Our pets become a part of our family. They share our memories, our accomplishments, and our downfalls. They are our source of comfort when the world is crashing down around us. This woman depended on her dog more than anything. She found the strength to give up everything else in her life, but she held on to that bond with all her heart. No one values their animal more than Gemma does.
Gemma was stuck in an abusive relationship, and she struggled to find a way out. She had started seeing someone new, and the relationship was good at first. However, after only a couple months, the relationship went sour. “He tried to take my head off with a trowel,” the former victim explained to BBC Stories. “I had a big massive cut, and bruising and blood, and everything else . . . If I hadn’t walked, I’d be dead.”
With so many horror stories, it is easy to wonder what kept Gemma in that place for so long. Unfortunately, she was not alone. She had her own baby to look after, as well as a pet dog named Dusty. When this man was not abusing Gemma he would take his violence out on her beloved pet, so leaving Dusty behind was simply not an option.
Gemma found a refuge for herself and her son, but they could not bring their dog. This woman could never imagine leaving her dog in an abusive household – he meant way too much to her. “Every night I cried,” she shared, “and every morning I cried, it was that dog’s head that was on my lap.”
Fortunately, there was a way to get everyone out safely. Gemma reached out to the Dogs Trust Freedom Project, a self-described “dog fostering service for people who are fleeing domestic abuse.” There she was connected to Frank, a man who would keep Dusty safe during this trying time.
Frank was a lifesaver to Gemma. He took Dusty everywhere with him, spent every minute with him that he could, and showered him with love. Although Gemma was never able to meet Frank in person for safety reasons, she received pictures of their adventures in the mail.
Gemma was wholeheartedly grateful to Frank for his vital support. “If I’d have left that dog in that house, he’d be dead. I know for a fact he would,” she stated. Instead, Gemma, her son, and Dusty all had a chance at a fresh start.
“Dearest Frank,” Gemma wrote in a letter to Dusty’s former caregiver when she had finally secured her safety, “The last thing I ever wanted to lose was my Dusty bear. Some days I was that heartbroken I would just sit and cry. And he sat right beside me the whole time. I’m forever grateful to you. I might have lost everything else but I kept the most important part – my little family. And so it’s with great thanks to you . . . that I was able to do it. You will always be a part of our lives and forever in our hearts. All our love, the three amigos.”
This brave woman’s story reminds us how strong the bonds of love are. Gemma was able to give up everything out of hope for the future. Her story is an inspiration to anyone looking to escape a bad situation.
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