Since BHRR's Blossom's arrival on September 7th, 2012; we have learned that she is not housebroken. She will get there! 🙂
She is one terrifed wee girl and since her arrival; unless we clip on a leash and walk her out of the house, she will not go. She will hide in her crate.
On the 11th, I made a breakthrough. Her crate is right by my computer. I have continued to offer her treats which despite her state of emaciation, she takes very gently from my fingers. VERY gentle.
On the 11th, I started with her crate door door closed, fed her BHRR's Journey's HEART biscuits(WHICH she loves and I have ordered more from Anna for her!) and worked my way further back until she was back toes in the crate and front end out and she was still taking the treats.
Most noises and sounds will starte her back into her crate yet with each passing day, she has become more brave and as of the 10th, she has come out of her crate wanting to enter the main area and so, on the evening of the 11th, I let her do her thing and she went right in and drank from the communal dog bowl.
She is now wonderfully integrated with most of the dogs and as long as no one comes up really fast from behind, she is content to not rush to me(OMG! My heart melts that she is beginning to trust me) or run to her crate that I leave the door open. As soon as she is brave again, she comes out.
I tried to take a video of what she did last night that just was a heartstopping awwwwwwwwwwwwww moment. She began to wag her tail – half mast when I use her name and she actually came to me! OMG! She came to me on her own accord for some love. I have to be very careful how I raise my hand and only touch her on the side off her neck and work my way up to her top of her head. The sides when you touch her are very skin and bones and she almost flinches, so I stick to her the sides of her face and top of her head and gently stroke her ears. WHAT a angry thing to know that someone kept her outside and her tips/edges of her gorgeous ears are frost bitten away. 🙁
At one point she just sighed and leaned her head into my side…..awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, ok, I am now gone hook, line and sinker! 😀 GLADLY!
She would leave me and come back to me at her will and OMG! HUGE HUGE HUGE! It has taken FOUR days to reach this point. Four days of patience, calmness, consistenty, routine and structure and no pressure!
I have taken some pictures from the 11th and you will see how her tail is tucked right up underneather her. These were taken on my brick deck and outside just makes her so afraid and that is putting it lightly. She is very worried about being left out there. What I have begun to do is feed her some of her meals outside on the brick and that is what she was doing and I was able to snap a few photos as cameras also terrify her.
She has had no issues with resourcing -shares the communal water bowl and is no wallflower for she was right in there with the mindset that ladies are first! 🙂 As I keep saying over and over again, these dogs that go through such hell are SURVIVORS and to be a survivor they have backbone, inner strength and the will to want to live.
People ask me do I think she will 'make it' and unless something terrible happens – bloat/tort etc., I see no reason why she will not 100% rehabbed over the next few months AND she is going to need months. Yet, when that time comes she will be ready to be placed up for adoption and that lucky home is going to get a fantastic dog. SHE is such a fascinating and beautiful creature. I think there is an imp in there somewhere and I aim to find out! 🙂
Right now, she is a far cry from that future and I am taking it one day at a time with her and taking those steps one day at a time.
I will not push her yet; I am not going to let her withdrawal into herself and I am going to give her opportunities and experiences of kindness and love.
She really needs some extra TLC if anyone may consider helping us to help her. BHRR has taken in some very critical cases of late and this is why we are here. Yet, like any r/q Rescue in the doing so, our finances are really tapped.
We are also entering our first food crisis of 2012 and only have about one week of food left. 🙁 We need your help to keep doing what we do……….
Kanata Animal Hospital (613) 836-2848 and they will take Visa, M/C and AMEX over the phone under the account of 'Birch Haven Rescue' for 'Blossom'. They will take Debit or Cash in person at 440 Hazeldean Road in Kanata, Ontario
You can also mail donations via a Bank Draft to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via PayPal(please use the 'gift' option)
BHRR's Blossom's BEST Angels $125 donated to date & Bills $378.52
Karen
BHRR's Ani & BHRR's Shiva's home
Collar – I have ordered a CRAZY BEAUTIFUL collar last week
Leash
Packing blankets as those hips and spine are extremely boney and she needs cushion
Lean ground hamburger
Rice
Ester C
Towels
Oatmeal Shampoo
Pinesol
BHRR's Blossom – September 11th, 2012
