In high school I volunteered at the Frederick County animal shelter for 2 and a half years when I was in high school. I love animals and the unspoken love you feel from just petting and playing with them. I have watched family pets before as well as helped family friends relocate neglected animals into their loving forever homes. I also have adopted two dogs that were not in the best living situation and I am so happy to be blessed with the most loving dogs I have ever met. I have always felt like I had a way with animals. While working at the animal shelter I have had shy and timid dogs warm up to me a few times. This one time while volunteering we had this beautiful brindled pit come in, he was very shy. You could feel the sadness of this dog from being taken there. ( he was dropped off at the shelter in the middle of the night and the owners just tied him up, ran the door and left. Never petted the dog goodbye from what I was told.) when I walked in that day and saw he wasn’t walked in awhile I thought I’d take care of it. His name was batty koda. One of the volunteers told me he growled at a couple male workers and would ignore everyone else. He had no interest in wanting to be walked, or eat he just laid there. I slowly approached him and let him smell me and just sat next to him, petted him and talking soft and sweet to him the whole time I was there. I was not able to get him to go for a walk that day, however as I was leaving he gave me a tiny lick on the hand and laid his head back down. The next day after 45 min of sitting with him he let me take him outside and ate a few bits of kibble for me. This went on for about 2 weeks with him trusting me a little more everyday. After two weeks when he heard my voice he would wag his tail. Even the workers had told me that he was becoming more friendly. After a month and a half he was a different dog. ( he still did not like men but wouldn’t growl or cower when he saw one)( that made me believe something bad happened with a male before he was brought there but I don’t know for certain). This was One of many that opened up to me and could trust me. I am dedicated and hard working. I am very patient and make sure all animals feel safe and comfortable around me. I put what your preferences on how you would like thinks done with your animal as top priority to make sure this stays a trusting relationship. I treat all animals with respect and dignity.