Abandoned Cocker Spaniel Afraid of Flying: "If Deceived Again, My Heart Will Break"

What made today's case most special was that I communicated with the dog entirely in English. When I flipped through my previous communication notes, I suddenly remembered this and even doubted whether the bilingual content really came from me. Although pet communication doesn't necessarily require a language limit, this dog's mom lives in Qatar, Middle East, and has been speaking to SHADOW in English ever since she got him. I had boldly volunteered to try the whole session in English, and looking back, I really don't know where I got such courage.

The reason the mom came for communication is that her whole family is moving from Qatar, where temperatures reach a scorching 50°C, to Canada, where winter lows can drop to -40°C. She's very happy that SHADOW can finally grow out his beautiful, glossy coat since he is a long-haired hunting cocker spaniel. However, the flight will be a huge challenge because SHADOW must stay in the cargo hold alone for about 20 hours. Mom is worried he will be scared and wants SHADOW to understand she isn't abandoning him.

Mom promised SHADOW that she would pick him up right after landing. But SHADOW said, "You say I have to fly on a plane, but will you really come to get me quickly? Don't lie to me!" He continued, "I truly have a shadow in my heart. The last time I was deceived, it hurt so much. Why did they abandon me?" "They said they would take me on the plane and come to pick me up, but before I even got on the plane, they disappeared."

It turns out that when SHADOW was six months old, his previous owner was being transferred from one place to another. They probably found flying with a dog too expensive and lied to SHADOW about taking him along. In the end, they left him at a lady's home who specializes in international pet transport. Mom found SHADOW through that lady's adoption notice and brought him home.

Because of this backstory, when mom asked, "In SHADOW's heart, is mom his owner or a friend?" SHADOW surprisingly said mom is a "god": "She's the god who restored my trust in humans, higher than an owner or mom. That's why I behave well and don't cause trouble for the god." Without communication, mom would never have known how deeply the previous abandonment scarred SHADOW emotionally.

Mom especially told SHADOW that she would put some of her and dad's clothes in his crate so he could feel comforted by their familiar scent. SHADOW liked this idea: "Actually, I'm not afraid of flying—I have experience—but I've also been lied to about flying with them and then got abandoned!" It's said that SHADOW was ordered from a European website by his previous owner to be flown to Qatar, which explains why he's not afraid of flying but fears being abandoned again.

"You've never seen snow, right? Cold winters are fun. Your new home has a big yard where you can run!" Mom hopes to paint a perfect future for SHADOW, especially since Qatar is a small island nation on the Arabian Peninsula by the Persian Gulf, about the size of southern Taiwan, with a population just over that of Taipei City. It's hot all year round and space is limited. Mom wants to share her love for Canada with SHADOW to cheer him up.

SHADOW replied, "Mom, that sounds nice. It's really too hot here, but I'm still worried. If I get lied to again, my heart will break." SHADOW wanted mom to give a guarantee because he was remembering how confused and angry he felt when abandoned by the owner who loved him once. Mom tried to change the subject by asking what he likes to eat, hoping good food would ease his anxiety.

SHADOW said, "I'm not in the mood to talk about food now! I don't want much, just don't abandon me." "Trust and love are very important. I don't want to change owners anymore!" Throughout the communication, SHADOW repeatedly expressed his fear of being abandoned again, equating flying with being left behind. Fortunately, mom continuously expressed her love for him.

This communication happened three years ago. At that time, no one imagined how intense summer would become. Mom and SHADOW must feel very lucky now to have escaped the oven-like heat of Qatar and be happily enjoying the cool yard in Canada.