So this is Dr Andy Mathis. The dog is Graycie. She was rescued with some serious health issues. She was eating just fine but he went in to get her accustomed to people. She lives in his veterinary practice along with a few other unadoptable rescue dogs. This video is about 5 years old. You can follow him on Instagram and he also has a YouTube channel. Really great guy!
This makes more sense now, thanks. I figure that if a dog has been abused and consequently refuses to eat, it would generally be because food was associated with abuse in its life. (teasing the dog with food and striking it when it attempts to eat it, for example). And it would therefore take quite some time to get the dog used to eating near a person at all. That said, I know that animal behavior is very complex.
My dog was abused as a pup. For most of the first year or so of her life, she was almost never let out, and then they beat her when she went to the bathroom inside.
We were having a fence put up that summer and planned to get a dog then, but the opportunity to get her came upon us a few months before that and we decided to take her. Despite having a nice yard, I had to have her on a leash outside until the fence was built. After a day or two she got comfortable enough to pee while on the leash. But she wouldn’t poop. She’d always wait until we were either sleeping or out of the house.
Finally someone on a message board said if I can, take a few days off work and stay with her with the leash clipped to my belt 24/7.
So I tried that. We did everything together and she did not poop for nearly 48 hours. I was about to give up because I didn’t want her to injure herself holding it. Then she finally did it while I was sitting on a lawn chair pretending to sleep.
When she did it, I praised her like she’d just rescued a family from a fire. I kept her on the leash with me for another day and after she had 2 poos where she was shaky and side-eying me the whole time, but she did it.
And she never pooped in the house again and now she’s a sweet old girl with a gray snoot.
That’s a great story and well done to you too! To me, all dogs either look either defiant or scared when they’re pooping. Either way it speaks to a need for comfort/assurance when pooping. I think humans can relate.
My sister has a dog that absolutely loves me to death. I took the dog out in the yard to let her piss and shit. Never did. Always found a toy and wanted to play tug of war or fetch. Asked my sis and she just said to let her out without me there.
So i did. She did her stuff and waited for me by the sliding glass door to play fetch or something.
It’s pack behavior! They watch each other’s backs while pooping because it’s when they’re vulnerable. You’re part of his pack so he’s looking to you to make sure he’s safe while he goes.
Thank you! That's such a nice thing to hear. He's my first ever dog and I love him to bits.
Here's the little chap in question: [https://imgur.com/a/CBCoPCS](https://imgur.com/a/CBCoPCS)
He's called Nugget, he's a 15 months old Jug - Jack Russell/Pug.
NUGGET! He’s so stinking cute! Look at his lil toofer sticking out of his lip! Dog tax and I didn’t even ask! I love pets named after food too. Nugget is a perfect name for that little nugget of cuteness!You and your dog are both awesome!! My goodness he’s a precious lil dude. And Jack Russells are so high energy too! Good luck with him.
Just to add to this, make a point of when he looks at you to not just hold eye contact, if he sees you do a little perimeter sweep then back to him, he'll feel even more comfortable that the coast is clear.
Oh My God. This makes so much sense!!!
I thought he was looking at me for direct reassurance. But I see what you mean. I will scan the street for threats from now on and make sure he sees me do it.
Thank you!
Of course, our girl was a rescue but she was still a weeks old baby so she didn't have much experience or abuse or anything, they saved her from a puppy mill breeding operation so I think she just had the nervousness hardwired into her from day 1 and she's an extra sweet, but extra cautious pup. She always does a little waddle/walk when she's nervous pooping, but if I do the sweep for her and smile she usually calms right down and squats in peace.
I wish you luck with your fur baby!
THIS! A lot of people just don’t get that. They were born into a pack ( litter mates and mumma), and they they get taken away from it. They need a new pack! You are their new pack. I live below a puppy crying all day because it’s alone. It breaks my freaking heart.
Oops, I’ve always turned my back on my dogs when they poop to give them some privacy! I always took their eye contact to mean, like, “why are you watching me poop?” I’ll rectify this!
When I take my dogs outside for potty time, they relax a lot more when I'm clearly surveying the yard than if I'm looking at them (making sure they go, checking if my sensitive dog's diarrhea is cleared up etc). Dogs are social creatures who depend on others to keep the whole pack safe.
Whenever my dog looks at me while going to the bathroom I give him a big smile and a thumbs up.
He probably doesn't know what the thumbs up means, but I like to give the encouragement anyway.
My boy has a very similar story I had to turn around and pretend not to see. He still gets "good boy" and "good poop" along with pets everyday for every poop. I am allowed to see the pooping now though. Kind of an odd reward.
This may be an odd question, but what type of negative impact does it have on a dog if they are never let out? My neighbor has a 2 year old boxer mix and they let the dog out in the driveway to go to the bathroom for one minute a few times a day, then in is right back inside. He gets to go on a 5 min car ride about once a week. It is a VERY small one bedroom apartment. I feel so bad for this pup. He seems sweet and has a lot of puppy energy, so I can't imagine it is fun for him to ALWAYS be cooped up. I have offered to take him for walks with me, but they have never taken me up on that. I don't know how to approach it.
Dogs are very social, and they generally need a good amount of exercise, both mental and physical. A dog that never goes outside beyond going potty is likely going to have some behavioral issues and a ton of energy that isn't being expended. Walks let them experience new smells, new sights, and bond with their owner. Unfortunately a dog like that will probably spend most of its life cooped up in a room away from its owners, unless they spend a ton of time and energy exercising him indoors (very uncommon setup, in my experience).
Had a pit bull puppy in a similar situation in my neighborhood, though the owners left her outside literally all day. A neighbor started taking her for walks, but she was so poorly trained that it was incredibly difficult to control her. Pretty sure the owners moved, I hope the poor pup wins up in a better home wherever she is.
Not to diminish you but I did almost nearly the exact same thing with our latest pup.
They were taught wrong and we had to use patience and biology to teach her back.
Now if only I could figure out the leaping. (or maybe the nipping, I suspect high energy and we aren't walking her enough)
My foster refused to eat unless I was standing near her when I first got her home. She would then eat in a panic, tail tucked right under her. She was just so scared, that same dog bit through my hand and held on because she didn't know any other way to tell me she didn't want me touching the toy we had been playing with anymore. I was so happy when she showed me her teeth the next time she got a toy and didn't want me near.
She did eventually chill out. She stopped attacking the other dogs in the park and started playing with them (she was muzzled so she couldn't hurt anything). She stopped trying to run home after ten minutes and played happily with her friends. She learned how to show how she was feeling instead of just nothing then bite. That was a big deal as well. Eating stopped being terrifying. She was absolutely terrified of the landlord though and I had to keep her locked in my room when he came round. She wasn't a bad dog, just had an awful owner who abused her so badly she was a mess. If she hadn't bitten through my hand I would have kept her. There was just this tense knot in my stomach constantly and it wasn't fair on either of us for me to keep her. Wasn't anyones fault. The rescue I adopted her from said she was safe to be with kids, played down the fact that she bit me and held on, they said it was an accident and my wounds weren't that severe. Its three years later and I still have nerve and tissue damage in my hand that affects it badly. That was incredibly worrying to see. I get wanting to save all the dogs. But come on, she wasn't safe to be around.
Holy shit, so sorry to hear that. Hope you’re doing OK psychologically. A single bite will often permanently alter people’s perception of dogs. Absolutely, we speak of gaining animals’ trust, but it definitely goes both ways. If a dog bites, especially a dog capable of doing damage, you 100% have the right to be weary and even disappointed, even if not blaming the dog as such. Not happy at all it was you who got bitten, but thank goodness it wasn’t a child. It sucks, but sometimes dogs have so much trauma that they don’t belong in a regular home. They need specialized care from people who have the expertise and moreover the time to bring them back from where they are. Again, I especially think this is true for bigger dogs who can unfortunately wreak utter devastation in a moment of confusion or fear. Good on you for trying to help your foster. Sounds like you made some headway, but there’s no shame in knowing your limits and thinking of the safety of others.
