Yes, Pixie is absolutely adorable, and on her way back to being the tiny girl she should be (she’s currently sitting firmly in the “fatty boombah” weight range for her size!). But when you need heavy- duty gardening gloves just to handle such a dainty little dot of a dog, you know things aren’t quite as sweet as they look.

Pixie carries some deep trauma and, sadly, is a serious biter. Without foster carers who are not only experienced but also patient and compassionate, dogs like Pixie would have very few options. We are incredibly grateful to her foster parents, Marion and John — even with all their years of experience, Pixie is proving to be a huge work in progress.

Yes, we’re aware she needs a groom! For now, the gloves have been on, and the worst of the mess around her face and back end has been gently cleared away. Once Pixie is a little calmer, she’ll head to our groomers for the fresh start she deserves.

She’s had her vet check and is booked for a dental and nail clip early next week (the latter we aren’t brave enough to attempt ourselves!). Other than a non-symptomatic grade 3 luxating patella, she’s a healthy 9-year-old — a Yorkshire Terrier x Maltese with just a dash of “Satan” for spice!

Dr Teresa has started her on anxiety medication to help calm the chaos in her little mind. Right now, it’s like she has a million spiders crawling through her thoughts with no way to quiet them — painful and exhausting for Pixie, and heartbreaking for her foster family to watch.

For now, it’s all about slow, gentle steps. Pixie is being given the time and space to watch her foster family’s movements, to see she’s safe, and to learn that she can approach them when she’s ready💕