At last, a break through!

My Brigette came to live here during the summer and it was evident to me that she had suffered some abuse at some point in her life. She loves to get some affection but if you touch her head she shies away. She would also climb up as if to sit in my lap but she never would really settle down. Instead, she would walk all over taking what small petting she could get until she had enough.

Little by little, she would take a step to get comfy and each time it would last just a wee bit longer before she had to jump down. Today we had a break through. I was sitting on the couch, watching a movie, and Brigette came up to me. She jumped onto my lap and just laid down. She let me pet her neck and face and ears and then I decided to try her head. She pulled it back just a little when I did but then she just put her head down and let me give her all the affection she was so sorely missing. She laid there for about a half hour and then she jumped down to go play with Arnie.

I feel pretty pleased with myself for earning her trust by letting her come to me for as little or as long a time as she needed. I know she loves me and wants to be with me. She is near me all the time. She follows me around the house and always runs to greet me when I come home. She just had a hard time trusting that when I reached to give her a gentle snuggle I wasn't going to hurt her. I think she knows now that I won't ever hurt her and I won't ever let anyone else hurt her again.