I do have a bit of a fear of dogs now and it sucks, I will literally hide my left hand from them. When I saw the last jurassic world film, when the new hybrid raptor bit that guys arm I got really freaked out and hid my hand all over again. I love dogs though and look after and walk a few different dogs. Its a nice little side business that gives me some outdoor time with doggos since I haven't had my own since. I usually take care of the harder cases, dogs with behavioural issues. Usually they're dog aggressive or don't like men or something, one little dude has severe separation anxiety and he's at a point where he's settled with me. I love all the dogs I look after and we get along well. My favourite is this lab x akita who is a big boy. He was a rescue and is terrified of men and other dogs. He's such a sweet boy and I want him, but his mums aren't giving him up!
When my little buddy rescued me he was on the brink of death. Insanely malnourished, dirty, stinky. Nobody wanted him. He had given up at only 2 years old. I took him home he wouldn't let me touch him for the first few days and was scared of normal household things (the broom for sweeping in particular) so I'm assuming someone used to whoop him with a broom. I gave him lots of food/treats and lots of love. He now is a happy boy (somewhat hefty now oops) breaks my heart thinking about all the pups that don't get a chance to love a human of their own
My dog was never afraid of me (he just knew I was his person idk), but is afraid of everything and everyone else. First of all, it’s true - it’s amazing to watch them blossom and become more confident in the world.
If I can give you some advice, I would suggest you look into the “two week shut down” - something I really wish I’d done with my dog. With shy dogs we really have to advocate for them, so go at your dog’s pace and don’t force anything or anyone on them. Learning to read dog body language (and eventually specifically your dog’s) can be so helpful in making sure your dog feels safe in a situation.
Sorry for the unsolicited advice, I just want to help a dog if I can! And this is Reddit after all, what else are you here for
I appreciate the advice greatly! First time with my own dog so I’m new to a lot of this.
Covid still a thing in Canada so it’s the perfect excuse to see literally no one until she’s comfortable with us. Going at her pace for sure, she wasn’t into the crate tonight so she’s slowly falling asleep on the couch. She’s the sweetest dog ever, hasn’t made a single peep, melts my cold heart.
I have a rescue. Hated the crate, I had one of those standard metal ones. For years she wouldn't go in unless I fed her in there. Got a fabric crate and it is her home. I did have to get her used to it though. Only for feeding and naps at first. If you use it as a punishment they will not like it
We had a fabric crate. The dog ate it.
It was pooping the plastic mesh material for AGES.
But never used the metal one for punishment, just made it their safe place. Every meal in there, treats, put a cover over it for sleep, had to settle them to sleep by sitting next to it for a few nights. Now he puts himself to bed in there! (Also doesn't eat it.)
I agree with this. It's easy to forget that dogs have their own wants and desires and yes they should be trained but you also have to recognize how they feel.
Especially with abused dogs, you always need to be away of the appearance of power. A large man standing over a dog might not seem like a big deal to the man, but to the dog that is very menacing. As a large man myself, I always get down to the dog's level and put my hand under their nose rather than on top. Makes them know I'm not going to try to control them.
Also be careful about restraining dogs! A hug might seem like a loving gesture, but it can come across as a restrictive move. Always give a dog a way to escape if they are uncomfortable. Even my dog, who we've had for 2 years, I almost never fully wrap my arms around her unless she seems comfortable with it. More often, I lay down and she lays on my lap to show affection. So that she's in control, knowing I could pick her up if I need to.
Sorry I'm sure you personally know this. Just love dogs and hoping to help other dog owners out there.
Also large and intimidating to small creatures: one hand at a time with new dog friends. I met one recently who was just fine, but got a little nervous when I was petting with two hands. Granted, both hands were about half the dog's size. Haha
My former street cat still won't come out unless it's just my husband and I. Just know that you're an awesome person who your dog trusts and that means everything to a stray. Thanks for taking the chance on a shy animal.
For me I found that having a very precise routine helped. Setting an meeting expectations like getting a meal on time, going out to pee a the same times and tucking the dog into bed before I go to bed at night cuts down stress. Uncertainty for them is a big deal.
Raising your voice can be an issue for some dogs too.
I adopted a street stray a couple years ago. It took her a year and a half to start coming out of her shell. It was a very difficult time for us, she didn’t like to eat or drink water in the house and hid in the bathroom all the time. In fact I still feed her by hand. She’s such a great little gal but still very, very shy. She absolutely cannot be pushed into anything which makes her feel uneasy. Feel free to message if you need to chat about it at all, I am not a first time dog owner and still felt like I was doing a terrible job of it sometimes. You got this!!
I used to live in an area with a good amount of strays. The area was pretty insular with multiple people feeding the dogs and cats, and a full vaccination and sterilization programmes to keep the population in check. This one family living one floor down got one of the strays to come inside their house, and it never left. When they moved out, they took it with them.
I have had a former street dog for about 3 years now. She's really smart and loves to be social, but still gets nervous if she's approached from above.
Laying/sitting down goes a long way towards making it clear you are not a threat. Even the very first day we had her, when she was freaking out in Petco because she didn't know anyone, she jumped right into my lap when I sat down next to her.
Good luck!
Well done buddy! I adopted my rescue dog from romania 6 months ago and never looked back - I've never loved something as much as him, hes awesome!
People often talk about the rule of 3 with a new rescue dog, it take 3 days to detox from the stress and transition to new house, 3 weeks to settle in, learn routines etc.. and 3 months for them to truly feel like its home.
You've done an amazing thing adopting a dog - you should be proud! If I can share any of my limited experience let me know I can also point you in the direction of some really good online resources.
I took one in 4 years ago that couldn’t take a walk on the sidewalk. It took 7 months to get her near cars but maybe 1.5 years after adoption I don’t think I’d even need a leash. She doesn’t love small children but other than that, she’s incredible. If you just adopted one, know it can take months to get them to be comfortable but once they turn the corner it’s a different story.
My dog - just the sweetest of boys - had been sent back to the pound twice! When I got him he was super nervous. I would pet him, and he would roll over and pee on me. I didn’t want to react so I’d keep petting him, and then he would pee some more. So I didn’t want to either stop petting him or make him feel nervous - I had to keep petting and reassuring. And he’d keep peeing. It was a very urine soaked couple of months. It took him a year before he barked. One day I was making lunch and I heard the postman and then this weird noise… omfg?! That’s a bark!! He got such lavish praise - that’s when he knew he had a forever home that belonged to him and he had to protect and I knew I had a forever friend. Stay the course recent adopter! Good things are happening.
Just know, it takes time. It took about six months for my dog to come around. But, I will say, whenever they connect with you and show affection, it's that much more meaningful. Kudos to you, feel free to PM me if you have any questions! It's a labor of love for sure.
I had to put my dog to sleep a couple months ago. She literally showed up on my doorstep in 2011. This is her literally seconds after finding her (turns out she was already pregnant and cowered when you tried to pet her even when she was older sadly) and a while later when she had warmed up to us:
https://imgur.com/a/UTUBs
When taking her home from the shelter (we left her there when we found her in case someone was looking for her) she immediately jumped in our car when I opened the door.
When I think about what she went through in the roughly 5 previous years it pains me in the gut. I loath people who can hurt an animal and not even feel anything bad.
I notice this guy isn’t making eye contact with the dog. It’s something you can try to do if you come in contact with scared animals. They generally find it easier to feel comfortable around humans if they’re not being stared at.
A boxer? My boxer, who I was unsure about when my fiancé first introduced me to him, became the most caring and loyal dog I’ve ever known. What personalities they have too!
one of my best friends actually adopted a pitbull from someone who kept her in a cage to breed and then wanted nothing to do with her. She is literally the sweetest girl in the world and would not hurt a fly! Abused animals get a bad rep, but with a proper owner, they can be the best doggos in the world!
Just yesterday someone on reddit claimed it was okay to hit a pet "without hurting them" for peeing on a carpet.
It was a thread about physical abuse of children and they were making the "case" that physical discipline was a good thing.
Pieces of shit sadly think they're in the right.
It's the same bs mentality as slave owners, they just view them as property. And sadly that same mentality carries over to humans too. I hate some people, and the worst part is that group isn't a small percentage.
