Straydog UPDATE posted TUESDAY 5/27/03 at ~10:01 p.m. CT
Pat's Daily Dog Log
TUESDAY MAY 27 2003
Rex is returned a second time
Rex was returned the first time about a month ago, and he was immediately adopted again. The second adoption didn't work out either, and he's back with us again. He first went back in with his mother, Rosie, and his two brothers, Benny and Rudy, who accepted him back somewhat reluctantly till they finally remembered him.
Update on Nikki
Nikki is a two-year-old Pit Bull who has been with us for just over two months. She came to us as an extremely fearful young dog, and from her rugged appearance it was obvious she had lead a terribly rough life as a stray. Nikki looked as if she had probably gone through many, many dog fights. As gentle and calm as we all are (and have been) around Nikki, it has saddened us all that she has remained so timid and frightened the whole time she has been at our shelter.
After Nikki joined us and spent weeks regaining her health, we had her treated for heartworm disease using the "slow method," a one-dose treatment, which we knew was a risky procedure for her, because she had such an advanced case of heartworms. We've had a few scares with her health after the treatment, but she's survived, and now that the month-long "worry" period is over, Nikki is able to be more active. Because Nikki has been so frightened of everything and everyone, keeping her calm and quiet during the heartworm treatment was never a problem. She has spent the days either in her dog house, which is in her shelter, or she lies in a corner of her yard to watch all the goings on of the day. She has finally gotten to the point of coming to us to leash her up for her daily walks to the big play yard (two times every day), which has been a positive step forward.
Nikki meets Puppy Rex, and for the first time she comes out of her shell!
We like all of the dogs and puppies here to have a dog or pup companion during their stay at our shelter, and we've wanted this especially for Nikki since we know she will probably be with us for quite a while, at least until she becomes more at ease with people and also becomes socialized with other dogs and pups. Today when we took Nikki to the big play yard, we introduced her to Puppy Rex.
For the first several minutes we kept Nik and Rex on leashes while we walked them around together to let them get to know one another. As the two dogs were walked around together, Nikki seemed to become more and more interested in Rex and when she finally wagged her tail (which was the very first time she has ever done this here at Straydog), we realized that she did not see Rex as a threat to her, and we unleashed both dogs.
What a beautiful sight! Nikki's whole demeanor changed instantly!
Nikki acted like a playful little pup as she and Puppy Rex chased each other around and around the play yard, tumbling and playfully tussling with each other as if they were long lost friends. It was so beautiful to see Nikki so happy!
We let them play for quite a while and then leashed them up (it took a while for Nikki to come to me to let me put the cloth leash over her) and we took both dogs to Nikki's kennel to spend even more time together. They played for hours!
Little Rex misses his mom, so he is returned to Rosie's kennel
After Rex's playful morning with his new gentle friend, Nikki, the little fellow realized his mom and brothers were just three kennels away, and he began fussing to be returned to his family, so we took him back to his "home." We'll put Nikki and Rex together everyday now, for longer periods each time. The move for Rex to become a "permanent" companion for Nikki will be very gradual, which will make it easier for him. It was so beautiful to see Nikki so happy! Rex will be the perfect little friend for her.