Happy Birthday Tonka! ? Tomorrow is my one year anniversary with Tonka. The day I found him running through traffic. I've decided it's his birthday too. My mom helped so much that day, and to this day. ❤️ We got him into the car by luring him with a cheeseburger. He was terrified, and at first I thought it was from being in the middle of the street. That night, and many nights to follow I would awake to him screaming and crying ? He was pancaked at the time so I was able to get him to the vet the day after we found him. "Pancaked" was explained to me as a state an animal goes into after severe abuse, It's like playing dead. I thought he was crying at night because of a bladder infection, as it only happened when he went tinkle. The vet informed me that Tonka was "one of the most severely abused animals he had seen". It was not a bladder infection, it was fear of getting hurt for urinating. ? everything scared him. The leash, treats, even bacon scared him. I couldn't even touch his little paws without him yanking them back in terror. I could carry him anywhere though, cause he was pancaked. Then... He started to come out of his shell and get more comfy with me. He even got aggressive one day. ❤️ we did not give up on each other. My first trainer said he may never come to me. And that if he did it would take at least a year, and he may never be comfortable with anyone else. Another slightly suggested I put him down. Fuck that. Look how far my baby has come in this year. He has already let 3 other people touch him, and he kisses and loves on his mamma! He plays with other puppies and even came into the home this week. ?? It will be a bit till he is not scared of the leash and the outside world, but I know it is in our future! I just wanted to take the time to thank all of you who have supported, loved, and encouraged Tonka. Please don't think for a second that he would have come this far without you all as well. You've helped me have patience and support, even with things as simple as comments. ❤️ Happy Birthday to my baby Tonka, I love him so much, he's just becoming the puppy he never had the chance to be. I told him "we will get through this" and we are.