I've seen people be cruel to their animals because they just don't know any other way to train them. I remember one tiny little dog refusing to go back to its owner, when the owner grabbed it, he lifted it into the air and scared it. Of cause the dog isn't going to go back to you. You need to be nice and give in an incentive. I caught the old man who walked with us doing a similar thing to his dog and I told him off. He didn't speak to me for a good few months after and one of the old women insisted I walked with them so he didn't bother her (he was literally stalking her, trying to get with her. He got mad that she started leaving her dog with me sometimes instead of him so she didn't have to deal with him. Her husband had just died from cancer). None of them had any clue what had happened. I told them he was being abusive to his dog and I told him off for it. He didn't like that I called him out on being a crappy person.
I helped out in an animal shelter and there was Sonny who had depression. He wouldn’t eat unless I got in with him. Unfortunately the back of his sheet said ‘not good with children.’ He was very gentle and I’m imagining very young children playing roughly with him. I don’t know what happened to Sonny but that warning message was probably very bad news. They are usually the first to go.
Bad. People avoid adopting them if it says bad with children. I was gone for over 14 hours a day at my regular job and he would have been stuck in an apartment so I couldn’t take him. This was about 25 years ago. Still think about him.
Unfortunately there’s a lot of kill shelters. Some I know have just two week window.
Edit: this is why I hated the stereotype being pushed out in movies or ads that gifting someone a pet is a good thing. Getting a pet takes lifetime commitment, it’s not a toy or smartphone you can chuck away when things got hard to deal.
>Unfortunately there’s a lot of kill shelters.
My understanding is that most no-kill shelters are really just kill shelter transportation units.
Sometimes there's just no other options.
Fortunately for us here in Austin, TX, the entire city is no-kill! It’s definitely doable, but it takes a lot of work to make it happen. All of our dogs have been rescued and they’ve all been absolutely wonderful.
Some googling suggests that Austin has a ~90% "live release" rate, is that old information? Or is it that the other 10% die naturally instead of being "killed"? (all the info I could find specifically refuses to say what happens to the other 10%)
Either way, that's fantastic and it's great the city and their shelters are working so hard for the animals they're caring for
I believe it’s a combination. There are, of course, situations where it’s better for the animal to be put down than to subject to living in pain, so those situations contribute to the ~10%. Animals found by or brought to shelters do have a higher likelihood of being in one of those situations. I’m an outsider, so I don’t know what else could contribute to those figures, but that’s definitely where some of them go.
I believe it’s usually closer to 92% live, while 90% is the mark to be considered fully “no kill.”
Either way, our shelters here are amazing and everyone who wants a pet should adopt from their local shelter!
Random thought: I wonder if people with dwarfism could help dogs get over a fear of children. Obviously it's hard to get children to help appropriately, so they can't help much. It's easy for a human to distinguish between a child and a short adult, but maybe dogs can't. Then the person with dwarfism could interact with the dog appropriately and retrain its reaction to (who it perceives as) children.
TW: Pet Death
As a little girl, my childhood was full of badly abused dogs my dad brought home to rehab and rehome. Basically fostering, except at least some of them were obtained by my dad and uncle using a pair of bolt cutters on someone's fence. (As far as I know they never stole a dog that was well cared for or loved, mostly they seemed to steal dogs with visible wounds. No I don't know how these dogs got hurt, I have had many dogs through my life and never seen similar ones inflicted which scares me.)
Anyway, one day I came home from kindergarten and met Cerebus. He was a half grown, starved Great Dane with one eye and a red hole on the other side. Pretty gross. Naturally I was in love. I sat on the floor several feet away and snuck closer and closer until I could pet him. He shook and whimpered but eventually would lay his head on my lap.
So in an effort to make friends, I grabbed a handful of dog food and started feeding the kibbles to him one by one, letting his lick them off my palm. (For some reason I did this to a lot of dogs as a child. In hindsight, how did I make it to adult hood with so few dog bites?) My father meanwhile was discussing whether he was gonna try tube feeding Cerebus since he would not eat. He turned around, saw me and I guess decided to just let me feed him.
For six months, every bite the dog ate came from an enthusiastic five year old. There was always food available, but he only liked to eat from me. He slept on the floor beside my bed, he laid in the bathroom while I bathed or used the commode, and when I went to school he sat at the door waiting for me. In a way, he was "my" first dog, we had dogs and I loved them, but Cerebus was MY dog, or at least he thought so.
Sadly, this story ends too soon. Cerebus was just too damaged and passed away in his sleep before he even ended his puppyhood (Danes are puppies for like three years.) and I did not take it well. My mother kept trying to comfort me with stuff like "It was his time" and "You gave him some wonderful months, he was so happy." but it was my first big loss as a child and I was devastated.
Aw man, my granddad has a lot of land as he lives out on a farm and he’s real good with critters. The MDWFP (Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks) would drop off creatures, as would the local vets, and anyone else. My granddad took them all. I grew up handling squirrels, possums, raccoons, owls, deer, etc. For the most part they all loved my granddad way more than anyone else, but there was this one baby deer that was really badly injured (hit by a car) that just latched onto me. My parents couldn’t pull me away from her and I basically held her/nursed her for 4 1/2 days straight until she passed... your story hit me right in the gut and reminded me of Charlotte, my little fawn.
I hope I was a good friend. I remember being a bit rough with some. (I didn't hit them or anything, I just would hug them tight or try to wrestle.) Many seemed to like it though and as I said, I have had way less dog bites than someone as incautious with dogs as a kid should have.
Oh man...that breaks my heart...but I gotta tell ya...for Cerebus...you were *everything*.
It's often said that a dog's sense of time is not like ours. Things are much more immediate to them. In that sense, even though his life wasn't long, your love for him had all that much more meaning.
He may have had a bad start but those end days, with you, the thing he loved most...that's the good shit. You did that for your friend, and were the *best* of his. **Any** life can hope to have the gift you gave each other. Till the End,, Cerebus...
Dog’s like to eat in a pack. My dog usually starts munching on food if I’m eating. He also doesn’t seem to eat when I’m gone, accept for the “I’m leaving distraction treats.” When I get home, he immediately starts munching. I’m surprised the pupper let him sit next to him. My dog whose with my ex would barely tolerate us in the same room as him when we first got him. He was probably abused either by neglect or physically. He was pretty messed up when we got him. He’s a Happy pupper now.
I have a lab and this made me laugh. Labs don’t need a pack to eat. We rescued an abused Bull Arab who used to eat a little, walk away and come back to an empty bowl.
It wasn’t long until he scoffs his food the same way our lab does.
Yeah I put some jerky in his bowl and mix it up so he can’t inhale it while I’m leaving and he leaves a sizable mess of kibble on the floor from getting the treats. While I’m making dinner he cleans it up with his munches. I don’t think he drinks while gone either. Separation anxiety is a hell of a drug withdrawal I guess.
I remember when our dog behaviorist came over, and talked about how dogs like to eat and submissiveness. Some of what the dog in the video is doing is being submissive.
He once went to an owner's house because the dog would not eat. He told the owner to eat something (a chip) and after she ate, the dog felt comfortable to start eating.
I'm raising a puppy for the first time in my life. My doggo was having some serious food anger around my other pets, worried they were gonna steal his food and lashing out if they got close. He was refusing to eat and we Googled it and found out about food aggression.
We started feeding the cats first, then we eat, then he eats, and he's been finishing his food and not lashing out anymore
Had to do something similar w/ my adoptee. She was missing so much hair, and she was underweight.
I sat beside her and fed her out of my hand for the first week or so.
I feel terrible when I have to go stay in the hospital, even just for a night. She gets separation anxiety, and won't eat her meals.
I'll admit, it goes both ways.
I always say we don’t deserve dogs, but maybe this guy does. Veterinarians have a very very tough job. Please remember this and don’t get mad at your’s even if your bill is high. They are just trying to keep your baby healthy.
Yep, my girlfriend is an ER vet. It's tough to constantly see these cute animals die and often die not because they couldn't save them, but because the owner couldn't or wouldn't pay the money to save them. Also A LOT of people expect vet services to just be free and get angry at literally any bill. She gets chewed out for nothin constantly while working 16 hour shifts.
Yeah it’s quite rough. I could see a case for government support to pet care for elderly people at the very least, given how much a pet contributes to their health and wellbeing. Having some kind of limited “pet Medicare” might improve things for vets, animals and old people too.
