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This is a wonderful story about the outcome possible for fearful dogs. Little Coconut made remarkable transformation.l Think of all the potentially loveable pets languishing in shelters or puppy mills or even worse...the ones put down.
A local woman trapped a feral puppy. Sad story with a happy ending. His grandmother is feral - and the mother of the puppy is feral. Last litter there were 4-5 pups; 2 shot dead by neighbors/kids/unknown; so a local rescue asked me if I'd foster if they could catch one or more. Within 24 hours, one pup was trapped and they warned me he was a biter. Well, ya, he was in a trap. They wouldn't even take him out, just transferred him to me trap and all.
Brought him home in the trap and my husband and I got him out - it was tough - trap was too small and not working right, so we had a struggle with a struggling to avoid us puppy also. He snapped at me, but no bite. Into a crate and immediately I began working with him. First was sitting next to the crate talking softly, then putting a bite of food into the crate - just a bite. Same with water, just a little. By the end of the night, he was no longer fearful of me and let me touch him. In the morning, he made a huge leap when he let me pick him up - we guessed he was around 8 weeks old. So, he let me give him a bath and we found a pellet lodged in his head. Made a vet appt but had to wait 3 days. During that time, I worked with him - hand feeding mostly. My service dog was always at my side when working with the puppy - and she began to "take over" his training. Within 3 days, he was walking on a leash without pulling and knew some basic commands - mostly come, no, and even crate. Amazing how fast he learned.
He was here for 5 weeks - doubled his size, was completely housebroken, and people friendly. He is adopted and they are thrilled with him. He fit right into the family with 2 older dogs and grandkids.
Thanks, NK. I didn't start to foster until 2 years ago. My first foster had parvo, but we caught it early and she survived. Next foster had been a bait dog and, after 4 months of working with her, friends fell in love and adopted her. I never get the cute, ready to adopt puppies, and that's ok. I think we are more suited for the ones that require that extra bit of whatever it takes.
I accepted a severely injured puppy on Monday. In addition to his injuries and infections, he came down with parvo and this morning he crossed the rainbow bridge. At least he had 4 days of loving that he'd never had before. It hurts that he left so soon, but better he was here than out on the highway where he'd been found.
NY Annie, bless you for all you do for these pups/dogs. It takes a special kind of 'heart' to take them in, work with them and ready them for adoption. Or as in this last case, he had four days of kind hands touching him, a sweet voice in his ear. I know it meant everything to him. I know angels carried him to his rest.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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