearly heartbroken, and not many understood the reason, until one extraordinary day.

A Chance Meeting

Little was known about Winnie’s history. She had arrived labeled as a “stray” and was extremely anxious. The Michigan Humane team immediately began helping her, aware that earning her trust would take time.

To ever

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