The timeline is real, and it surprises almost everyone.

The first hours feel emotional, the first days feel uncertain, and then the ground shifts again. Rescue dogs do not unfold all at once. They arrive in stages, often out of order, sometimes contradicting what you thought you understood. What shows up on day one is rarely the whole dog, and what emerges weeks later can catch even experienced owners off guard. Knowing what tends to surface at each point can make the difference between panic and patience, especially when progress looks uneven.



