So last Wednesday, I took in 3 stray dogs. That's right, in addition to the "cast of characters" already mentioned. Which brings me to 5 dogs. Fortunately for me, I live out in the country on 20 acres, so the INCESSANT BARKING doesn't bother too many people, myself excluded. That aside, these guys are super cute, and in spite of their shy dispositions, they are turning out to be very sweet. My guess is that they are Catahoula mixes, an unwanted litter that somebody decided to dump on my road ('cause it's the country, and all animals can make it out in the wild, right? Idiots.). They are obviously litter mates, and they are young. By the time I took them in, two of them were very skinny, and the third was just skin and bones. I wasn't sure he was going to come with me- he prefered barking from a distance. But since his brothers followed, he apparently did not want to be left behind. Not having a fenced in backyard myself (my dogs don't stay outside unsupervised and they come when they are called), they had to spend their first night together in an 8' x 8' pen, which they readily went into for some food. My roommate and I dubbed them Cash, Merle and Hank (country dogs, duh). The following pictures were all taken their first night.
They have come a long way since last Wednesday. From the beginning, Merle, the blue merle (haha), was the most outgoing. I have been putting them individually on a collar and leash to try to work with them, and he has always been very willing to walk with me, even with his siblings calling him. He also ate very politely out of my hand, and he has just been gentle in general. I am happy to say that he has a new home with kids and a doggy friend named Abby. I think he will do well with them once he has adjusted.
The tan and white male, Cash, is looking great. His coat is shiny, and his ribs, while still visible, don't protrude from his sides as much. He is the goof of the three. Talk to him in an excited voice, and he wiggles and bounces and gives you looks of adoration. He is, however, the most shy of the three. He has warmed up to me a lot, but he's not sure about strangers. He is more apt to observe them from a distance than to run up and lick them... if I start opening his run, though, any part of me he can reach is instantly slobbered. He's a goober on leash, too. I'm not sure he knows how to walk in a straight line. I'm constantly stepping on his feet, which earns me a look of dismay (and once a yelp), but nothing aggressive. If he sees something interesting in the distance, his tail goes up, his head goes up, and he adopts a gait reminiscent of the fox trot. It's rather adorable and happens not nearly enough. I think he's going to make a great dog, once he gets over his fear of people.
The last dog, the one that is most dear to my heart, is Hank. Hank had a hard time while they were loose, judging from his condition and the fact that he would not come near us when we first found them. However, once we gave him food and water, he opened up immensely. Now he joins Cash in greeting me exhuberantly when I go out to mess with them. We did have an incident, while they were all still in the 8x8 pen, where he attacked Cash over food (who can blame him; he was starving) and got himself some lacerations on his head. But they were separated after that into individual dog runs, and we have had no problems since. He has started to fill out, but his hip bones and ribs are still very visible. In spite of his skinny condition, he pulls majorly on the leash- and he's strong! I've been working on teaching him to heel, and once we get out onto the road and start walking, he's fine. He just forgets, I guess. He has stopped gulping his food, and he doesn't try to swim in his water bucket like Cash. He just needs a lot more TLC. I'm positive he has worms, so I'm going to attempt to deworm him (and Cash) tonight. I'd really like to find Cash a home so that I can focus more of my efforts on Hank.
Aside from the really sad fact that someone didn't give these guys a chance and left them to fend for themselves, I am very grateful for this experience. I someday want to run my own rescue operation, and I have learned a lot from these guys. I know that finding them new homes is going to be hard because of their size and lack of training, but I think it will be possible with some work. I really enjoy working with companion animals and learning what makes them tick, as well as deciphering their individual personalities. These guys could not be more grateful for their meals, which, along with watching them get better, makes the money I've spent on them worth it. I know the rescue world is hard and you cannot save them all, and I realize that these guys are still not out of the woods yet, but at least they will know what it is like to be loved and cared for.
As I do not like to hog rewarding experiences all to myself, I'd like to leave you by planting a small seed. You certainly do not have to take in three, but shelters and rescue groups could save so many more if they had limitless people able to foster even one dog, cat, horse, what have you. There are dogs and cats sitting in shelters that through training could become more adoptable, not to mention the room it would free up for more if they were living with a foster. If you don't think you would be able to give up a foster animal after keeping it for a while, I completely empathize with you. I have always said the same thing. However, the fact that I took these guys in knowing that I was just going to help them and then send them on their way has really helped me to distance myself from them emotionally. I am fond of them, and I will be sad to see them leave, but they actually have a chance at decent lives because of me. I now know that I will definitely foster in the future... when I am no longer a renter!
It feels good to be back! Look forward to more updates on the dogs, especially once I get updated pictures of them. Maybe afterwards I will find something else to write about!
Nice post ! Thank you for share this post tells us about your true feelings for dogs. I also know a animal lover Ashley Wilfand a veterinary expert who loves animals a lot.
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