They huddled in the corner of the shelter, close together, quiet and still. Their coats were thick with mats and dirt, and the world outside their kennel barely registered.
The Illinois volunteers passed by, drawn by their silence more than any bark or whine. The day began like any other: cleaning, feeding, checking kennels.
But something about that group of dogs made one handler pause, lean in, and listen. There was fear there, sure, but also a faint flicker of hope…