I picked up Sadie and Sasha from the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA last night. They did not have an easy time back at the shelter, through no fault of the excellent staff and facility there.
They didn't even come to me when I went to their kennel. You could see in their eyes that they were scared. Luckily, I was armed with chicken and won some of their trust back. But I still had to pull them out of the kennel. And getting into the car was a challenge. But, on the ten minute trip home, they started to remember, and once we pulled into the driveway, tails came up. In the front yard, those tails started to wag. Two minutes later, they were back to their happy selves.
I tell this story so potential adopters realize that Sadie and Sasha can bounce back from tough experiences. Don't take their fear personally. They are resilient and want to love and trust and be a part of a family. Right now, after a morning of playing, they are napping on their beds, just 15 hours after returning from four days at the SPCA.
They take effort, but the rewards are huge. To see the fear leave their eyes (its departure hastened by chicken and liver treats) is so wonderful. And their puppy fur is so soft and sweet smelling.
It will seem hopeless when you take them home, but with just a little patience and a lot of treats, they feel secure enough to play and love and snuggle. What more does anyone want from a dog?
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