Success Series - Trust (Sam) UPDATE

by Anna Geletka

UPDATE!! Trust/Sam's person, Susan, left a wonderful comment on this post. Be sure to read it to get all the latest information about Sam in his forever home!

Welcome to another installation of our Success Series! Every Friday for the next several weeks we will post the story of a pet who has found their forever home through HSEC. If your animal was adopted from HSEC and you want them to be featured on the blog, contact us here: humanesocietyofec@gmail.com

Trust

Hiding in his crate

When I met Trust, I was first reminded of a deer. He moved like a prey animal, this small lab mix with sleek black fur and a gaze that constantly monitored any human presence while avoiding any eye contact. Along with his three siblings, Trust had grown to the age of nine months without any human contact at all.

He would not come up to the end of his run or let a leash get slipped over his head. He would not solicit play or attention, and in the play area he paced restlessly. If I crouched submissively, making myself small, looking away with my hand stretched in the opposite direction with a piece of cheese balanced atop my palm, he eventually might risk approaching. A delicate brush of his snout against my hand, and the cheese would be gone. By the time I looked, he would already be on the other side of the yard.

And that was a good day.

I have long been drawn to the underdog, and Trust was as under as a dog could get. So naturally my husband and I decided to foster him. The week before we were scheduled to bring him home from the HSEC facility, he got off leash in the play yard and I couldn't get him back. For almost an hour we tried coaxing him in - me, my husband, other volunteers, staff - while he hovered nervously just out of reach. I was only able to reach him by belly-crawling toward him, inches at a time, until finally I slipped the leash over his head.

We took him home. For two days he wouldn't eat. We had to carry him in and out of the house for bathroom breaks (but he was so terrified inside our house, he never once had an accident). He hid in his crate. On day three, a hot dog finally convinced him to break his fast. I was just beginning to understand what I'd gotten myself into.

After a few weeks, Trust found himself a new safety spot, in the corner next to the couch where I work (I work from home). He would curl up there, small as he could get, only surrendering to sleep when he could no longer hold his head up. Then one day, I felt something brush my hand as it rested over the edge of the couch. I sat forward to look. Trust and I stared at each other. He licked his lips and yawned, a nervous behavior that he performed almost constantly. I started working again, and felt the nudge again. This time I didn't move.

Trust was pushing his head under my hand. Cautiously, I scratched. When I stopped, he bumped his head against my hand, more insistently. Wanting more scratching. Wanting attention. It was the very first time I had ever seen him show interest in me, much less a desire for affection.

I cried. (I cry a lot in this story.)

Trust learns that toys are fun to destroy

Trust lived with us for nine months. Every baby step toward normality was a major accomplishment, like when he finally began sneaking out from his crate, or when he began to eat food from my hand, or when he would go in and out of the house by himself. But for every step forward, there were days when his all-consuming fear would reduce me to tears. For example, he was particularly scared of the back door. Something about that pinch point just freaked him out. He would pace on our back porch sometimes for fifteen minutes before finally making the dash inside.

As people who adopt or foster these difficult, unsocialized dogs know, their progress can only be tracked in months or years. Even by the time Trust left us, he still couldn't do a basic "sit" (too afraid of the standard training method which involves raising the hand over the dog's head). There were rooms in the house he still wouldn't enter. He also wouldn't jump in and out of the car by himself, and while daily walks had improved dramatically, he was often driven to utter panic at something as simple as a car going by.

Video taken about six months after entering foster care - from refusing to approach us to wagging his tail! Note how he licks his lips and nervously paces up and down the stairs, still anxious about approaching me.

When the HSEC staff suggested I bring him to an adoption stand at PetSmart, I was skeptical. A noisy environment with constant unfamiliar stimuli and dozens of people shoving their hands into Trust's face. How on earth could that go well? But I had underestimated him. For one thing, unsocialized dogs raised with other dogs are comfortable interpreting doggy signals. Surrounded by dogs who were comfortable around people, Trust wasn't as freaked as I expected. He hugged my leg, but he would take treats from me, a sign that he wasn't shutting down.

