scared |skerd| adjective fearful; frightened: he's trembling and scared at the shelter | [ with clause ] : I was scared to take him in | [ with infinitive ]: We were scared that he would not get along with other dogs
Little Bernie is finally going to his forever home this week! Hooray for Bernie. That means that I can take in another small dog. This is what came to my attention:
IPAC is Iberia Parish Animal Control.
It’s nearly 4th of July, and the shelters are full. In the summer months, it’s a depressing triage. I cannot imagine working in the shelter, having full responsibility for the process of choosing which will be euthanized. Working in rescue is, for me, is a happy thing. I am looking at the glass as half full. I choose, from amongst a large number that require fosters, which ones to help. I can’t save every dog, but I can save one at a time, and that is enough for me. I cannot, as much as I would like to, take in a pregnant dog right now, nor can I take in the mother with her seven nursing puppies. I can’t even respond to the messages that come in to the rescues that sound like this: I have been taking care of this dog, but it is not mine and I’m going on vacation so I need someone to take it or I’m taking it to the shelter. The shelter says if it is not claimed after three days, it will be euthanized. Or like this: I need a new home for my dog, he is really sweet and house-trained but my baby is due next week and I need him gone. Or like this: I’m looking to re-home this 10 month old puppy, my daughter doesn’t play with it anymore and we want it to go to a good home. I work and I just can’t give it the attention it needs. Yes, people suck. These are the people that are at least trying to reach out to a rescue for help. In the grand scheme of things, they are way better than the ones that dump their dogs or take them to a shelter without even trying to find a new home for them.
I have Tres here, going through physical therapy and needing help with the stairs to go in and out of the house. I have Henry going through his heartworm treatment. He is on strict cage rest with leashed potty breaks only. No running, no jumping, no playing. It has been 4 weeks of that, and he has 4-6 to go. He is not pleased. I have Nola, who, along with Bernie, is working hard on potty training, but he’s used to just going when the urge hits. I have my hands full. Add my dogs – Pen & Ollie & Bailey – and I have 7. What am I going to do if this little, shaking dog, who has come from a really bad situation, doesn’t get along with the other dogs?
Well, this could go one way or another. Either he will start a fight, or, and I was strongly counting on this outcome, he will arrive at The Cecchine Hotel for Dogs, will meet the pack, and will decide that this is a happy, safe, and fun place to be. Add to this uncertainty the fact that this little guy is an intact male. I have had zero luck with boys with balls. They can be aggressive, stupidly aggressive, like pick-a-fight-with-a-dog-6-times-your-size stupidly aggressive.
This poor little guy has been mistreated and is scared. I’m scared he won’t do well here. What do you do when you’re scared? Well, thinking about it won’t make the fear go away, but action will. I decided to try. Running The Cecchine Hotel for Dogs has been about stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things. And guess what?
I can do this. Again and again, I realize I can do this. And so, I am very pleased to share pictures and videos of a little scared dog we call Whit. Whit isn’t scared anymore. This boy is happy. Like all of the dog guests that have come before him, he is grateful. He is happy. He is lifting his leg on my chair – no Whit! Outside! Okay, we are working on this. Those balls are coming off today buddy; you don’t need them. We are not marking all over the house. Nope. No.
Ahem.
This is what happiness looks like. Click here. This is why I foster.
Whit is a 6-year-old bundle of happiness and he is in need of a forever home. He will follow you everywhere, wagging his tail. He would love to sit on your lap. Whit (minus those pesky balls) is available for adoption through Take Paws Rescue.
