Loving my Oldies

Just one of the girls. Clockwise from top left: Beatrice, Shala, Strawbs, Bunches.

Yes, that’s true. I’m making a point of picking her up more and more. This morning, she took all her meds in little balls of mince from me without backing away. Tomorrow marks 6 weeks . Will definitely take a while.

We have a long way to go. Poor darling was terrified.

Well, two massive breakthroughs today. The first one came when I was getting their breakfasts and, as usual, I gave Strawbs her tablet in a little bit of mince. She usually takes a bit of convincing, but she took it straight away and didn't move as she ate it. I decided to push the boundaries and started giving her scratches around her ears, gradually moved down her body and, throwing caution to the winds, and picked her up. She was terrified of course, but she didn't struggle or try to bite. So thrilling. Second one came just a little while ago. I'd spent ages in the garden and after coming upstairs when into the study and spent a bit on time on the computer. I was desperate for a cup of tea, so eventually turned around to leave the room and there was Strawbs in one of the beds (the others always come into the study with me). How I managed to contain my squeals of delight I don't know, because I didn't want to frighten her. Well, of course, once she knew I'd seen her, she started to shake, but only got out of the bed when I moved and left the room. I was hoping she would stay there so I could get the camera, but she has gone off hiding somewhere. So quite a day in terms of progress. I am over the moon.

That's is what is uppermost in my mind. The pain and terror would be immeasurable.

She is def worth all I can do for her and more . It is heartbreaking though. We are having crazy weather at the moment with hot days and turning really cold at night starting quite early in the evening. Last night, she was shivering so hard, I simply had to put her through the catching process so I could get a coat on her. She didn’t stop shaking for ages while I held her, but she kept turning towards my face and giving me licks. I’m quite sure it was an appeasement gesture which made me so angry at whatever or whoever had caused her to think like that. This afternoon I gave them all some treats. I was holding one out for Strawby and Shala swooped in and took it. Well!! No more backing away after that. She wasn’t going to let that happen again . So most days we see a little inching forward.

(I missed your comments about the floorboards LOL @Boronia. They look better in photographs than they actually are. I have had quotes to have them refreshed, but it means moving out for about three days, storing all the furniture, etc etc and, at the moment, the organisation of that defeats me . ) As for Strawberry, her recovery will be a long hard row to hoe, sadly . Over five weeks now and she still runs, still shakes until you wonder how her body can stand it. BUT, there have certainly been some improvements. She joins the others when I start preparing their meals, I no longer have to barricade the steps to the back garden off as she comes and goes freely and, on a couple of occasions, has come when I called her. Not right up to me, but to the bottom of the steps. Most times I can give her her medications in little balls of food, at other times, she is too afraid and I have to give up - until next time. The only way I can "catch" her is to shut off exits and entrances and try to get her into the kitchen, throw a towel over her and get her that way. I tried leaving a lead on her, but that is just too dangerous as it can get caught on all sorts of things, so we have to go through the awful towel business. The last couple of times I have had to do this, she has stopped and given in to the inevitable, and after than she gets cuddles and pats and lots of crooning. To see the below photographs, you'd think she was just a normal little dog. So sad, but we will just keep going, cuddling, patting and crooning LOL.

I imagine the statement was because sellers get it all the time. Even rescue organisations get it when they might have expended thousands getting the dog well.

It is through all facets of society today. Someone has their identity stolen and are put through hell dealing with the consequences.

I give prospective owners the third degree. As Dogsfevr says: we are dealing with a living animal not a rock. In fact I have been known to pass judgement on people saying that I wouldn't home a pet rock to them. Edited to clarify LOL - not to their faces.

