The morning commute was the same as always—a slow crawl through the city’s industrial district while the rain threatened to spill from the gray clouds. Chloe sipped her coffee, her mind already tracking her daily task list, when a flash of movement on the sidewalk caught her eye. Sitting near a rusted dumpster was a stray dog. It was shockingly thin, its ribs visible beneath a coat caked in weeks of street grime and mud.
Chloe’s heart shattered. Despite the filth, the towering, majestic frame was unmistakably a Great Dane. She slammed on her brakes, pulling her car sharply onto the curb, and stepped out into the damp air. The dog turned its head, and they made eye contact. Suddenly, the gaunt animal scrambled to its feet and lunged directly toward her with terrifying, powerful strides.
Chloe instinctively froze, a flash of fear piercing her chest as the massive, chaotic blur closed the distance. But the moment the dog reached her, it didn’t bite. It collapsed against her legs, whimpering hysterically, shaking violently as its rough tongue desperately licked her hands.