A moment in the sun

There wasn't a lot of attention paid to this small black dog. A couple stopped next to us to look at a litter of puppies. Trust snuck out. My heartrate sped up as he approached the woman's leg. Silently, I begged her not to jump or startle or, worst of all, stick her hands in his face while shouting endearments. Trust sniffed her leg, ever so gently.

Then he put his head under her dangling hand and nudged her. Pet me. And she obliged, sucked in by the honey softness in his liquid brown eyes.

For the first time I saw a future for Trust outside our house or the HSEC facility. In his willingness to go up to this total stranger, his hopeful soliciting of affection, my sweet little Trustman had demonstrated a courage and resilience that many humans can't match.

I cried. Again.

Almost a year after we began fostering Trust, he was adopted from the facility. My phone number was given to the adopters. None of us were sure if this would stick. Then, a few weeks later, I got a call. Trust was now called Sam, and his new owner wanted to tell me how great he was, but I sensed something more in her voice. "You know, it might take some time for him to get comfortable with you," I said. "You have to be really patient. Sometimes he can be really frustrating."

The woman let out her breath in a rush. "Thank you for saying that," she said. "Sometimes I just don't know what we're doing wrong. I just put my head down on the table and cry."

"Well, it's not you, believe me," I assured her. And we talked for a while about him - I recommended a thundershirt, which had worked wonders for our nervous chocolate lab - then she hung up. I fretted for days that he would be returned to the facility.

I got another call weeks later. It was Thanksgiving, and she left a message. "I just wanted to tell you that Sam is like a different dog. He's just the most wonderful dog. He's a part of our family. We love him so much."

Yes, I cried.

Cat Scratch Fever

by Beau Dove

My friend just got the cutest little kitten and I have to admit that I have never been more scared of something that small in my life. The little rascal pounces, scratches, and bites! What may be considered playful behavior in to others, seems more like malicious acts of terror towards me. Despite the fear that is invoked, I have been very welcoming and understanding of this little curious companion. 

Since this is a house cat, I have come to terms with a certain amount of pent up energy it strives to release on house visitors. Sometimes the little cutie will even hop into my lap and purr for a pet and some much needed attention. That is, until “OUCH” the claws come out and pierce right though my pant legs! As much as I want to be mad at the cat, I can’t hold her responsible. These animals need to stretch out their claws and keep them sharp. A lot of house cat owners only look at the claws as a nuisance and will have the cat declawed. Yes, this will keep them from scratching everything in sight (visitors, couches, walls, pillows, shoes, etc.) but I believe that the easy way out can lead to a huge disadvantage for the cat’s well-being.

Here are a few alternative ways to keep your ferocious feline from tearing apart your furniture and your skin.

Designated scratch areas
Having a designated scratch area will help with the cure the need for claw sharpening in an appropriate manner. Most cat owners have some sort of scratch post or scratch box set up for their feline friends. After doing some research, no one scratch object stands out above the rest… the only trick is making sure the cat understands that they the scratch tool is their sole area allotted for using those sharp claws. Spread scratching posts throughout the house to make sure that there is one whenever the need strikes.

Discouragment
There are a few tricks you can use to discourage scratching on your favorite items. Try double-sided tape or aluminum foil. Both of these are not nice for the cat's claws. Cats also dislike citrus smells, so a bit of scent can help keep your house cat out of a particular area. There are even products like softpaws that fit over the claw like a cap and are intended to stop scratching from happening. Keep claws clipped short so that destruction is kept to a minimum.

Use your authority
Personally, I find it much easier to discipline a dog versus their cat counterparts. Despite this feeling, you must still set the rules for a house cat… especially when your furniture is in jeopardy. My friend with the kitten mentioned above uses a squirt bottle to teach her about the boundaries. Now the cat has a much better idea of what is for scratching and what is off limits. If you are without a squirt bottle or just believe that squirting their cute faces is a wrongful act, then a sharp and distinct tone like “NO!” seems to suit.

Block off the fragile
I see child gates in dog owner’s houses all the time. Obviously, this will not work for high jumping cats but closing them off while you are out of the house by using doors. Non cat owners do not know of the destruction that an unsupervised house cat can create during the owner’s absence. Simply guarding a house cat from the temptation can be your best bet at keeping furniture in tip top shape!

