a somber barrier
As families moved through the shelter, interest in the dogs was clear. Yet, whenever they paused at his kennel, their smiles dipped slightly.
His sad eyes seemed to tell a story too daunting to face. “Why does he look so down?” a visitor murmured to a staff member.
The potential adopters, though intrigued, were unable to see past his sorrow, backing away and continuing their search elsewhere.