[PyrNet-L] Albert & I visit a non-pyr rescue dog that's a former victim of abuse

[MagEBroD@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/28/98 8:08:04 AM Pacific Standard Time, MagEBroD writes:

   Albert & I went to see a mixed-breed (Chow-Golden Retriever cross) rescue
dog Friday.  He needs a real good grooming and Advantage and he has a hot
spot. We took him out of the kennel that he shares with a big huge lab cross
and I sat down on the grass to be down at his level. He took to me better than
he's ever taken to anyone when he first meets them I was told! Finally he'd
let me hug him and he even kissed me! He doesn't like you to touch him around
his neck and metal around his neck really freaks him out. He is 2.5 yrs. old
now and still suffering from the abuse he suffered at age 4 mos.! His owner
then was beaten badly to the point her nose was broken and she fled from the
boyfriend beating her to seek medical help. He took the mama dog and all the
pups and wrapped them in barbed wire and drove them in back of pickup truck
and then threw them, wrapped in the barbed wire over the fence at her parents'
home. For some reason this dog suffered the most trauma. Whether he was abused
the most or hurt the most or just the one that could handle it the least, I
don't know. That is the reason he doesn't feel safe around people at first.
You have to really earn that trust. That's the reason he doesn't like things
around his neck, especially metal things. If I get him I'd use a harness that
doesn't go around his upper neck at all on him. He's got a real sweet
temperament. Eventually I got Albert out of the van so they could meet. He
liked Albert, but they didn't play wild like Heidi and Albert do. I took
Albert and him on a long walk together. They got along and walked together
nicely, though. Maybe he'd eventually play more with Albert. He plays more
with his kennel-mate, another male dog. He has never been around kids or cats
at all, though. For that reason I'd insist on taking my 12 yr. old son Mark to
meet him and see how they get along. (I'd wanted to take him the first time
and hubby as well, but the days my whole family could go the rescue lady
wasn't free.)  They are supposed to take him to a vet and get his skin problem
checked out and get Advantage for him. He's been without Advantage for 3
months. He's pretty happy there at the kennel, but really doesn't get the
level of TLC he should. They raise purebred dogs, run a kennel and board dogs,
plus are helping take care of these 2 rescue dogs, so they are very busy. I
have mixed feelings about him. Usually I KNOW. I'd have felt better if he was
this tramatized sooner after the abuse happened. The fact that over 2 years
later he's still traumatized worries me some. Will he ever get over it??? Not
sure how much has to do with abuse and how much has to do with no one really
having enough time for him. Would a lot of TLC do the trick or not????? Right
now he's not the dog I'd prefer to have and I don't know if he'll ever be that
dog. Yet my heart really goes out to him and wants to help him. Yet know I
can't solve all the world's problems. They would prefer he go with his kennel-
mate as they have gotten close. There's no way I'll take both of them now
though. Not while Albert's still a pup. Don't want to spread myself too thin.
They are worried he'll suffer separation anxiety if separated from his kennel-
mate. So I need to figure out if he's better off there where he gets little
less than good care, but has a buddy he really likes and people he likes but
doesn't get enough attention. The lady at the kennel said she wouldn't mind
them being there forever. Yet the rescue group keeps advertising them both. So
even if I don't take him, someone may get his kennel-mate. (In fact someone
from Shelton is coming to look at him) Guess I don't really have a real clear
good feeling that this is the right dog for us, yet. Still looking at the ads
in papers for other dogs. 
    Seeing him and hearing his story of abuse and seeing how long he's
suffered from it, makes you really furious that someone could do that to a
whole litter of 4 mos. old pups and their mother. And of course, like many
animal abusers, this guy also abused the humans in his life, too. I don't dare
even start to say what I think should happen to the kind of worthless scum
that could do such a thing. 
 
 Janice Vocke
 MagEBroD@aol.com
 Shelton, WA.