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When Honey was first found, the only place she felt safe was the dirt. She’d curl into herself, trying to disappear into the ground like she wasn’t even there. That was the only comfort she knew.
A friend had sent Kaya a photo of a German Shepherd and her four puppies abandoned in an orchard near Bakersfield. It was likely an unwanted litter. Volunteers with Shiloh’s Animal Rescue rushed to help, managing to safely collect all the pups and their exhausted mom. Honey, as they named her, had clearly been through a lot.
Her puppies were adopted quickly, but Honey’s healing took more time. She was first placed with a temporary foster before Kaya stepped in to take over her care. When she arrived, Honey was shut down and overwhelmed by fear. Her anxiety was constant. She didn’t seem to understand the concept of affection or what it meant to be inside a home. She had the look of a dog that had been left outside all her life, probably used for breeding and then tossed away when she was no longer wanted.
It broke Kaya’s heart to watch her pace around, never sure what to do with herself. Soft beds and cozy couches were foreign to her. Even when she had three dog beds to choose from, Honey would ignore them all, until one day, she curled up in the smallest one, as if it were her first real claim to comfort. It was a quiet but meaningful moment.
Honey began to change.
She still liked digging into the dirt and napping in holes she made for herself in the yard, but inside, she was starting to settle. Over time, she built trust with her foster mom, Kaya, and Kaya’s mom. The once-anxious dog now throws her entire body into their laps, all 70 pounds of her, like she’s finally found the love she always wanted but never had.
Kaya feels the connection deeply. When life gets stressful, just having Honey flop down on her makes everything a little better. “She’s one of a kind,” she says, watching the dog nudge at her with a paw for attention, then roll over dramatically to demand belly rubs.
Honey isn’t shy anymore. She wants to go everywhere, meet everyone, and soak in every bit of attention. That’s what makes it bittersweet for Kaya. “She’s been through so much,” she says, “and yet she’s still so gentle and loving.”
They’ve been fostering Honey since July, and soon, it’ll be time for her to move on to a forever home. Kaya knows she’ll miss her. Maybe more than she’s ready to admit.
“She’s just… different,” she says softly. “I’ve never had a dog like her.”
