Been Found By A Rescue Dog

[City Slicker]

Thank you @gizmo - I will have more soon but I really wanted to share that experience and then finally got more computer/brain time to be able to post!

 

[Poofycat]

What a beautiful story. Hank is such a gift. :inlove::inlove::inlove:

 

[Anrish]

:wideeyed::happy::cry: (lucky tears)

Wow, you and Hank are so kind. I think it was wonderful of both of you to stop and showing the woman that someone cares.

 

[Big H]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful story, we have a Beagle who is literally my beautiful canine brother, he listens to nobody but me

My dog is my wingman, our time together when we are alone walking through fields and woods is therapeutic, he senses my mood way before I do. Most of all, he gives 110% pure love, I'd bullet catch for my dog in a heartbeat.

That bond is worth so much.

 

[SeanCharles]

My avatar is a rescue! I am her second owner and we've bonded very well. I won't hijack this thread but I am very glad to read this thread! My avatar's name is Winnie. She was rescued first from an abusive situation and Her and I are working on overcoming her skittishness of other people. I am currently working with a trainer and we're attending classes at a local pet store! Sure, Winnie and I had our share of problems in the beginning, I am not here as I previously mentioned to hijack this thread, I am happy I found this thread and that you obviously found a new fur friend as I have also found!

:tup: Bravo!

 

[City Slicker]

Hey Folks,
I am so sorry for such a long delay. I was just released from the hospital from some unexpected surgery. All is well now - I think I pushed a bad ankle when I needed to have rested it. And then things took a turn with some weird heart craziness... but again all is good now.

Hank is the light of my life. Since being back on my feet, I can tell he's being gentle, he's constantly checking with me when we walk (I have a big cast on still so I am wobbling and a lot slower). Hank has completely stopped pulling on his leash when we walk and now when he sees unfamiliar dogs, I just quietly whisper 'on by' and he doesn't pay them any attention.

It's as though he senses or knows that I don't have the physical resources yet to rein him in and so he checks himself and then 'smiles' when I tell him what a good boy he is.

My sister, about a week before this happened said to me, 'you know I would be there for you if you needed me' and I said, 'I will be there for you if you need me'. She said that I didn't seem to let her into my life. Which is true. And I haven't. And then, bang.

When they asked me at the hospital who they should call for me, I stated to cry because I wanted them to call Hank. He was at home waiting for me and I couldn't stand that he was there alone. I told them my dog was alone at home and that I had to leave. I asked them to just tape my ankle up and let me go home. The next thing I knew I was being wheeled down the cardiac floor.

I asked them to call my sister. She was a godsend. She dropped everything to come and she stayed at my house with Hank until she felt Hank trusted her enough to let her take him to her house.

I am truly blessed.

So now we are back home together. When I leave a room, Hank follows me. These past few days he doesn't seem worried as much as he just seems to want to let me know he's here and that everything is ok. Funny because when I hobble up on my crutches I tell Hank 'it's ok Hankie, everything's ok...I am here.'

Last night as I was letting him out in the yard he came face to face with a raccoon - I wasn't going to be able to run to get between them and it was a good reminder to have some leashes again handy in case Hank wants to lie outside. I think he heard the panic in my voice and as I was calling him in a very firm voice, he looked like he was going to have a go at the raccoon but instead veered off and acted like he was playing. He did a funny dog deek that was almost like he was telling the raccoon that things could have been a lot worse for the raccoon had his mom not been there!

Hank now lets the vet touch his paws all over, he takes treats with the softest mouth ever. He can walk though the dog park without his alerting (I don't take him through there too often as not every dog wants this kind of stimulation) but I do take him on occasion just to reinforce his training about staying focused. After he completes the task he wags his entire body and waits for his treats.

My sister ... I can't even say enough about what she did. Her awareness about Hank. Her thinking about how much he meant to me, her handling of my fears that something bad would happen to him, her listening to me when I told her that he might be scared or fearful, her compassion for him, her patience, her calmness, her thoroughness, her observations about his behaviour, her planning even for the first time using my key to go in the house with him there alone without me and how he might react.

When she went in the first time, Hank retreated and kept his distance. I told my sister about sitting in Hank's cage that very first day, almost all day until he came over and got close to me. She got his treat box and took one out. And then she sat on the floor in front of the tv, turned on a dvd and sat holding his treat for close to an hour before he approached her. She said Hank approached her slowly but not fearfully, he was cautious but not scared and when he finally came over to her to take his treat, he let her scratch his head while he ate.

Then she made popcorn for him. That was it. Complete love. I think he misses her because every so often he will get up and go to the window and the door and look. We made a date, the three of us to go to the park and the lake tomorrow so Hank can swim. He hasn't been swimming in a while and I know he's feeling a bit restless from the lack of running and longer physical exercise.

Since I got Hank I have been so weighted by this incredible gift and I always worried what would happen if something were to happen to me. I have money set aside in my will and the foster said they would take him back if anything happened and while I loved that about their responsibility I wanted Hank to have a real home and a real life and the best of what was possible for him. I wanted a plan and not just leave things to the foster program. I didn't know how to even approach it with people I knew and going through the list of who could take Hank in case, it all felt like I was abandoning him.

When I was in the hospital I told my sister I had a will. She jokingly asked what I was leaving to her. I ventured out and said, 'Hank?' She said, 'i would be honoured' She didn't blink, she didn't waver, she was honoured. And that was it. And so tomorrow we are going to take Hank out, and we will find the hot dog vendor who gives Hank an extra bit of hot dog and shows me how much Hank likes him. Hank does. He has a male human buddy now, and my sister. My heart feels calm about that and I can feel that Hank will be ok if anything were to happen.

