Kimberley Slown has rescued hundreds of dogs through her organization, Arrow Dog Rescue, and it’s moments like this that make it all worthwhile.
She brought home an abused dog named Niya from the Gibson County Animal Shelter in Trenton, Tennessee. And on the second night, the dog did something too sweet for words.
Niya was beaten, abused and defeated. The wound on her nose was probably from someone using a can as a muzzle.
The dog was too scared to move from her kennel and kept her tail tucked between between her legs.
So when Kimberley arrived at the shelter to take Niya home, she had to pick up the 47-pound dog and carry her to the car.
Niya slept all day and all night in her new home. But on day number two, she woke in the middle of the night to thank her rescuer.
Kimberley felt Niya’s nose press into her hand.
“She just breathed into my hand and I woke up and immediately paid attention to her, petting her and talking to her,” she told The Dodo. “She smiled and leaned in.”
Niya went back to bed but returned and did the same thing several hours later. Kimberley was overwhelmed with emotion.
What a special moment. Niya’s “thank you” is something Kimberley will never forget.
It’d take months for Niya to be put up for adoption after fully recovering from hookworms and whipworms.
Someone’s now the lucky owner of a very special dog. 🙂
h/t The Dodo