In January, a family walked into Darlington County Humane Society (DCHS) with a gray-and-white pit bull wearing a teal collar. The dog had randomly appeared on their property that morning, and what she carried with her left them devastated.

“She was left in their yard with [a] note,” DCHS’ Danielle Cahn told The Dodo.

The DCHS team has rescued countless abandoned dogs over the years, but they rarely find a letter from the person who left them behind. This time, though, the pup’s former owner had left a message, and it broke their hearts.

“Hi, sorry for dropping Queeni in your yard this morning, but I can’t care for her no longer,” the note read. “Please take care of her. She’s good in the home. Loves going outside in [the] yard. Plays with her plastic bone and [likes] to watch TV with you. Never been around young children and other dogs. But she is a loving dog. Please take care of her.”

Queeni stared up at her rescuers with frightened eyes. They could tell that she was loving, just like the note stated, but she was sadly too shut down to give or receive any affection.

“She was very nervous during intake,” Cahn said. “Once she was in her kennel, she just crouched on her bed and trembled.”

The team couldn’t explain to Queeni what had happened with words, but they promised to help her overcome her fear. They spent every waking moment with the sweet pup, giving her the constant love and reassurance that she’d always deserved. Until one day, she stopped trembling.

“She slowly adapted,” Cahn said. “She is still quiet and nervous, but she comes right to the front of her kennel to greet people and ask for a cookie.”

Thanks to DCHS’ compassionate team of caregivers, Queeni quickly learned how to trust again. And once she was medically cleared, she finally got to learn what it was like to play with other dogs.

“She is making new friends and gaining confidence every day,” Cahn said, “but I am sure she is missing the quiet life of snuggling on the couch and watching TV.”

You can watch Queeni attend her first playgroup here:

Queeni is heartworm-positive, which means that she requires extra treatment compared to the other pups at the shelter. But she is just as loving as the note said, and the folks at DCHS know that she will continue to thrive once she finds a nurturing home.

The DCHS staff are still on the hunt for Queeni’s forever family, or at least a medical foster to provide extra comfort while she undergoes treatment. They’re sure to find one soon and will keep giving Queeni all the love she deserves until then.

“She is a sweet girl,” Cahn said.