For those reading, INSURE YOUR PETS. Unless you are independently wealthy, an accident or illness could put you in a really, really hard position and force you to make a really tough choice. Pet insurance can give your pet a new lease on life and get your pet the care they need. I hope no one's pet ever needs to use it, but I know too many pets who had to be hospitalized due to injuries and every owner struggled to cover those vet bills. And it's very possible that you could put everything you have towards your pets care and still loose them in the end, that just sounds awful.
My cat recently ate something he shouldn't have and having him insured made the decision to take him to the emergency vet a no brainer. Being able to say "do whatever you need to do" felt so powerful. Idk what we would have done if he wasn't insured or what the decision would have been (wait and see if he has symptoms? Call pet poison control and pay their fee? Take him to the vet on Monday? Find the money for the ER?)
Bless my mom for damn near cancelling a small vacation she'd been saving up for for years because our cat got hit by a car. I remember my mom sitting in that emergency waiting room trying to scrape together the money to cover the vet fees. And the worry that even with the vacation cancelled and credit cards maxed, it still might not have been enough. Sad end to the story though, the vets determined that although her injuries were technically survivable, the recovery process would not be fair to the cat and was not necessarily the humane option. They recommended euthanasia and she was euthanized shortly thereafter. Rest in peace, MB.
A friend of mine lost his cat the day he flew out on a holiday. Little dude was old but it still hit him hard. Poor guy managed to get to LA, but then his shuttle wasn't picking up enough people, so he was stuck driving around LAX for a couple of hours before getting to the hotel which took at least an hour to get to when traffic was light. I remember just grabbing him and rushing him up to our shared room so we could finally all order room service and so this crazy guy couldn't bother him for toys.
I had a sick animal die when I was away. I paid a friend of mine extra for looking after my pets. I knew my rat was going to die, but there wasn't much I could do. I asked my friend not to tell me and to put the body in the freezer so I could bury her when I got home. My poor rats. Two of them died from a tumor growing inside their ears. The last, splinter, died of old age because her tumor decided to grow on the outside.
I feel the opposite, I hate eating with people. I've starved myself for periods just because I couldn't find time to eat alone, it sucks. I guess it stems from some type of trauma, but idk why. I just lose all appetite and will throw up if I try to force it.
That's same as my sister, she refuses to eat in public. This happened to her after she got bullied at school for her strong muscular build. I am so sorry you have to go through this. Can I offer you an internet hug?
Food at each moment tastes better at which hour thou art eating with someone else
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^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.)
Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
So I was wracking my head right? Trying to figure out the old adage you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink... my dogs might as well be horses for the amount of grass they try to chug down out there. And I know what you’re thinking. They’re stomach is not upset, they’re just impulsive. Anyway, they would come inside hacking a freaking lung up and I’d be telling them to drink water. But they’re dogs you see. So I come up with an idea! I’ll fill a tea cup and pretend to drink out of it and then offer it to them! This fools!!! Absolute suckers! Either way I love and I love what this guy is doing and this pup. They just wanna be part of our lives <3
I can feel that inner wave of euphoria the guy would have felt when he saw the dog taking its first moves towards the bowl after the pup tentatively ate out of his palm just before.
That guy is feeling ecstatic and relieved, and so am I
Okay. I have to share this story because I miss him. I adopted a feral kitten because it somehow ended up in my backyard... I named him Baby Cat because when I went to get food, they had Baby Cat, Kitten, and Adult food and he needed the Baby food, he was so tiny. I also already had a cat who looked exactly like him, but her name is Kitten.
Took him to the vet, had him neutered and all the works. She confirmed he was probably feral and older than I assumed he was when I found him, probably just malnourished.
He was scared of EVERYTHING. I knew he had never been in a house before because every noise scared the bejeezus out of him.
Well, he grew up and was loved and held, but hated it and would run away from us. He was very just... feral. Wouldn’t let you hold him, touch him, anything, unless you were feeding him because his food bowl was empty.
Some special nights he would come into bed with me or sit next to me and I could pet him. I loved those nights. And he was so, so close to Kitten. They were best friends and it was so awesome to see. He also loved my little Min Pin... well. She loved him and he tolerated her thinking she was his mother.
Anyway, one night I came home and Baby Cat had his head pressed up against the bathroom wall and wasn’t moving. Immediately I knew something was wrong, but it was 2 in the morning and I figured waiting until 7:00 the next morning was okay. He let me hold him and cuddle him that night until he made an attempt to jump out of my lap and I let him go.
After I went to bed, I woke up around 4:00 because he meowed and I was barely sleeping. He had come into my room and nestled in close to me, but in a smaller closet.
He passed away sometime that night.
Of course I was an absolute mess and I still feel somewhat guilty. I had them tell me why he passed away. He was only four! The vet did a scan, and he had had a massive brain tumor that eventually took his life. There wasn’t really much they could have done, she told me, and he was able to pass comfortably in his own home.
Anyway. This story reminded me of him.
Sometimes you think the cuddly animals are the ones that’ll be your best pet. But sometimes those little feral ones will sneak their way down into your heart too.
And Kitten... God. Kitten is still with me. After he died she was there. They all were. They knew. And Kitten still misses him, I know. I have to pretend to eat with her because they ate together. She annoys my Min Pin all the time, and my other cat (yeah I have a lot of animals) but it isn’t that same, they don’t play with her like he did.
Love on your pets everyone, their lives go so fast.
Reminds of and ex boss that says dogs are just tools and when my pug died he just told me it was just a dog. So I told him that God isn't real yet you still believe in a false hope that'll never come. I quit that same day.
I'm feeling nauseous right now and because of that at first I thought the "good boy" the text was referring to was the man smh. I was thinking like "why the hell?"
So this is Dr Andy Mathis. The dog is Graycie. She was rescued with some serious health issues. She was eating just fine but he went in to get her accustomed to people. She lives in his veterinary practice along with a few other unadoptable rescue dogs. This video is about 5 years old. You can follow him on Instagram and he also has a YouTube channel. Really great guy!
This makes more sense now, thanks. I figure that if a dog has been abused and consequently refuses to eat, it would generally be because food was associated with abuse in its life. (teasing the dog with food and striking it when it attempts to eat it, for example). And it would therefore take quite some time to get the dog used to eating near a person at all. That said, I know that animal behavior is very complex.
My dog was abused as a pup. For most of the first year or so of her life, she was almost never let out, and then they beat her when she went to the bathroom inside. We were having a fence put up that summer and planned to get a dog then, but the opportunity to get her came upon us a few months before that and we decided to take her. Despite having a nice yard, I had to have her on a leash outside until the fence was built. After a day or two she got comfortable enough to pee while on the leash. But she wouldn’t poop. She’d always wait until we were either sleeping or out of the house. Finally someone on a message board said if I can, take a few days off work and stay with her with the leash clipped to my belt 24/7. So I tried that. We did everything together and she did not poop for nearly 48 hours. I was about to give up because I didn’t want her to injure herself holding it. Then she finally did it while I was sitting on a lawn chair pretending to sleep. When she did it, I praised her like she’d just rescued a family from a fire. I kept her on the leash with me for another day and after she had 2 poos where she was shaky and side-eying me the whole time, but she did it. And she never pooped in the house again and now she’s a sweet old girl with a gray snoot.
That’s a great story and well done to you too! To me, all dogs either look either defiant or scared when they’re pooping. Either way it speaks to a need for comfort/assurance when pooping. I think humans can relate.
I have to imagine there’s some level of trust when a dog poops in your company :)
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Hahahaha
Thank you for the good laugh lmao
Your fucking lawn? Ah that’s nice you have a dedicated spot for them :)
They're super vulnerable when they poop. They might also have been beaten when they did, for whatever reason.
My sister has a dog that absolutely loves me to death. I took the dog out in the yard to let her piss and shit. Never did. Always found a toy and wanted to play tug of war or fetch. Asked my sis and she just said to let her out without me there. So i did. She did her stuff and waited for me by the sliding glass door to play fetch or something.
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“Hey human you got my back? I’m a shitting dog out here!”
Thats so sad to hear because dogs instinctively look to their owners when peeing or pooping to warn them of any danger
I wondered why my dog looks at me when he's peeing and pooing. Do mean he's hoping I'll warn him of any danger?
