I did it.... I rescued Nell, now I need help!
I have a problem - I fell in love! I have on foster a traumatised collie... apparently no human contact other than a woman once a day for food due to a farmer dying (that was the story anyway). Chained with 15 other dogs of 2 years - her whole life in other words.
She was taken to the Rescue with some of the other dogs, and was unresponsive and withdrawn and wee'd herself when approached, she also bit the volunteers twice I was told...., but eventually would let them handle her enough to walk her. Then she was rehomed to an elderly couple (70's) who thought they could handle her and she escaped twice, the second time resulting in the elderly man being bitten badly on the hand. She was returned to the rescue.
This rescue but they were at a loss what to do, and for some reason when I read the heart felt blog my heart strings were tugged.... I went to see her on Saturday and that was it... I was sold. Any way after about an hour of sitting there with her the rescue said I could probably do more for her in a home than at the kennel so to take her for foster and see how she got on (they know me quite well).
So... I have Nell, along with Meg, my other collie (who isn't a happy bunny!).
She is clean in the house for now (probably too scared), hasn't really bonded with my other dog who is quite dominant, but Nell is so submissive, she just rolls straight over .... She stays in her basket and just looks around.
After 2 days she is acknowledging the lead and knows where the door is. She comes for walks quite willingly but I have to go to her to put the lead on. The world is a big scary place for her at the moment, but I believe she is coming along really well. She met my friend and her 2 dogs today, which was very scary as we had to walk along the main road to get there, so she's had a hard day, but then my friend came to my house afterwards and she allowed her to stroke her and sniffed her hand. It is early days I know... but even in that short time I can stroke her all over (although body language tells me scared).
Any advice would be appreciated - I wonder if she will ever stop being so scared of me... and become the lovely dog that I am sure she has the potential to be.
C x
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