Harper isn’t a different dog than she was six months ago; she is the dog she was always meant to be.
When Harper, the Australian shepherd, arrived at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida, she was shut down and “stuck in survival mode.” Almost any noise, sight, or person frightened the young dog.
“Transitioning to the shelter environment can be a challenge for any dog. For Harper, overcoming her own anxiety in a new environment was a lot to take on. She is a small dog in a big world, and that can greatly affect anyone’s ability to feel at ease. Being exposed to ‘stranger danger’ on a whole new level, with the care and maintenance provided by staff, proved a bit overstimulating at first,” Aubrey Maurer, an animal care manager at Alaqua, tells PEOPLE.
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