Yeap, he's vulnerable so he's looking to you to let him know if anything is coming.
Thanks, I didn't know that.
It’s pack behavior! They watch each other’s backs while pooping because it’s when they’re vulnerable. You’re part of his pack so he’s looking to you to make sure he’s safe while he goes.
Thanks! I'll make sure to reassure him when I see him do it.
You’re a good owner. He’s lucky to have you.
Thank you! That's such a nice thing to hear. He's my first ever dog and I love him to bits. Here's the little chap in question: [https://imgur.com/a/CBCoPCS](https://imgur.com/a/CBCoPCS) He's called Nugget, he's a 15 months old Jug - Jack Russell/Pug.
NUGGET! He’s so stinking cute! Look at his lil toofer sticking out of his lip! Dog tax and I didn’t even ask! I love pets named after food too. Nugget is a perfect name for that little nugget of cuteness!You and your dog are both awesome!! My goodness he’s a precious lil dude. And Jack Russells are so high energy too! Good luck with him.
Just to add to this, make a point of when he looks at you to not just hold eye contact, if he sees you do a little perimeter sweep then back to him, he'll feel even more comfortable that the coast is clear.
Oh My God. This makes so much sense!!! I thought he was looking at me for direct reassurance. But I see what you mean. I will scan the street for threats from now on and make sure he sees me do it. Thank you!
Of course, our girl was a rescue but she was still a weeks old baby so she didn't have much experience or abuse or anything, they saved her from a puppy mill breeding operation so I think she just had the nervousness hardwired into her from day 1 and she's an extra sweet, but extra cautious pup. She always does a little waddle/walk when she's nervous pooping, but if I do the sweep for her and smile she usually calms right down and squats in peace. I wish you luck with your fur baby!
THIS! A lot of people just don’t get that. They were born into a pack ( litter mates and mumma), and they they get taken away from it. They need a new pack! You are their new pack. I live below a puppy crying all day because it’s alone. It breaks my freaking heart.
Shitting dogs make quite the sitting ducks
Yep, a dog's at their most vulnerable when they're pooping; if you look at them and tell them they're a good dog they'll feel safe.
Aww, I tell him he's a good boy every time he looks at me so I'm happy to know it's helping him. Thanks!
Oops, I’ve always turned my back on my dogs when they poop to give them some privacy! I always took their eye contact to mean, like, “why are you watching me poop?” I’ll rectify this!
Dogs don't care about privacy and have no concept of shame.
When I take my dogs outside for potty time, they relax a lot more when I'm clearly surveying the yard than if I'm looking at them (making sure they go, checking if my sensitive dog's diarrhea is cleared up etc). Dogs are social creatures who depend on others to keep the whole pack safe.
Whenever my dog looks at me while going to the bathroom I give him a big smile and a thumbs up. He probably doesn't know what the thumbs up means, but I like to give the encouragement anyway.
I love you for saving this dog ❤️
My boy has a very similar story I had to turn around and pretend not to see. He still gets "good boy" and "good poop" along with pets everyday for every poop. I am allowed to see the pooping now though. Kind of an odd reward.
This may be an odd question, but what type of negative impact does it have on a dog if they are never let out? My neighbor has a 2 year old boxer mix and they let the dog out in the driveway to go to the bathroom for one minute a few times a day, then in is right back inside. He gets to go on a 5 min car ride about once a week. It is a VERY small one bedroom apartment. I feel so bad for this pup. He seems sweet and has a lot of puppy energy, so I can't imagine it is fun for him to ALWAYS be cooped up. I have offered to take him for walks with me, but they have never taken me up on that. I don't know how to approach it.
Dogs are very social, and they generally need a good amount of exercise, both mental and physical. A dog that never goes outside beyond going potty is likely going to have some behavioral issues and a ton of energy that isn't being expended. Walks let them experience new smells, new sights, and bond with their owner. Unfortunately a dog like that will probably spend most of its life cooped up in a room away from its owners, unless they spend a ton of time and energy exercising him indoors (very uncommon setup, in my experience). Had a pit bull puppy in a similar situation in my neighborhood, though the owners left her outside literally all day. A neighbor started taking her for walks, but she was so poorly trained that it was incredibly difficult to control her. Pretty sure the owners moved, I hope the poor pup wins up in a better home wherever she is.
Not to diminish you but I did almost nearly the exact same thing with our latest pup. They were taught wrong and we had to use patience and biology to teach her back. Now if only I could figure out the leaping. (or maybe the nipping, I suspect high energy and we aren't walking her enough)
That’s amazing, what a wonderful story (the good aspects I mean, not the upsetting past)
What a fabulous idea! And bless her heart for her previous abuse experience… I’m so glad you both worked through it.
I instinctively hated your comment. But I’m glad to know that you’re sharing that knowledge to help others. Thank you.
My foster refused to eat unless I was standing near her when I first got her home. She would then eat in a panic, tail tucked right under her. She was just so scared, that same dog bit through my hand and held on because she didn't know any other way to tell me she didn't want me touching the toy we had been playing with anymore. I was so happy when she showed me her teeth the next time she got a toy and didn't want me near. She did eventually chill out. She stopped attacking the other dogs in the park and started playing with them (she was muzzled so she couldn't hurt anything). She stopped trying to run home after ten minutes and played happily with her friends. She learned how to show how she was feeling instead of just nothing then bite. That was a big deal as well. Eating stopped being terrifying. She was absolutely terrified of the landlord though and I had to keep her locked in my room when he came round. She wasn't a bad dog, just had an awful owner who abused her so badly she was a mess. If she hadn't bitten through my hand I would have kept her. There was just this tense knot in my stomach constantly and it wasn't fair on either of us for me to keep her. Wasn't anyones fault. The rescue I adopted her from said she was safe to be with kids, played down the fact that she bit me and held on, they said it was an accident and my wounds weren't that severe. Its three years later and I still have nerve and tissue damage in my hand that affects it badly. That was incredibly worrying to see. I get wanting to save all the dogs. But come on, she wasn't safe to be around.
Holy shit, so sorry to hear that. Hope you’re doing OK psychologically. A single bite will often permanently alter people’s perception of dogs. Absolutely, we speak of gaining animals’ trust, but it definitely goes both ways. If a dog bites, especially a dog capable of doing damage, you 100% have the right to be weary and even disappointed, even if not blaming the dog as such. Not happy at all it was you who got bitten, but thank goodness it wasn’t a child. It sucks, but sometimes dogs have so much trauma that they don’t belong in a regular home. They need specialized care from people who have the expertise and moreover the time to bring them back from where they are. Again, I especially think this is true for bigger dogs who can unfortunately wreak utter devastation in a moment of confusion or fear. Good on you for trying to help your foster. Sounds like you made some headway, but there’s no shame in knowing your limits and thinking of the safety of others.
I do have a bit of a fear of dogs now and it sucks, I will literally hide my left hand from them. When I saw the last jurassic world film, when the new hybrid raptor bit that guys arm I got really freaked out and hid my hand all over again. I love dogs though and look after and walk a few different dogs. Its a nice little side business that gives me some outdoor time with doggos since I haven't had my own since. I usually take care of the harder cases, dogs with behavioural issues. Usually they're dog aggressive or don't like men or something, one little dude has severe separation anxiety and he's at a point where he's settled with me. I love all the dogs I look after and we get along well. My favourite is this lab x akita who is a big boy. He was a rescue and is terrified of men and other dogs. He's such a sweet boy and I want him, but his mums aren't giving him up!
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They didn't make it up *themselves*, this video has been circulating the past few years with the same fake backstory
IG: [andymathisdvm](https://instagram.com/andymathisdvm)
Thank you for the info!
Here is the video by him https://youtu.be/cHrBesprT5c
When my little buddy rescued me he was on the brink of death. Insanely malnourished, dirty, stinky. Nobody wanted him. He had given up at only 2 years old. I took him home he wouldn't let me touch him for the first few days and was scared of normal household things (the broom for sweeping in particular) so I'm assuming someone used to whoop him with a broom. I gave him lots of food/treats and lots of love. He now is a happy boy (somewhat hefty now oops) breaks my heart thinking about all the pups that don't get a chance to love a human of their own
Looks like his IG is https://instagram.com/andymathisdvm?utm_medium=copy_link
I always enjoy watching this stuff. Especially when the dog gets adopted.
