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A New Reason for Hope

August 05, 2008, 11:36PM MT

By Julie Snyder

A lucky Gabbs dog finds a loving home and learns to trust

A lucky Gabbs dog finds a loving home and learns to trust

By Linda Eissmann, Best Friends Network Volunteer

By now, everyone knows the story of the Gabbs dogs – the 145 dogs kept on a “ranch” in Gabbs, Nevada, when their caregiver died in 2007. She left verbal instructions for the dogs to be euthanized upon her death, but her niece, Linda Bailey, could not go through with it. The call was put out for rescue organizations to help and the response was incredible. In the end, the last 32 dogs were transferred to Camp Reno, a temporary shelter to help socialize the shyest of the shy.

If you are like me, you have wondered what happened to these dogs. Are they still in shelters? How are they doing? While I am unable give you an update on all of the Camp Reno dogs, I can tell you what happened to one of them – a female black lab mix now appropriately named Hope.

From Gabbs to Camp Reno to HSAR
Hope was among the Camp Reno dogs who was terrified of people. After weeks with volunteers from United Animal Nations, she and another dog were taken to High Sierra Animal Rescue (HSAR) in Portola, California, about 50 miles from Reno. There, the road to becoming companion dogs began for Hope and Angelina.

I am fortunate to know about Hope because she was adopted in early May by one of my co-workers, Janice McClure, who has been patient in giving me regular updates on her progress. Now that they are about to celebrate their three-month anniversary together, I thought it was time to share Hope’s story and progress.

“Painfully shy” does not begin to describe Hope when Janice brought her home. She was terrified of people and nervous about everything. She seemed traumatized by her life’s experiences. She quickly became friends with the other canines in the house, including Bailey Beau Buckley, a 90 pound chocolate lab male, and Zoe, a female Italian greyhound mix that Janice adopted from Best Friends. Understandably more comfortable around dogs than humans, Hope soon bonded with her canine siblings and even did well with the cats in the home.

Learning to Trust a Human
With Janice; however, it was a different story. Hope was not sure about this new human. After all, people were still a mystery to Hope, so she tried to hide when Janice came in the room or approached her.

Hope would make “running passes” by her dish, taking a bite as she passed by, but never stopping to enjoy her food. Janice believes the dogs in Gabbs may have had to fight for their food or protect their bowls and this was Hope’s way of keeping a weary eye for any potential attackers.

One curiosity is that while Hope was afraid of most things, she was not afraid of thunder. A dog not afraid of thunder? I guess that comes from living in a hay bale in the middle of Nevada. Nature does not frighten you, but people sure do!

It took Hope a couple weeks before she began to relax even a little bit and would spend short periods of time in the room with Janice. She began to enjoy her dog beds and did not feel the need to hide in her crate. After three weeks, Hope would reluctantly begin to approach Janice, as long as she knew she could get away if Janice reached for her. She also began to eat her meals while standing in one place, as long as she was alone when eating.

Taking Baby Steps
By the end of May, Hope hesitantly raised her tail and tried to play with Bailey when he played fetch. She was even seen picking up the ball and running with it! “I am quite excited that she is starting to behave like a dog!” Janice wrote in an e-mail.

Janice could see that Hope wanted to be a happy, normal dog, but she had a lot of “detoxification” to do. “Often, when Hope is relaxing in the yard, I can actually see her letting go of some really bad stuff,” Janice wrote.

The baby steps continued and by early June, Hope let Janice walk up to her, pet her, and tell her good morning without running away! During mealtime, Hope even started doing a “happy dance” in anticipation of her meals. Gone were the days of the “running passes.”

By July, Janice saw a more confident Hope begin to emerge. “Hope is displaying more confidence in protecting/claiming her territory as she now sits up quite alert and barks like a big dog when the neighbors get too close to the fence.” Could this be the same terrified dog?

The Good Life
Today Hope is finally beginning to realize that this is home. The trauma of her former life is beginning to slowly peel away and she is starting to understand the permanence of a loving, patient, and stable home. We do not know how she came to Gabbs, what her life was like before, or how she survived out there. But we know the life ahead will be a good one; a life where a dog can just be a dog.

Janice noted, “I can see in her eyes that the Hope that always should have been is finally emerging. Even though it is a slow emergence, I can see the light of success at the end of the tunnel!”

Another Happy Ending
As for Angelina, the other Camp Reno dog who was taken to HSAR, her name is now Angel and she was adopted at the end of May after completing the Pups on Parole program at the High Desert State Prison in Lassen County, California. She was never quite as shy as Hope, and has settled well into her new home. Her Mom, Lorraine, corresponds with Janice as they compare notes about these two amazing dogs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Help support High Sierra Animal Rescue continue their life-saving work. For more on how you can help, see their website.

• For a list of the other organizations involved in the Gabbs rescue, please see 144 Gabbs Dogs’ New Lives.

For more information:
• From Hay Bales to Homes
• <a href=" http://unitedanimalnations.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html"; target="_blank">Shannon Asquith’s blog on “Camp Reno”</a>

Posted by Julie Snyder, Best Friends Network

Photo of Hope courtesy of Lauren Arends

Comments

Posted August 06, 2008, 11:30AM by CCorbin

What a beautiful and inspiring story. Hope - what a fitting name, and such a gorgeous girl who indeed has been given hope by her new mom, siblings, and her very own forever home. Janice, you and Hope, both working one for the other, have effectuated many miracles already. She may not be able to tell you yet, but she loves you very much. Linda, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story. I look forward to more stories of Hope's new life.

Posted September 21, 2008, 2:51AM by roscoemom

I was one of the volunteers who worked with the 34 Gabbs dogs at the shelter in Reno. Everyone one of us fell in love with every single dog there! One of my favorites was Wilma, now known as "Angel." I am so happy she and Hope have loving homes where they can finally enjoy life. Thank you so much for sharing their new lives with us.

Posted August 06, 2008, 12:34PM by juls1116

You have truly given her the gift of "Hope"... thanks for sharing her progress!

Posted August 06, 2008, 3:38PM by JAk

I agree what a great story.. my heart is full of thanks for Janice and what she has done for Hope..
God Bless her and Hope!!
Kinda of reminds me of Cathy's Tuggs ,Right Cathy?

Posted August 06, 2008, 4:55PM by bogiedew

What a wonderful woman Janice is to adopt Hope and to be so patient with her. I am happy Hope is learning to be a dog and enjoying life.

Posted August 07, 2008, 1:8PM by rmlamasney25

Hooray for Hope! heartfelt thanks to all who helped her and the other Gabbs dogs. Wishing Hope & Janice many happy years ahead.

Posted August 06, 2008, 3:52PM by CCorbin

Julie - Indeed it does remind me of Tuggs!

Posted August 06, 2008, 3:37PM by JAk

I agree what a great story.. my heart is full of thanks for Janice and what she has done for Hope..
God Bless her and Hope!!
Kinda of reminds me of Cathy's Tuggs ,Right Cathy?

Posted August 07, 2008, 2:36PM by yvette

Amazing!!! What a fabulous story - thank you Janice!