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‘Extremely shut down dog’ is breaking shelter staff’s hearts. She needs a home

Sis was unsure about everything around her at a New York shelter.
Sis was unsure about everything around her at a New York shelter. Video grab from SPCA Westchester’s Instagram video

A terrified dog at a New York shelter is in desperate need of a special home where she can feel safe and start to learn to trust humans.

Sis, a 2-year-old terrier mix, came to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Westchester in Briarcliff Manor from an overcrowded shelter in California. When she arrived, she was utterly afraid.

“ As you can imagine, she came to us terrified, and has been decompressing in our care. We don’t know about her past, but we do know that you can help rewrite her future,” her pet profile said.

That was months ago, and Sis is still having trouble adjusting to shelter life.

In an Aug. 5 Instagram video, the shelter showed a sweet-faced, small, shivering little baby who shrinks in corners and gives big eyes to those who were trying to help her.

“She arrived extremely shut down,” the shelter said. “This girl is breaking our hearts. Sis, a young terrier mix, is slowly gaining courage since she arrived a few weeks ago, but watching her shake and cower is so hard.”

In an updated video posted to Facebook on Oct. 10, Sis is still there and has made some progress. Footage features her going into the yard and sniffing around — so much more alert than the first video.

But a shelter isn’t a warm home.

“She has slowly made strides but really needs the love and security that a foster home can provide. Sis will thrive in a quiet, calm adult home. She is just breaking our hearts,” the shelter said.

For more information on Sis, visit the shelter’s website.

Briarcliff Manor is about a 35-mile drive northeast from New York City.

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TJ Macias
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
TJ Macías is a Real-Time national sports reporter for McClatchy based out of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Formerly, TJ covered the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers beat for numerous media outlets including 24/7 Sports and Mavs Maven (Sports Illustrated). Twitter: @TayloredSiren
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