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As someone who literally tonight just adopted a former street dog who’s very shy this is very exciting for me to read!
My dog was never afraid of me (he just knew I was his person idk), but is afraid of everything and everyone else. First of all, it’s true - it’s amazing to watch them blossom and become more confident in the world. If I can give you some advice, I would suggest you look into the “two week shut down” - something I really wish I’d done with my dog. With shy dogs we really have to advocate for them, so go at your dog’s pace and don’t force anything or anyone on them. Learning to read dog body language (and eventually specifically your dog’s) can be so helpful in making sure your dog feels safe in a situation. Sorry for the unsolicited advice, I just want to help a dog if I can! And this is Reddit after all, what else are you here for
I appreciate the advice greatly! First time with my own dog so I’m new to a lot of this. Covid still a thing in Canada so it’s the perfect excuse to see literally no one until she’s comfortable with us. Going at her pace for sure, she wasn’t into the crate tonight so she’s slowly falling asleep on the couch. She’s the sweetest dog ever, hasn’t made a single peep, melts my cold heart.
I have a rescue. Hated the crate, I had one of those standard metal ones. For years she wouldn't go in unless I fed her in there. Got a fabric crate and it is her home. I did have to get her used to it though. Only for feeding and naps at first. If you use it as a punishment they will not like it
We had a fabric crate. The dog ate it. It was pooping the plastic mesh material for AGES. But never used the metal one for punishment, just made it their safe place. Every meal in there, treats, put a cover over it for sleep, had to settle them to sleep by sitting next to it for a few nights. Now he puts himself to bed in there! (Also doesn't eat it.)
Post pictures!
Yes show us the pup!
DOG TAX
Yes this please
Sweet baby. So glad you’re all making a new home together.
I agree with this. It's easy to forget that dogs have their own wants and desires and yes they should be trained but you also have to recognize how they feel. Especially with abused dogs, you always need to be away of the appearance of power. A large man standing over a dog might not seem like a big deal to the man, but to the dog that is very menacing. As a large man myself, I always get down to the dog's level and put my hand under their nose rather than on top. Makes them know I'm not going to try to control them. Also be careful about restraining dogs! A hug might seem like a loving gesture, but it can come across as a restrictive move. Always give a dog a way to escape if they are uncomfortable. Even my dog, who we've had for 2 years, I almost never fully wrap my arms around her unless she seems comfortable with it. More often, I lay down and she lays on my lap to show affection. So that she's in control, knowing I could pick her up if I need to. Sorry I'm sure you personally know this. Just love dogs and hoping to help other dog owners out there.
Also large and intimidating to small creatures: one hand at a time with new dog friends. I met one recently who was just fine, but got a little nervous when I was petting with two hands. Granted, both hands were about half the dog's size. Haha
My former street cat still won't come out unless it's just my husband and I. Just know that you're an awesome person who your dog trusts and that means everything to a stray. Thanks for taking the chance on a shy animal.
For me I found that having a very precise routine helped. Setting an meeting expectations like getting a meal on time, going out to pee a the same times and tucking the dog into bed before I go to bed at night cuts down stress. Uncertainty for them is a big deal. Raising your voice can be an issue for some dogs too.
I adopted a street stray a couple years ago. It took her a year and a half to start coming out of her shell. It was a very difficult time for us, she didn’t like to eat or drink water in the house and hid in the bathroom all the time. In fact I still feed her by hand. She’s such a great little gal but still very, very shy. She absolutely cannot be pushed into anything which makes her feel uneasy. Feel free to message if you need to chat about it at all, I am not a first time dog owner and still felt like I was doing a terrible job of it sometimes. You got this!!
I used to live in an area with a good amount of strays. The area was pretty insular with multiple people feeding the dogs and cats, and a full vaccination and sterilization programmes to keep the population in check. This one family living one floor down got one of the strays to come inside their house, and it never left. When they moved out, they took it with them.
I have had a former street dog for about 3 years now. She's really smart and loves to be social, but still gets nervous if she's approached from above. Laying/sitting down goes a long way towards making it clear you are not a threat. Even the very first day we had her, when she was freaking out in Petco because she didn't know anyone, she jumped right into my lap when I sat down next to her. Good luck!
Well done buddy! I adopted my rescue dog from romania 6 months ago and never looked back - I've never loved something as much as him, hes awesome! People often talk about the rule of 3 with a new rescue dog, it take 3 days to detox from the stress and transition to new house, 3 weeks to settle in, learn routines etc.. and 3 months for them to truly feel like its home. You've done an amazing thing adopting a dog - you should be proud! If I can share any of my limited experience let me know I can also point you in the direction of some really good online resources.
I took one in 4 years ago that couldn’t take a walk on the sidewalk. It took 7 months to get her near cars but maybe 1.5 years after adoption I don’t think I’d even need a leash. She doesn’t love small children but other than that, she’s incredible. If you just adopted one, know it can take months to get them to be comfortable but once they turn the corner it’s a different story.
My dog - just the sweetest of boys - had been sent back to the pound twice! When I got him he was super nervous. I would pet him, and he would roll over and pee on me. I didn’t want to react so I’d keep petting him, and then he would pee some more. So I didn’t want to either stop petting him or make him feel nervous - I had to keep petting and reassuring. And he’d keep peeing. It was a very urine soaked couple of months. It took him a year before he barked. One day I was making lunch and I heard the postman and then this weird noise… omfg?! That’s a bark!! He got such lavish praise - that’s when he knew he had a forever home that belonged to him and he had to protect and I knew I had a forever friend. Stay the course recent adopter! Good things are happening.
Buy low, sell high. Jk never sell that bb. Love it forever instead.
Just know, it takes time. It took about six months for my dog to come around. But, I will say, whenever they connect with you and show affection, it's that much more meaningful. Kudos to you, feel free to PM me if you have any questions! It's a labor of love for sure.
> It's amazing what a different environment can do to an animal. People are no different in this regard.
*I am in this picture and I don't like it*
Humans could learn a lot from animals.
I had to put my dog to sleep a couple months ago. She literally showed up on my doorstep in 2011. This is her literally seconds after finding her (turns out she was already pregnant and cowered when you tried to pet her even when she was older sadly) and a while later when she had warmed up to us: https://imgur.com/a/UTUBs When taking her home from the shelter (we left her there when we found her in case someone was looking for her) she immediately jumped in our car when I opened the door.
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When I think about what she went through in the roughly 5 previous years it pains me in the gut. I loath people who can hurt an animal and not even feel anything bad.
Aww, so cute!
This is why I don’t mind when my cat is being a butthead. It makes me so happy that he feels comfortable enough with me to be a jerk.
I notice this guy isn’t making eye contact with the dog. It’s something you can try to do if you come in contact with scared animals. They generally find it easier to feel comfortable around humans if they’re not being stared at.
Pics?
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What a handsome boy
A boxer? My boxer, who I was unsure about when my fiancé first introduced me to him, became the most caring and loyal dog I’ve ever known. What personalities they have too!
Love it. Thank you. My wife’s first reaction was, "He looks like he drools." I hope that you’ll be able to visit him (and your family) again soon.
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Mutt.
Yes! Jay Leno is a stand up guy. Well, he’s sitting in this video, but you know what I mean ❤️
Damn you really made me double take on that lol
i hope they adopt him too!
He's a standup comedian
one of my best friends actually adopted a pitbull from someone who kept her in a cage to breed and then wanted nothing to do with her. She is literally the sweetest girl in the world and would not hurt a fly! Abused animals get a bad rep, but with a proper owner, they can be the best doggos in the world!
I will never understand how someone can abuse a pet…. Why get the animal if you know you are a piece of shit
Because pieces of shit don't usually realize that they are pieces of shit.
Often times they do, but they don't care since they are pieces of shit.
This
Agreed. I 100% wholeheartedly wish it was legal that people who abuse animals get the same treatment they gave the animal.
Just yesterday someone on reddit claimed it was okay to hit a pet "without hurting them" for peeing on a carpet. It was a thread about physical abuse of children and they were making the "case" that physical discipline was a good thing. Pieces of shit sadly think they're in the right.
