My new rescue dog, Youppi, is afraid of elevators, stairs, cars, men with beards, confusing intersections that say one thing but do the exact opposite, cats, the vacuum cleaner, the dryer, baths, crunchy peanut butter, and cages. I am afraid of most of those things too, in fact, who would not be afraid of cages and restraints? Precisely, both Youppi and I had spent time unexposed to many hard hitting life experiences or adversity and have been thrown into a whirlwind of sensory experiences to take in together. Somehow, we are now both living in Boston, trying to digest a world of change and lack of familiarity. I would not want to go through such a tender time in my life with anyone but a traumatized, unconditionally loving shelter dog, though. I see myself in him now more than ever, and it’s reassuring to know that we are feeling the same anxieties and eagerness to flourish.