Bottom line, cats need to scratch, and it's unrealistic to expect them to stop this activity. So provide them with a scratching alternative, discourage them from attacking your precious possessions, discipline them if they do, and finally, eliminate the potential for destruction by removing the cat's access to your favorite things.

Thunder Phobia

by Beau Dove

I have often wondered why the roll of thunder shoos the most fearless, ferocious, and daring canines into hiding. Surely, I have been guilty of jumping a time or two when that ominous storm comes knocking at my door but never have I cowered quite like a dog does during these noisy sessions. Dogs will scurry under beds and seek haven in closets as if they have some higher insight into the depths of a storms danger. Throughout this post, I will look to gain reasoning and possible solutions for this all too familiar scene.

The weather channel website (weather.com) states; “Storm phobias are one of the most common behavioral problems dog owners face, but their cause is not entirely clear. Behaviorists are not yet sure what part of the storm frightens dogs most, whether they're reacting to lightning flashes, the sound of thunder, wind blowing around the house, or the sound of rain on the roof. Some dogs even start to pace and whine half an hour or more before a storm. They may be reacting to a sudden drop in air pressure or the electrical charge of the air.” Dogs with storm phobias may also react badly to fireworks or other loud noises.

This seemingly scientific statement has very basic point: that our canine companions heightened senses do not couple well with loud flashes of energy. I can’t even begin to imagine a dog’s perception of the crackling boom, so loud and hot that it’ll make the fire alarm go off!
Well, okay, the cause of dogs’ loathing for thunderstorms was pretty obvious… but, now it is time to figure out some solutions.

USA Today lists these helpful steps to preparing your dog for storm braveness:

• Handle it early on in your dog's life.
  Storm phobia is considered a progressive behavioral disease, signs like this should not be ignored. Each successive thunderstorm season is likely to bring out ever-worsening signs of fear. It's time to take action — NOW.
• Don't heed advice to let her "sweat it out" or not to "baby" her.
  Your dog won't get it when you punish him/her for freaking out. Indeed, it'll likely make her anxiety worse. Providing a positive or distracting stimulus is more likely to calm her down.
• Offer treats, cuddlings and other good stuff when storms happen.
  This method is best employed before the phobia sets in –– as pups. Associating loud booms with treats is never a bad thing, right?
• Let him hide — in a crate.
  Hiding (as in a cave) is a natural psychological defense for dogs. Getting them used to a crate as pups has a tremendous influence on how comfortable they are when things scare them. Having a go-to place for relaxing or hiding away is an excellent approach, no matter what the fear. Another approach to try, whether he's a pup or not:
• Get him away from the noise, and compete with it.
  Creating a comfy place (for the crate or elsewhere) in a room that's enclosed (like a closet or bathroom) may help a great deal. Adding in a loud radio or white noise machine can help, too. Desensitize him.
  Sometimes it's possible to allay the fears by using thunderstorm sound CDs when it's not raging outside. Play it at a low volume while plying him with positive stimuli (like treats and pettings). 
• Ask your veterinarian about drugs.
  Sure, there's nothing so unsavory as the need for drugs to relieve dogs of their fears, but recognize that some fears will not be amenable to any of these other ministrations without drugs. If that's the case, talk to your vet about it –– please. There are plenty of new approaches to drugs that don't result in a zonked-out dog, so please ask!
• Consider seeing a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
  If nothing else works, your dog should not have to suffer. Seek out the advice of your veterinarian, and, if you've gone as far as you can with him/her, consider someone with unique training in these areas –– perhaps a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

Be sure not to reward your dog's fear. Treats and cuddles while the dog is displaying fearful behavior will only reinforce the idea that acting anxious will get them rewarded.

Another option is the Thundershirt, a garment that wraps tightly around the dog's torso and reportedly helps to calm them (similar to swaddling for babies). Some of HSEC's foster and adoptive families have reported good results with this product.

I would highly recommend trying a few of the best sounding techniques listed above when the next storm rolls into town. If nothing else, your dog will appreciate your efforts in helping him/ her combat their life-long foe.