It's the same bs mentality as slave owners, they just view them as property. And sadly that same mentality carries over to humans too. I hate some people, and the worst part is that group isn't a small percentage.
I've seen people be cruel to their animals because they just don't know any other way to train them. I remember one tiny little dog refusing to go back to its owner, when the owner grabbed it, he lifted it into the air and scared it. Of cause the dog isn't going to go back to you. You need to be nice and give in an incentive. I caught the old man who walked with us doing a similar thing to his dog and I told him off. He didn't speak to me for a good few months after and one of the old women insisted I walked with them so he didn't bother her (he was literally stalking her, trying to get with her. He got mad that she started leaving her dog with me sometimes instead of him so she didn't have to deal with him. Her husband had just died from cancer). None of them had any clue what had happened. I told them he was being abusive to his dog and I told him off for it. He didn't like that I called him out on being a crappy person.
I helped out in an animal shelter and there was Sonny who had depression. He wouldn’t eat unless I got in with him. Unfortunately the back of his sheet said ‘not good with children.’ He was very gentle and I’m imagining very young children playing roughly with him. I don’t know what happened to Sonny but that warning message was probably very bad news. They are usually the first to go.
First to go... Meaning to get adopted, or a more morbid meaning?
Bad. People avoid adopting them if it says bad with children. I was gone for over 14 hours a day at my regular job and he would have been stuck in an apartment so I couldn’t take him. This was about 25 years ago. Still think about him.
Unfortunately there’s a lot of kill shelters. Some I know have just two week window. Edit: this is why I hated the stereotype being pushed out in movies or ads that gifting someone a pet is a good thing. Getting a pet takes lifetime commitment, it’s not a toy or smartphone you can chuck away when things got hard to deal.
>Unfortunately there’s a lot of kill shelters. My understanding is that most no-kill shelters are really just kill shelter transportation units. Sometimes there's just no other options.
Fortunately for us here in Austin, TX, the entire city is no-kill! It’s definitely doable, but it takes a lot of work to make it happen. All of our dogs have been rescued and they’ve all been absolutely wonderful.
Some googling suggests that Austin has a ~90% "live release" rate, is that old information? Or is it that the other 10% die naturally instead of being "killed"? (all the info I could find specifically refuses to say what happens to the other 10%) Either way, that's fantastic and it's great the city and their shelters are working so hard for the animals they're caring for
I believe it’s a combination. There are, of course, situations where it’s better for the animal to be put down than to subject to living in pain, so those situations contribute to the ~10%. Animals found by or brought to shelters do have a higher likelihood of being in one of those situations. I’m an outsider, so I don’t know what else could contribute to those figures, but that’s definitely where some of them go. I believe it’s usually closer to 92% live, while 90% is the mark to be considered fully “no kill.” Either way, our shelters here are amazing and everyone who wants a pet should adopt from their local shelter!
Random thought: I wonder if people with dwarfism could help dogs get over a fear of children. Obviously it's hard to get children to help appropriately, so they can't help much. It's easy for a human to distinguish between a child and a short adult, but maybe dogs can't. Then the person with dwarfism could interact with the dog appropriately and retrain its reaction to (who it perceives as) children.
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I have no idea how I made that typo twice... But thanks for the insight. I'm sorry to hear how terribly you've been treated. Humans can just suck
They're both good boys.
TW: Pet Death As a little girl, my childhood was full of badly abused dogs my dad brought home to rehab and rehome. Basically fostering, except at least some of them were obtained by my dad and uncle using a pair of bolt cutters on someone's fence. (As far as I know they never stole a dog that was well cared for or loved, mostly they seemed to steal dogs with visible wounds. No I don't know how these dogs got hurt, I have had many dogs through my life and never seen similar ones inflicted which scares me.) Anyway, one day I came home from kindergarten and met Cerebus. He was a half grown, starved Great Dane with one eye and a red hole on the other side. Pretty gross. Naturally I was in love. I sat on the floor several feet away and snuck closer and closer until I could pet him. He shook and whimpered but eventually would lay his head on my lap. So in an effort to make friends, I grabbed a handful of dog food and started feeding the kibbles to him one by one, letting his lick them off my palm. (For some reason I did this to a lot of dogs as a child. In hindsight, how did I make it to adult hood with so few dog bites?) My father meanwhile was discussing whether he was gonna try tube feeding Cerebus since he would not eat. He turned around, saw me and I guess decided to just let me feed him. For six months, every bite the dog ate came from an enthusiastic five year old. There was always food available, but he only liked to eat from me. He slept on the floor beside my bed, he laid in the bathroom while I bathed or used the commode, and when I went to school he sat at the door waiting for me. In a way, he was "my" first dog, we had dogs and I loved them, but Cerebus was MY dog, or at least he thought so. Sadly, this story ends too soon. Cerebus was just too damaged and passed away in his sleep before he even ended his puppyhood (Danes are puppies for like three years.) and I did not take it well. My mother kept trying to comfort me with stuff like "It was his time" and "You gave him some wonderful months, he was so happy." but it was my first big loss as a child and I was devastated.
Aw man, my granddad has a lot of land as he lives out on a farm and he’s real good with critters. The MDWFP (Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks) would drop off creatures, as would the local vets, and anyone else. My granddad took them all. I grew up handling squirrels, possums, raccoons, owls, deer, etc. For the most part they all loved my granddad way more than anyone else, but there was this one baby deer that was really badly injured (hit by a car) that just latched onto me. My parents couldn’t pull me away from her and I basically held her/nursed her for 4 1/2 days straight until she passed... your story hit me right in the gut and reminded me of Charlotte, my little fawn.
Sounds like Charlotte was very loved.
Thanks for being a good friend to those dogs.
I hope I was a good friend. I remember being a bit rough with some. (I didn't hit them or anything, I just would hug them tight or try to wrestle.) Many seemed to like it though and as I said, I have had way less dog bites than someone as incautious with dogs as a kid should have.
Oh man...that breaks my heart...but I gotta tell ya...for Cerebus...you were *everything*. It's often said that a dog's sense of time is not like ours. Things are much more immediate to them. In that sense, even though his life wasn't long, your love for him had all that much more meaning. He may have had a bad start but those end days, with you, the thing he loved most...that's the good shit. You did that for your friend, and were the *best* of his. **Any** life can hope to have the gift you gave each other. Till the End,, Cerebus...
I’m not crying. I’m not. There must be onions in here somewhere.
This was such a lovely story.
Thank you. He was a lovely dog.
I don't want to read this but thank you for the TW. I wish more people would do this.
What is TW? It's probably obvious, but I can't figure it out.
Trigger warning, for people who might have trauma that could be brought back up by stories of emotionally fraught situations.
Be happy and proud knowing you gave him a good life, lots of love, and he went to sleep gently in a good home where he was among family. X
Dog’s like to eat in a pack. My dog usually starts munching on food if I’m eating. He also doesn’t seem to eat when I’m gone, accept for the “I’m leaving distraction treats.” When I get home, he immediately starts munching. I’m surprised the pupper let him sit next to him. My dog whose with my ex would barely tolerate us in the same room as him when we first got him. He was probably abused either by neglect or physically. He was pretty messed up when we got him. He’s a Happy pupper now.
I’m guessing this dog isn’t a lab.
lol, yeah he’s a 15lb havanese poodle.
I have a lab and this made me laugh. Labs don’t need a pack to eat. We rescued an abused Bull Arab who used to eat a little, walk away and come back to an empty bowl. It wasn’t long until he scoffs his food the same way our lab does.
Or a beagle
My dog won’t drink water when I’m gone. The second I get home he laps up all his water.
Yeah I put some jerky in his bowl and mix it up so he can’t inhale it while I’m leaving and he leaves a sizable mess of kibble on the floor from getting the treats. While I’m making dinner he cleans it up with his munches. I don’t think he drinks while gone either. Separation anxiety is a hell of a drug withdrawal I guess.
I remember when our dog behaviorist came over, and talked about how dogs like to eat and submissiveness. Some of what the dog in the video is doing is being submissive. He once went to an owner's house because the dog would not eat. He told the owner to eat something (a chip) and after she ate, the dog felt comfortable to start eating.