And I feel I am ok because Hank is here and I get to take care of him for a lot longer now.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

:hug::hug: I wish you both well as you recover from the surgery and glad you are going to be okay. I am glad that Hank is so alert to your needs now. Thank you for the update so much.

 

[ladee]

Sorry you had physical and mental angst recently. How awesome your sister did as you would with Hank to help him be comfortable.
That boy has come a long way with your love and commitment.
Happy to hear you are ok. Hope the heart issue is something minor and treatable. Healing energy being sent.
Love to the both of you. AND happy to know you have made loving provision for Hank.
Feel better.you have a great healer with you! Gentle hugs.

 

[KwanYingirl]

Hank is one lucky dog. It takes courage to think and act on behalf of our dogs, should we become unable to care for them. My daughter will take Annie whenever it's needed. I had a pet sitter who turned out to be psycho in many ways. She has in her will that when she dies, her dog will be killed. That's so selfish, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I have adopted dogs from friends who've moved and can't take their dog. Those dogs did just fine and we loved them.

Good luck with your ankle. I hope your heart is OK.

 

[Anrish]

Glad to hear from you again. Take your time to recover - and I'm so glad you have Hank and your great sister! It feels like the world of you two became a bit wider. :hug:

 

[Deleted member 12723]

How are you guys doing, I miss you both. I hope that all is well in your world.

 

[City Slicker]

Hi Rain, I am so sorry for the delay in updating. It's been a difficult few months with getting back on my feet after some unexpected surgery. I am well now and looking forward to be back to my life lol.

Hank has been the brightest light. During the recuperation which was going on pretty much until the last week in October, Hank and I bonded in ways that I never thought possible.

For example, when I was having to stay in bed all day, Hank would be what I thought was restless. He would curl up in his bed, then a few minutes later he would come to the foot of my bed but not jump up - like he was checking on me. Then he would pace a bit and go downstairs where he would stay until he heard me stirring upstairs and then he would repeat this.

It suddenly dawned on me that Hank was behaving as though this was his job and he was 'patrolling' the house, doing his rounds, checking on me and then settling until it was time to repeat. What I thought was him 'pacing' was actually him working. This realization occurred to me after I was able to come downstairs and stay for a longer period. Hank did the same routine. Only this time I was able to watch him as he 'patrolled' his house making sure all was ok. When Hank first came, the foster mother told me that Hank would need a job, that these breeds need work or a job in order to feel secure. In retrospect I can see once Hank accepted me as his alpha person his job was to 'protect me' and it really makes sense of a lot of his behaviours when we are out. I knew this part but I never really fully understood it until now.

About two weeks ago, I had decided to try having a bath. All as well until it was time to get out. For some reason I wasn't as solid on my feet and was feeing a bit wobbly. I quietly called Hank's name. From outside the door I heard his scrabble, scrabble, and realized he was resting just outside the bathroom door. He came in and stood beside the tub and I leaned on him as I slowly got out and grabbed my towel. While he stood, he moved not a muscle, not a flick of his tail or a flutter of an ear.

This is a trust and love I have not experienced in my life.

Hank is so much calmer now over these last few months. He lets me brush his teeth, he will allow me to massage his paws for when I have to clip his nails. He lets my sister and her friend in the house and then stands at the door once they are in the house to see who else might be coming in and then once he's satisfied no-one else is coming in he makes these sweet, raspy noises which aren't barks but are vocalizations to let us know that he is finished guarding and we need to shut the door.

He's gained some muscle and the fur on his paws and ears has almost all grown in. He's not a fan of cold on his paws and this might still be a holdover from his frostbite when he was on his own out there.

Today we are headed out to the lake where he loves to run with me only we won't be running until a few weeks more. But I promised him we would go if he promised me he wouldn't try to drag me in swimming.

The other day I was holding a treat for him. Hank was excited and I got distracted and he happened to barely nip the tips of my fingers while he tried to get the treat from my hand. I turned to laugh and give him the treat but by the time I had turned, Hank hit the floor and showed his belly as though he were prepared to be hit and he was showing his submissiveness. I was so stunned in that moment and realized perhaps he thought he had hurt me when his teeth nipped my finger. I was heartbroken for my boy. I got on the floor with him and just gently stroked his chest for a few seconds and then I stayed beside him and stroked his head until I could see him relax. He turned onto his side in a more relaxed posture and we stayed there for a bit with his paw resting on my shoulder.

He bounced back so quickly that I am hoping that maybe while I can't fix all of his old hurts and fears, I can show him that he won't be abused anymore, he is loved, he is cherished more than he might ever know. So far I think we have come through a lot of difficult situations for him and I think he knows he is ok. I didn't realize how similar we are to dogs with respect to our own triggers. Years can go by and we can have a trigger seemingly out of nowhere. I am seeing that perhaps hurt and abused animals are the same. For me and Hank, I don't focus on removing his 'triggers' but instead I focus more on supporting him in the event he reacts the way he did when he nipped my fingers.

I also want to give Hank space so that he can use the new confidence he has developed to bring himself through whatever might be going on. I see him do this in every challenge he encounters and masters. He smiles - he actually smiles when he's done something and I know he's feeling good about it. When he learned to walk on hard floors he was like a puppy, running, sliding, falling, getting up and repeating it all over again, looking at me to make sure I was watching him.

Simple things. Simple, simple and beautiful things when experienced with a dog. I will never be able to repay what he's brought me.

I am hoping for more updates soon!