Learning Patience With An Abused Dog

[Omaha Steve]

http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/story/learning-patience-with-an-abused-dog026




One day while lying on my couch recovering from a marathon, I heard a knock at the door. There was Fran, dog rescuer extraordinaire, standing there with a grossly overweight, dirty, ungroomed Bichon Frise. She had just been carried into the local county shelter by the police who had arrested the owner. She was pitiful. There was no reaction at all to warm stimuli; just a limp, very unhappy dog who was 50% overweight. She ultimately went from 23 pounds to 15 with a good diet and the vets thought she was about 18 months old. Weight, it turned out, was the least of Daisy's problems and the easiest to fix.. She was afraid to urinate and deficate both inside and outside, afraid of people, afraid of the car and had likely never been walked. Her patterns indicated she had probably been beaten.

She was really lucky that she had the sweetest, most beautiful eyes in the world because it took three years until I could finally say to myself, "yes, she is a happy dog". There were so many times that I was ready to give up and yet I never could. It was a true exercise to grab her and hug her when I was so angry I wanted to scream. Eventually, she came around to the hugs, soft touches and a structured life style. Now she wags her tail and goes up to strangers when we walk; she loves to meet others dogs and she never growls. The biggest thrill? It seems small but it is to call her name in the yard and watch her turn and run to me.

Anonymous
Fernandina Beach, F

http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/home?link=ctg_ars_home_from_story

The Animal Rescue Site was founded to provide food and care for rescued animals in shelters. With a simple, daily click of the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site, visitors help provide food and care for rescued animals. Visitors pay nothing. Food and care is paid for by the site's sponsors and distributed by charity partners of The Animal Rescue Site. Visitors can help more by shopping in The Animal Rescue Site store. With each item purchased, shoppers funds food and care for rescued animals in need. The store offers a wide array of items to show your support, as well as fair-traded and handcrafted items from around the world.

[shenmue]

1. I love them!

[irisblue]

2. only lowlifes beat kids and animals. No excuse is ever right

[Warpy]

3. HRH, my Maine coon rescued cat, bit me four times the first day

which was weird because when they'd dumped her into my lap at the shelter, she'd just melted into a cuddle ball.

The second day I reached down to pick her up and she shrank away from my hand, cringing with ears flat. I said "OK, kitty, got the message." She had been abused and was hand shy.

It took a long time before reaching down the way I would with a normal kitty only produced a slight wince followed by a head butt and leaning into the petting. It took months of one finger, than two, then three, trying to awaken memories of being petted when she was tiny.

Abused animals can be helped but it does take time and patience. With my cat, it took a couple of years of kitten pets and approaching her from behind so she couldn't see my hand.

It's heartbreaking, she's easily the sweetest cat I've ever lived with.

[catbyte]

4. Thanks so much for the link, OS. I will click every day.

And thank you for the awesome, heartwarming stories you post. They truly brighten my day.

[marew]

5. My beloved Golden boy passed away July 3 after 10 years of pure joy!

He was in such bad shape when I adopted him that no one knew he was a Golden. He had virtually no fur and they warned me any fur might never grow back- really bad scabies. It did but it wouldn't have mattered one bit to me. He was amazing!
Now I have a 10 year old (had her since she was 4 months old) Flat Coat who went blind a year and a half ago from SARDS, a condition I'd never heard of before, and two beautiful mutts both of which are about a year and a half old. I also have three cats- the youngest of which is missing his right front paw. He was found with that leg horribly mangled and it had to be amputated.
All of my present "loves" are black. Black dogs and cats are the last to be adopted and the first to be "put down." Black dogs are euthanized at a much higher rate because they're less likely to be adopted due to their color. Google " black dogs last adopted" and there is a wealth of info there. And the two older cats came from a rescue group that designated both of them as part of the "Lonely Hearts Club" because they'd been waiting so long.
Everyone gets along just fine. They are a lot of work but I am nuts about all of them. I am retired so I have lots of time to spend with everyone which I do. And my fabulous vet gives me a "group rate"- she is amazing.
Anywhere I go in my house, I feel like I am leading a parade!
I dearly love my human friends and was happily married for over 32 years but I also believe the critters with whom I presently share my life are a gift and enrich my life immensely! I feel so fortunate to have them!
What's that saying? Who adopted whom!

[Duppers]

6. folks like you restore my faith in humans.