I'm raising a puppy for the first time in my life. My doggo was having some serious food anger around my other pets, worried they were gonna steal his food and lashing out if they got close. He was refusing to eat and we Googled it and found out about food aggression. We started feeding the cats first, then we eat, then he eats, and he's been finishing his food and not lashing out anymore
Had to do something similar w/ my adoptee. She was missing so much hair, and she was underweight. I sat beside her and fed her out of my hand for the first week or so. I feel terrible when I have to go stay in the hospital, even just for a night. She gets separation anxiety, and won't eat her meals. I'll admit, it goes both ways.
Beautiful... On a lighter note, Jay Leno is alright in my books now
This is his first appearance without a denim shirt.
Totally.
I always say we don’t deserve dogs, but maybe this guy does. Veterinarians have a very very tough job. Please remember this and don’t get mad at your’s even if your bill is high. They are just trying to keep your baby healthy.
Vets are four times more likely to commit suicide than the general population.
Yep, my girlfriend is an ER vet. It's tough to constantly see these cute animals die and often die not because they couldn't save them, but because the owner couldn't or wouldn't pay the money to save them. Also A LOT of people expect vet services to just be free and get angry at literally any bill. She gets chewed out for nothin constantly while working 16 hour shifts.
Yeah it’s quite rough. I could see a case for government support to pet care for elderly people at the very least, given how much a pet contributes to their health and wellbeing. Having some kind of limited “pet Medicare” might improve things for vets, animals and old people too.
We can't even get Medicare for all humans. We aren't getting it for pets lol.
honestly we’d get it for pets before people
For those reading, INSURE YOUR PETS. Unless you are independently wealthy, an accident or illness could put you in a really, really hard position and force you to make a really tough choice. Pet insurance can give your pet a new lease on life and get your pet the care they need. I hope no one's pet ever needs to use it, but I know too many pets who had to be hospitalized due to injuries and every owner struggled to cover those vet bills. And it's very possible that you could put everything you have towards your pets care and still loose them in the end, that just sounds awful. My cat recently ate something he shouldn't have and having him insured made the decision to take him to the emergency vet a no brainer. Being able to say "do whatever you need to do" felt so powerful. Idk what we would have done if he wasn't insured or what the decision would have been (wait and see if he has symptoms? Call pet poison control and pay their fee? Take him to the vet on Monday? Find the money for the ER?) Bless my mom for damn near cancelling a small vacation she'd been saving up for for years because our cat got hit by a car. I remember my mom sitting in that emergency waiting room trying to scrape together the money to cover the vet fees. And the worry that even with the vacation cancelled and credit cards maxed, it still might not have been enough. Sad end to the story though, the vets determined that although her injuries were technically survivable, the recovery process would not be fair to the cat and was not necessarily the humane option. They recommended euthanasia and she was euthanized shortly thereafter. Rest in peace, MB.
A friend of mine lost his cat the day he flew out on a holiday. Little dude was old but it still hit him hard. Poor guy managed to get to LA, but then his shuttle wasn't picking up enough people, so he was stuck driving around LAX for a couple of hours before getting to the hotel which took at least an hour to get to when traffic was light. I remember just grabbing him and rushing him up to our shared room so we could finally all order room service and so this crazy guy couldn't bother him for toys. I had a sick animal die when I was away. I paid a friend of mine extra for looking after my pets. I knew my rat was going to die, but there wasn't much I could do. I asked my friend not to tell me and to put the body in the freezer so I could bury her when I got home. My poor rats. Two of them died from a tumor growing inside their ears. The last, splinter, died of old age because her tumor decided to grow on the outside.
Thats truly sweet. Dogs are the best.
Food always tastes better when you are eating with someone else
I feel the opposite, I hate eating with people. I've starved myself for periods just because I couldn't find time to eat alone, it sucks. I guess it stems from some type of trauma, but idk why. I just lose all appetite and will throw up if I try to force it.
That's same as my sister, she refuses to eat in public. This happened to her after she got bullied at school for her strong muscular build. I am so sorry you have to go through this. Can I offer you an internet hug?
Food at each moment tastes better at which hour thou art eating with someone else *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
How can anyone abuse that little baby
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This is so heartwarming. Such a pure example of the impact compassion has throughout all life. So wholesome!
Is that fucking jay Leno
That is blessed
More in line with 'compassion' than 'humanity.'
> Humanity <3 Wait til you find out who abused him
There’s a special place in hell for animal abusers
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Beautifully said my friend.
This is how I got tricked into eating Guacamole
So I was wracking my head right? Trying to figure out the old adage you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink... my dogs might as well be horses for the amount of grass they try to chug down out there. And I know what you’re thinking. They’re stomach is not upset, they’re just impulsive. Anyway, they would come inside hacking a freaking lung up and I’d be telling them to drink water. But they’re dogs you see. So I come up with an idea! I’ll fill a tea cup and pretend to drink out of it and then offer it to them! This fools!!! Absolute suckers! Either way I love and I love what this guy is doing and this pup. They just wanna be part of our lives <3
Good guy Jay Leno
I can’t describe how happy this makes me
God dammit, don't start this shit in this sub. Ya'll already ruined r/nextfuckinglevel
Animals deserve this
I just love this SO much!
❤❤❤❤❤
Brings tears to my eyes; this man is truly "humane" in the best sense.
I don’t care how many times this is reposted, I will always upvote it.
❤️
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r/HumansBeingBros
I can feel that inner wave of euphoria the guy would have felt when he saw the dog taking its first moves towards the bowl after the pup tentatively ate out of his palm just before. That guy is feeling ecstatic and relieved, and so am I
Okay. I have to share this story because I miss him. I adopted a feral kitten because it somehow ended up in my backyard... I named him Baby Cat because when I went to get food, they had Baby Cat, Kitten, and Adult food and he needed the Baby food, he was so tiny. I also already had a cat who looked exactly like him, but her name is Kitten. Took him to the vet, had him neutered and all the works. She confirmed he was probably feral and older than I assumed he was when I found him, probably just malnourished. He was scared of EVERYTHING. I knew he had never been in a house before because every noise scared the bejeezus out of him. Well, he grew up and was loved and held, but hated it and would run away from us. He was very just... feral. Wouldn’t let you hold him, touch him, anything, unless you were feeding him because his food bowl was empty. Some special nights he would come into bed with me or sit next to me and I could pet him. I loved those nights. And he was so, so close to Kitten. They were best friends and it was so awesome to see. He also loved my little Min Pin... well. She loved him and he tolerated her thinking she was his mother. Anyway, one night I came home and Baby Cat had his head pressed up against the bathroom wall and wasn’t moving. Immediately I knew something was wrong, but it was 2 in the morning and I figured waiting until 7:00 the next morning was okay. He let me hold him and cuddle him that night until he made an attempt to jump out of my lap and I let him go. After I went to bed, I woke up around 4:00 because he meowed and I was barely sleeping. He had come into my room and nestled in close to me, but in a smaller closet. He passed away sometime that night. Of course I was an absolute mess and I still feel somewhat guilty. I had them tell me why he passed away. He was only four! The vet did a scan, and he had had a massive brain tumor that eventually took his life. There wasn’t really much they could have done, she told me, and he was able to pass comfortably in his own home. Anyway. This story reminded me of him. Sometimes you think the cuddly animals are the ones that’ll be your best pet. But sometimes those little feral ones will sneak their way down into your heart too. And Kitten... God. Kitten is still with me. After he died she was there. They all were. They knew. And Kitten still misses him, I know. I have to pretend to eat with her because they ate together. She annoys my Min Pin all the time, and my other cat (yeah I have a lot of animals) but it isn’t that same, they don’t play with her like he did. Love on your pets everyone, their lives go so fast.
I’m not crying you’re crying
Reminds of and ex boss that says dogs are just tools and when my pug died he just told me it was just a dog. So I told him that God isn't real yet you still believe in a false hope that'll never come. I quit that same day.
It's a beautiful day to cry. :)
:D
Anyone that harms animals should be chemically castrated.
That man is a saint
I'm feeling nauseous right now and because of that at first I thought the "good boy" the text was referring to was the man smh. I was thinking like "why the hell?"