This is our lil gem...Belle
She was rescued by our local SPCA 2 years ago, November, from a puppy mill. She lived in a 5x7 shed only to be let out once every couple of days when they shovelled out the dog crap. She shared the shed with her daughter and 3 other dogs. When she and her daughter were rescued, each of them had an anti-bark collar on. They were so tight, the collars had turned their necks raw. The electric shock prongs on Belle's collar had made 2 one inch deep holes in the flesh of her neck. The dogs were in such bad condition they were fully shaved, surgery was performed and the vet staff hoped for the best. Thankfully, both recovered physically. The daughter was quite outgoing still and was readily adoptible, but Belle was morbidly afraid of pretty much everything and everyone. We took her on, hoping at best that she would come to understand that she would never be harmed again and that she would find a way to relax.
It's been a long road for her, with lots of patience on our part. 2 years later she has come to understand she will not be harmed. Her coat has grown in beautifully. The stains on her feet from the dog droppings she stood in every day for 3 1/2 years have gone away. She keeps changing weekly. She has explored some puppy behaviors (at the age of 5) and now seems to be exploring her teenager years. She smiles, runs, plays, and out thinks the golden retriever here at every turn. She positions herself conveniently so we can scratch her butt as often as possible. For a dog that would not let us touch her behind the face at 1st, this has been a huge trust she has given us.
How quickly tho the oppressed become the oppressor...*L*. She is definitey the boss of us ALL.
Her new tag says "DIVA"
