It's as if there's a light switch in Brenda's head that turns her on and off. She goes from zero to sixty in an instant. She can be laying in her crate zoning out and watching the rest of the family mill about when someone or something that is otherwise insignificant or invisible to the rest of us sets her off. She barks and snarls until I intervene. This could mean that I simply stand up, or get in between her and the perceived trigger, or say 'no'. My interventions never need to be more than that. When she sees or hears me her body visibly deflates. She gets a huge smile on her face and looks ecstatic. It's an intense and exhausting situation that plays multiple times daily.
She often snaps when Porter walks past her, or when Ben walks into a room that I'm already in, but she occasionally snaps at me. It's as if she momentarily loses her mind and forgets who I am. This usually happens when she's in the hallway and I walk out of the bathroom, which exits into the hallway. When she gets into an agitated state I have to either show her my empty palms or get down on her level in order to pass. When I drop to my knees she sighs and runs into my arms.
Brenda, AKA Little Piglet
In memory of Brenda!
My dogs and me
Sadie is on my right and Porter is on my left
3 comments:
This makes me wonder if she visual problems. Has her vision been checked?
It sounds so hard for Brenda and the rest of your family to adjust. After years, particularly the first years of abuse the brain becomes hardwired to react from fear. Brenda sounds terrified by sudden movements and seems unable to comprehend that she is safe until you intervene and let her know you are there making sure everything is safe. Poor little scared dog, miserable situation.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, www.bestfriends.org, has the resources and staff needed to help dogs like Brenda. If not them let someone help you with this difficult case.
It is Ok to realize that, "this is beyond [your] skill" level or is too disruptive to the general good. Brenda needs specialized care and you have other doggies that need a calm place to heal. Sometimes giving up is a win, especially when you pass the job on to someone who can take it up.
I know this from being a therapist of twenty years and from experiencing losing my abilities to care for myself effectively on my own. When I can I thank god for the opportunity to learn true humility from letting go and letting others.
Blessing and hugs to all.
Thank you for your note. The entire situation is unfortunate. Given that I live in a tiny apartment in the middle of Manhattan with two other rescues, things do seem extreme on a daily basis.
I always considered her a foster, but after quickly realizing that she was not going to be an easy placement, I began contacting sanctuaries. Best Friends was one of the first that I contacted. We were discussing the possibility of Brenda going there when the MIchael Vick debacle happened and they became inundated with rescued pits with severe post traumatic stress disorder. Luckily, Best Friends also received court ordered funding from Vick that will enable them to do research to hopefully help other dogs like Brenda in the future.
I've asked for help from the beginning, but there are just too many other dogs out there who also need it, and Brenda can be dangerous. There aren't many out there who are up for the task, and after all she's been through it's not worth it to me to send her some place where she'll live in a cage out of contact with anyone.
I appreciate any contacts you have at other animal sanctuaries, though.
Best,
Sara
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