Salt Shaker.

When something flinches at the sound of a Frangipani flower hitting the ground, it is not too difficult to conclude that if a beautiful collection of soft cream coloured petals can elicit such an obvious and immediate fear reaction in such a small beating heart, then the reality for its mind must hold more than a few issues to say the least.

When any being with a nervous system has existed in nothing more than a small confined space of steel and wire, it is not too unreasonable to expect a resultant rage against everything.  What ensues is an internal defence mechanism of sorts from such damage.  Salt was not fear aggressive in his dealings with humans, he wanted and still wants very little to do with them, he was defensive in his reactions to being pushed and prodded into a no escape corner of his sad reality.

It would take twelve months and a fellow furry friend for him to begin to trust again.  It would take patience and routine and would need a push and pull strategy to tease and tweak a truly latent and proud Bali Street Dog to come out and show what was always there.  What was hidden and buried deep, but certainly not completely lost and destroyed.

His notebook of worry was a full list of anxiety, a bulging record and litany of trauma that resulted in a small male dog that had lived his short life in torment.   Completely unbalanced and unsure as to who and what he really is, it would take nearly two years for him to become true to his nature.

Salt has now emerged as fully as he can and even though his notebook of nerves is by no means empty he has certainly faced many of his demons.  To roam free and unencumbered of any and all fear should be the right of every being.  Being fear free of a falling Frangipani flower was what helped Salt to shake a little less. 

He still has a long way to go but it is a road that this Bali Street Dog can now roam without his book of fears.   

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