Likes: Sitting on the couch cuddling Pet-Peeves: Having her face combed, loud noises, wearing a collar Favorite Toy: Her doggy walking buddy Lady Favorite Food: Any canned chunky stuff Favorite Walk: Anywhere outside! Best Tricks: Looking adorable, cuddling, coming when called Arrival Story: I volunteer at the animal shelter in our area. Right now my special job is to help Mindy and her friend (possibly her son) with socialization. The vet for the shelter is the vet I use and she knows me well with all of the special needs dogs we have had. She thought my personality would be good for this job. That is how I met Mindy. Bio: Mindy and Corky were discovered foraging for food in zero degree weather. A man trapped them and brought them to the shelter. When I met them they were in a quiet bonding room in a large crate together, huddled in the corner. Mindy kept her head turned to the wall, frozen. Corky stayed in front of her and barked at us to stay away. After a while we put them in separate crates, separate rooms so they could concentrate on getting better. Forums Motto: Sweeter by the Day I've Been On Dogster Since:
Got to visit with Mindy, who is now called Gracie, and her new Mama. Gracie was adopted into a home with an older woman and her other dog. Gracie was mostly to be a companion to her other dog while she was at work. Fenced in backyard, quiet house, canine companion, routine, love, grooming, vet care. Everything she ever wanted. She looks great. Her hair is growing in so soft after it was buzzed off due to matting she develop while out on the streets. She really seems very happy with her new Mama, very comfortable and safe with her. She's been spayed. She had her teeth cleaned and had a rogue tooth removed. She is getting along with the other dog, they are great buddies. She plays with toys alone, but not with the other dog yet. She was potty trained right away but has been having some "accidents" after her spay surgery...hope that gets healed and fixed up.
A great success!!
Then was mid-February. Mindy and Corky were in a crate together, huddled into a ball. She was facing the wall, away from us, and he was barking at us, trying to keep us away. They seemed to be feeding on each other's fear and since there were two bonding rooms, they were separated so they could each focus on getting better. Mindy and Corky deal with stress very differently. Mindy freezes, goes silent, tries to hide in plain sight.
My first days with Mindy went like this - open her crate, sit on floor looking away, and waiting. After a while, she started to take steps toward the crate door. I had to be still and quiet. Finally, she came out and headed for a corner and sat down. That's when I started reading to her. Day after day, the routine was sit quiet while Mindy comes out of the crate, then read out loud. While I read Mindy gradually made her way from the corner, exploring and investigating the room, then heading back to her corner.
After she had had a chance to explore, I began to add gradually scooting closer to her. Days later, I was petting her. I eventually got her into my lap. We spent a lot of time sniffing a brush, then brushing; I snipped off the worst of the mats; sniffing the leash, then wearing it.
A big day came...Mindy was grooming herself. Problem was, her feet were kind of poopy. There was much discussion, should we just rinse her feet off in a container in the bonding room or risk taking her to the tub? We went for it. Turns out, Mindy LOVES a warm bath. She also likes to be carried.
The next big step was walking with the leash on. I had to carry her outside because doors scared her. Once outside (check out our video) she came to life!
Now Mindy goes outside everyday for a walk. Seems she may have done this before, and I think she's potty trained. She has a walking buddy, another dog fromt the shelter, Lady. Mindy LOVES other dogs. She wags her tail, grooms herself, is so curious and brave.
Our current projects are going through doors and practicing for the groomer that will visit soon to buzz off the mats close to her skin.
The Dog Show: Who's Your Mama?
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