Well, I am sitting here reading these new posts nursing my latest bitten fingers from Strawberry. We know why she does it and because she is a little dog, we can cope. However ……. a Staffy, albeit a puppy now, well I hate to think of the possible and maybe probable damage when the dog is older. Even if we know why, doesn’t mean we have to live with it. Logically I know what the poster should do. In reality it is so damned hard. I euthanised a little dog some years ago because she was elderly (which meant her rehab would be virtually impossible) and totally unpredictable and lived in a state of hyper anxiety ready to pounce. I have photographic evidence of this turning in a flash. Despite knowing in my head it was the right thing to do, my heart still hurts and wonders if I could have done more. I feel very sorry for Belinda, but she has to think of her baby and family.

Good.

I believe this. I think occasionally can be applied to dogs, though, because there are plenty of people who are dangerous nutcases.

Oh, I thought it was this Wednesday just past. Where is the original one? Edited: Okay, I have found several posts about this dog. Not good, not good at all.

I've deleted my post because I hadn't twigged that this lady has been asking for help for quite a while.

I cannot be as gentle as @tdierikx. The dog has bitten your son FOUR TIMES!!! Attacked your cat obviously meaning business. What next, I cannot help but wonder. Visit the vet, definitely. Rehome? Definitely not. I think there is only one outcome here and it will be traumatic, devastating and will stay with you forever. The alternative (which I won't put into words) is infinitely worse. All that said, please understand, that I am sure others as well as I, I know your situation is unenviable. You have posted a few topics about this dog now. And it would seem that this behaviour has not come out of nowhere as you state in your opening.

This is little Strawberry after being clipped off completely. She has the most beautiful coat so I can't wait for it to grow back. If she were a human, you'd call it a Strawberry Blonde colour.

Separate, separate, separate. NOW.

I am sure it will come as no surprise to anyone that Strawberry is still with me . There has certainly been progress, but only someone who lived with her would notice. She stills runs away, but she joins the other dogs in waiting for her meals, so that is something. I will try to put up some photos, but my new computer is very very very user unfriendly when it comes to photos . If Strawberry is in one of the beds, I can "bum walk" up to her and pat and cuddle her. She even gives me licks on my face and hands. She follows me around and really wants to be okay. Hopefully that time will come, but it will be a while. At this early stage, she is as comfortable as one can reasonably expect and I dreaded how she would feel having to go somewhere else.

You are missing the point. These sorts of people consider it a badge of honour to have an aggressive dog and, bugger anyone else, they will take it where they want to. The person has obviously managed to get away with it for a while as the Council apparently does nothing. And I doubt anything will happen this time. Hope I am proved wrong.

They have been on meds, PK, but they have been in such a state of deprivation for so long. Strawberry was at the vet today to have all her work done, but they forgot to clip her off. So she is staying overnight and having it done tomorrow. Apparently she was a little angel with the vet nurses and getting pats and cuddles. She was an angel on the way over there too as I had her wrapped in towels and cuddled her the while time. I suggested to the rescuer this evening (who was also there with Molly) that Strawberry needs to be kept inside where she feels safe.

I have had to call it quits on these two little dogs. They are severely traumatised and will take a long time and a lot of work to get them ready for adoption. It is heartbreaking to see such frightened dogs and also very worrying to see them affecting my dogs. I suggested to the rescuer that they would do better apart as they feed on each other's fears, so she has taken little Molly and already there are signs of improvement. Strawberry on the other hand is much older and has probably been at the horrible place all her life and is extremely frightened. It has taken me two days to "catch" her after letting all the dogs downstairs on Friday morning. I can't keep the house and/or deck closed and just take the dogs down from time to time which is what I would have to do, if I kept fostering Strawberry. The rescuer will find her another foster carer with a much smaller back yard. If I didn't have my own dogs, it would be a different story, but I can't continue to turn their lives upside down and the rescuer recognises this. I am sad.

I have to agree. It is so damned sad.

That was such a beautiful tribute and certainly brought tears to my eyes. You didn't TRY to give your darling Odin the best life; you DID give him the best life. My deepest condolences

Negative: How do you house train terrified dogs? Positive: At least I know they are doing something! Laugh or cry LOL.