Anxiety=Bonding Agent

The key similiarity I have with my dog

Photo by FLOUFFY on Unsplash

A small chipom mix named Max-
connected with my heart late August

He didn’t shake then, just curled up on lap.
The papers warned me: he’s afraid of fly swatters,

reason for surrender: got tired of taking care of him.
I know the feeling of being unwanted. Rejection not based

on my own merits, but by someone else’s opinion.
Fear that makes one lash out- yelling/biting/shutting down

Staycations became the norm: can not travel with Max
A reason to stay in the house, what I wanted all along.

The double leashes which I imagine I keep us tethered
The muzzle that I’m sometimes convinced my mom wants to use.

I cried the first time he let me cut his coat: he doesn’t trust groomers
I cried because I know how hard that type of trust is.