The puppy who overcomes abuse thanks to a baby

"Nora" came out of a past marked by violence to be welcomed by the affection of a baby.

If someone who doesn't know @welletas' Instagram account at all, they might just see one of those galleries of dogs and cats in a family environment that are so popular on the Internet.

However, the more than 116,000 followers of its owner, Elizabeth Spence, are not just because her pet and family photos are of very good quality (which they are).

Her account is popular because it contains a touching story that has been explained in the lines that accompany the images. The main characters are baby Archie and his dog, Nora..

Nora, the puppy marked by trauma

Some of the most frequent psychological disorders can even go into remission and disappear at times simply with the company, support and affection of others. This is exactly what happened with Nora the dog.

This adorable animal came into Elizabeth Spence's family through adoption, as she had previously had other owners. The relationship between Nora and her former owners was marked by violence and abuse, which traumatized her.The relationship between Nora and her former owners was marked by violence and abuse, which deeply traumatized her and caused her to become afraid of just about everything: windblown objects, other dogs, unfamiliar places and, of course, humans.

Naturally, Elizabeth could not resort to words to try to calm her dog. Unlike what would have happened if Nora were human, there was no possibility of resorting to a therapist to modify the ideas from which she interpreted the traumatic events that had occurred, nor to improve her self-esteem by questioning her beliefs. There was no abstract thinking to fix, only pure emotion, which could not be reached through conversation.

Fortunately, another member of the family could treat Nora as an equal, and establish an emotional connection with her through the simplest thing in the world: physical contact.physical contact. It was Archie, who at the time had not yet reached his first birthday.

The bond between baby Archie and Nora

Archie, in his natural curiosity, soon took an interest in Nora. At first it was complicated to bring them together in the same place, but the baby's kind and calm character The simplicity of Archie's touch, his movements and the calmness he expressed began to act like a balm..

The simplicity of Archie's touch, his movements and the calmness he expressed began to act like a balm. In a short time, Archie went from being a threat to becoming an oasis of peace, one of the few available when everything scares you. The emotional bond that was created between the two became an anchor that Nora was able to start using to keep in touch with moments of well-being and tranquility.

Today, Nora still hasn't been able to forget all the suffering she went through, and she doesn't act as a perfectly healthy dog would. The fear is still there, lurking, and it appears in a disruptive way, taking away many of the moments that Nora would not want to let go of. But Archie was and remains someone with whom Nora can be herself: in the affection expressed by the little boy she recognizes herself as a being that is loved and that deserves to be loved.

The nature of affection between dogs and humans

This case is not the only one to show how affection between dogs and humans can profoundly affect the emotional states of both species. For example, research has shown that something as simple as looking into the eyes of a dog for several seconds at a time is able to make the dog's oxytocin levels rise, which is very interesting, because this substance secreted by the body is considered the hormone of love and emotional bonds.

In general, in psychology it is established that the strongest and most fundamental bonds of attachment are not based on words or on the way we verbally explain what we feel. Something as simple as sleeping leaning on each other is worth more than a thousand compliments and compliments and, although it may seem irrational, it can actually improve our mood much more if it is done by expressing honest emotions of affection.

Physical contact is the first step to affection

If Nora and Archie's story can teach us anything, it is that we should not forget the simplest we should not forget the simplest resources to express affection, and use them without excuses.and use them without excuses. It is a habit that we should vindicate more, not only because it is pleasant, but because it is a way to make attachment really exist.

As much as we extol the rationality and intellectual nature of our species, what really matters is beyond words. It is a language that we all understand, whether we are human or not; and that is for a reason.