Going With Your Heart

[fureverywhere]

Okay the other day we were at a rare visit to the groomers. I don't do my own nails, I don't do dog nails. I've been going to this groomer several years and she does rescue on the side. On our way in there was a young man being walked by a rather exuberant bully girl. They went in ahead of us and disappeared into a back room.

The owner came out to clip Callie's nails while I held him. I'm slightly hard of hearing so I couldn't understand everything she was saying as she fussed over Callie. She was telling me about the girl I had just seen, that she'd been found locally and caged for months for lack of a forever home.

At heart I am a cat person, I was a cat person for fifty years jeez. I have a special needs kid, my hubby is being gradually disabled, I need a second job. We have several cats and two doggies dumb as rocks. For two days I mulled over this. Imagining a dog my girls size caged for even a day...she'd have a breakdown in minutes.

So I just had to go and look, maybe take her for a walk. But out of the question. We don't need another dog, enough with what we have. Always something needing to be fed. But my word she walked so nicely on leash I thought something might be wrong with her.

Sophie in her younger days pulled me off my feet regularly. For a while there I looked like I was being beaten. She's slowed a bit with age and/or I've gotten stronger. Callie is more the gentleman but rock hard shoulders he can fly at least a couple blocks easy. But this dog, pacing right along beside me.

Sophie is fearful of people especially men and young children, sudden noises, shadows, other dogs, she kills stray cats, helium balloons, imaginary noises...Callie is fearless to a fault. Humans in the dark and humans in uniform and he growls like Cujo...some ambassador for the breed...

This dog as we walked was amazing. We walked right next to humans and no reaction. Stray cats and other dogs and she didn't even blink. Noise and traffic and she barely acknowledged it. She was just so happy being free to walk and sniff. Young kids petting her okay fine she'll sit down.

You know I brought her home today
Sophie Callie and cats all accepted her from the first sniff
We are blessed

[fureverywhere]

Okay very sad follow-up to this thread. In fact erase this thread if you wish. Sophie wasn't stable enough for the situation and I should have known that. After an easy afternoon after dinner she gave a short growl and mauled the other dog. Not fatal but enough to have us all in tears.

Something that all prospective bully owners need to remember. Some dogs even with best intentions aren't wrapped too tight. Sophie was fortunate to come to us when I could give her my undivided attention, teach her how to walk on leash without pancaking and socialize her somewhat.

But I know now that she is also severally fear aggressive and considering how gray her snout is that may never be unlearned. In her lifetime we will never be able to add any other dogs or cats to the family. And I can accept that because I love her still. But she is still a powerful girl and I have to keep her safe and other critters safe.

My beautiful Sophie, so sad I don't know what else to say

[emilys]

so sad..... you did your best though. Your own dogs come first....

[fureverywhere]

And like human kids we can't always control bad choices on their part. I forgave her, it was hard. My daughter went to visit the other dog today and she's doing better. Worst wound was a deep bite on her front leg. They said they'd split the cost of the vet. I'm too sad to visit, praying she finds the right home, I wanted to name her Honey she's such a sweetheart.

Just feel so awful. But now I know Sophie isn't safe around any animal outside our house. If she turned on Callie or the cats then we'd have a difficult choice indeed. I hope she never steps out that far. But when we adopted her we made a lifetime commitment to care for her. If she were human she'd probably be on every psych med in the book

[fureverywhere]

An after-thought after a day of crying I felt strong enough to realize, I didn't want her to think "Another human gets to know me, another human abandons me". I went to see her today. We walked her around the block. She was still overwhelmingly happy to see me. So sorry what Sophie did to her, but it could have been far worse.
Have to accept I can't have her with us near Sophie. But I can walk her each day and give her the love she needs. Pray they can find her a forever home that can give her the undivided attention I can't. If it was just Callie it would have worked, but Sophie was Ms. Needy from day one. So I can be there for her each day and then go home to my dogs. Sad but at least I can love her too.