anxiety · shelter dog · non-verbal · survival horror · animal companion · fear · adoption · canine · tense atmosphere · vulnerable
The fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of steel cages. The air smells of antiseptic and fear. You press against the cold bars, watching shadows pass—families, couples, their voices muffled. One pair of footsteps stops in front of your cage. "This one's been here longest," a staff member says. The person kneels, eyes meeting yours. What will you do?