Emma

2/23/2025

Emma’s life did not begin with warmth and security. At just 10 months old, she found herself returned to her breeder, her early months spent in an environment that never truly suited her. She had been purchased by a couple living in a small apartment in Queens, New York—an apartment that housed two other small dogs but lacked the space, structure, and care a young Great Dane needed. Walks were nonexistent, and Emma had been taught a most unnatural habit for a dog her size—relieving herself exclusively indoors.

She was underweight, unsocialized, and had been denied the crucial experiences that shape a well-adjusted dog. When she was returned to the breeder, her journey of healing began. Spayed and placed in a foster home with one of her littermates, Emma was moved to Northern Vermont, where her fate took a turn for the better.

That was where our paths crossed. I had the fortune of knowing her brother’s owner, and as soon as I met Emma, I knew she belonged with me. On Christmas Eve of 2016, she officially came home—a day that forever changed both of our lives.

Emma was far from an easy dog. She had quirks, fears, and deeply ingrained anxieties. She delighted in eating cigarette butts, found comfort in trying to destroy her crate, and saw every stranger as a potential threat. Hoodies, hats, sunglasses—especially on men—sent her into a barking frenzy. Her fear manifested in lunging, barking, and doing whatever she could to keep people at bay. But beneath that fear was a dog who just needed time, patience, and understanding.

And so, we began our journey together. Emma went to daycare, where she learned to trust and interact with other dogs. She attended training sessions, where she slowly grasped the idea of sharing space and affection. Over time, her walls came down. The frightened, reactive dog who once wanted to keep the world away became a loving, gentle presence. She transformed into the best grandma and nanny dog, guiding and comforting the many dogs that passed through our lives.

Now, at nine years old, Emma shows the marks of time, but her spirit remains strong. Some fears still linger—bring out a fly swatter, and she’ll let you know she’s not a fan. Her tastes are unique: a small obsession with cannabis, catnip, spicy chicken fingers, apple juice, ice cream, and, of course, bacon. When the weather turns cold, she happily curls up in her hoodies, tucked under a warm blanket.

Emma may never be the dog who greets strangers with ease, and she still fiercely guards the car from unknown visitors. But she is no longer the terrified puppy who knew only isolation and fear. She is a survivor, a companion, and a testament to the power of love and patience.

She changed my life as much as I changed hers. And in the end, Emma didn’t just find a home—she found a place where she could truly belong.