In 2009 Jessica Randell and Ashley Chaulk, two of the head administrators with Heavenly Creatures showed up on my doorstep carrying a kennel containing a very terrified little cairn terrier mix. She had come out of Stephenvile as part of a rescue program there. When I say she was terrified, it is probably an understatement. Nobody could get close to this dog. They attempted to bring her into a foster home and after a week or so, had to pick her up as she refused to allow the foster parents to do anything to her. They were able to trap her in a kennel and were bringin her to the vet to be put to sleep as she was unadoptable. Both were very upset over it and brought her over to see if I could do anything for her. Thety brought her into the house, I openned the kennel door and she refused to come out. I tried to coax her out using my dogs, treats, toys…nothing worked. She curled in the corner shivering and shaking. I took the top off the kennel and she exploded out. I will never forget the sight of her running up the side of my wall to get around me, poop exploding from behind her. We spent the next hour trying to corral her again to no avail. We finally trapped her in a corner and managed to get a leash on her. I brought her outside to walk, hoping that the outside and being next to my dogs would snap her out of it. Instead she just lay on the ground, eyes rolled up in her head, foaming at the mouth and refusing to move. I picked her up and brought her back to the step. Seeing her like this broke my heart.
Myself, Jessica and Ashley were talking about the options with Angel laying on the step with her head in my lap. She was out of it completely and with little hope for the future. We were discussing bringing her to the vet when Angel reached out and licked me with her tongue. To this day I have no idea if she tried that or if it was an involuntary response BUT instantly I knew I had to to everything in my power to help her. I told Jessica and Ashley to leave her with me, whatever she did or did not do was my responsiblity and I brought her inside the house.
I placed her on the floor, walked up over the stairs and after a minute I heard her jump up and run down over the stairs and into my laundry room. This was her home for the next two and a half months. She ate, slept, peed and pooped in there. I could not get close to her…none of us could. The only thing she barely tolerated at the time was my kitten. If you walked in, she ran up the side of the wall and out of the laundry room until you were done at which time she ran back in there.
Over time, she started to let me get closer. Never too close though. Even my dogs could not approach her.
After two and a half months, she decided to make a big step.
I came home one day from work, let Morgan and Tanner out to pee and checked on Angel. She met me wagging her tail and walking toward me, never coming too close and backing away if I crouched. I went upstairs to let Morgan and Tanner in and I could hear Angel downstairs whining and giving little barks. She would run to the bottom of the stairs, whine and run back to the laundry room. This process went on for ten mins. I kept calling out to her and she kept repeating the pattern. Finally she made the break for it. Up over the stairs she came and ran right to my feet. I bent down to scratch her and she actually stayed where she was. She dribbled on the floor but HUGE PROGRESS. That day I was able to get her on a leash and bring her for her first walk with Morgan and Tanner. The progress came in leaps and bounds after that. She attached herself to Tanner, would actually cuddle up with him on his dog bed. She LOVED walking and got excited whenever her leash came out. The above picture was taken a couple of weeks after this. You can see the joy in her face.
About a month later a couple approached Heavenly Creatures about adopting her. They were a lovely young couple who spent the next month gradually building her trust and bringing her into their home. She lived with them for the next four years and became attached to them and when they had children, the babies.
As with many former fosters, she stayed with me many times over the years. Whenever mom and dad had to go out of town, she came back with me. She always got excited to see me but she especially got excited to see Morgan and Tanner. She always found her way to Tanner’s side and always darted between the two when she became spooked. She never really got over her skittishness. She is much more comfortable and easily accepting of women and likes other dogs. Loud noises and bangs still startle her but she quickly recovers. Her story was even told in the Downhome Magazine.
A couple months ago her mom called me upset. The four year old had gone into the room where Angel was asleep on her bed. The four year old jumped on her because he wanted to scare her. Angel was startled and nipped his face. She did not break the skin and immmediately withdrew from the room but the damage was done. Mom felt she could no longer trust Angel. I talked to her and tried to convince her relax. She kept Angel for another couple of months but finally contacted Heavenly Creatures to say that she just was not willing to take the chance and wanted to give her up. I contacted Heavenly Creatures and agreed to take her back with me. I knew that if I did not, a strange foster home or worse, a kennel, would set her back.
Angel has been with me a month and a half now and she is doing wonderfully. She is again attached to Tanner, is a regular on the dog walks, has walked with a couple of different members, was dog sat with my dogs by Jodi, a co-trainer, and is all around loving life. We are looking for a new home for her, somebody that can continue the work that has been done and will give her the time and space she needs to totally trust and give her love to. She has a lot of it to give.
I will be submitting some regular postings here and keeping you updated on her story. As with any and all of these blogs, feel free to share and pass the word. These dogs have so much love to give and NEED their furever home.
