Kelsey, at peace.
One of our dogs, Kelsey, was facing imminent death at a local animal shelter. (Ironic that they call it a “shelter,” huh?) A few days before she was slated to be euthanized, a representative from Atlanta’s Small Dog Rescue and Humane Society plucked her from her cage and brought her home. At the time of her extraction, she was filthy, her coat was matted to the skin, and she was infected with heartworm. The good people at Small Dog Rescue cleaned her, and shaved her fur until she was nearly naked. They then began the long and difficult process of removing her heartworm infestation—a medication regimen that is so severe and toxic, the cure itself is sometimes fatal.
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That’s all we know about Kelsey’s background. No one knows what filled her days prior to her capture at the hands of animal control. We can guess. When we took over Kelsey’s care from Small Dog Rescue, she had been cured of heartworm. She was clean and freshly groomed. The surface looked great. What lay beneath was not so tranquil.
The Problem
In her early weeks and months with us, virtually everything frightened Kelsey. Sharp noises sent her running. When we approached her, she would hunker down and close her eyes, blinking them open only briefly, as though anticipating a blow to the head. So fearful was she of being kicked, that if I so much as raised my foot off the ground to scratch a mosquito bite on my calf, Kelsey would cower and moan a sickening and pitiful cry of despair. When we took walks in the fall, the innocent sound of leaves crunching under foot would cause Kelsey to pull out to the full extension of her leash in a desperate attempt to flee whatever demons she imagined were stalking her. Rare were the times Kelsey seemed to feel at peace.
Years Later
Fast forward four years. Kelsey is now a vibrant, energetic, happy, fully functioning dog. If I’m being honest, she only reached this state in the last year. There was no epiphany—no specific day and time when I could say she went from miserable and scared to happy and confident. The transformation happened slowly, very slowly, over years.
To see where Kelsey is today, take a look at the video featured on the home page of this website. There’s Kelsey, charging a flock of 40 large and very intimidating Canada Geese. Though the geese circled overhead and tried to land back in the field, Kelsey held her ground and barked until the birds retreated over the treeline and disappeared. I wish I could show you video of how Kelsey behaved just 2 years ago. If you had see her then, you would never believe that was the same dog you see in the current video.
There is Hope
I tell you this because, if you have a rescue dog that is seemingly traumatized, there is hope. It may take years to rehabilitate your frightened dog, but the day will come when you realize your dog has turned a corner. It won’t be apparent all at once, but it will happen if you remain steadfast and patient.
To those of you who are contemplating adopting a rescue dog. Know this. If the dog you adopt is the worse for wear due to the trials and tribulations of an earlier life, you will need to dig deep for patience and hope. You will likely have your resolve tested; and, trust me, your heart will ache on occasion. Having said all that, take a look again at that video of Kelsey. Better days will come.
Take Action:
If you own a rescue dog, or you have considered adopting a rescue dog, watch for my upcoming series of articles on rehabilitating a rescue dog. They will offer not only hope, but also offer positive steps you can take to help your dog find peace and happiness. You can also follow this link that describes the work of dog rescue groups.
Let Us Know:
If you are currently struggling with the behavior of a rescued dog, or if you have discovered a technique that helps your rescued dog, let the rest of our community know what is going on by replying to this article in the comment section below.
