Helping some of the shyest Gabbs dogs learn to trust.
By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff The temperatures outside may be fiercely cold; however, the love and dedication inside “Camp Reno” radiates warmth. This building, formerly used by the
Nevada Humane Society, now houses the most timid dogs rescued from the isolation of Gabbs. Here they receive care and compassion courtesy of
United Animal Nations (UAN). Now the dogs obtain daily contact from devoted volunteers and sleep in fluffy beds, instead of the dirt floors of their former hay-houses.
UAN Director of Field Services, Shannon Asquith, states, “These dogs have lacked consistent human interaction for years, so we are trying to introduce them to very simple pleasures – dog treats, warm beds and a loving, human touch. After spending four weeks with us at Camp Reno, the dogs will have learned some basic skills and developed enough confidence around humans to be placed into new homes.”
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Melissa Hardy offers a treat to Brian while Deb Anderson looks on, provided courtesy of Alexis Raymond of UAN.)
While “Camp Reno” started with the 27 dogs in the most need of socialization, in the past two weeks only one has been taken in by a rescue. In addition, one of the organizations that had taken 14 of the Gabbs dogs found six to be more timid than previously thought. So they too are joining the group at “Camp Reno” for some special care. As a result, there are now 32 dogs in need of help.
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Deb Anderson coaxes “The Girls” to accept treats, provided courtesy of Alexis Raymond of UAN.)
Fortunately many
Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) volunteers have been coming regularly to help. The group is providing basic socialization to the dogs, to get them accustomed to being around people. The atmosphere is quiet and caring as people speak softly to the dogs while offering them treats.
TTouch helping them adjust:
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Wilma prior to TTouch, provided courtesy of Ashley Dunleavy of UAN.)
The progress is slow but steady. One method that has proved successful with the dogs is TTouch. Melissa Hardy, a TTouch practitioner and EARS volunteer, has been using her skills to assist the dogs in their transition. “It’s been really interesting because they’re so unsure about what’s happening,” comments Hardy. “One thing TTouch does is relax the body, and just doing that, gets them to take a breath and relieves the stress.” Some of the dogs have progressed to the next step, which is loosely draping TTouch wraps on their shoulders and back. This causes the dogs to change their posture, become more balanced, and entices them to raise their heads. Says Hardy, “Once they are more balanced physically, then it helps them to become more balanced in their mind.” As they adjust to the wraps, the dogs then advance to walking on a harness.
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Wilma with TTouch wraps, provided courtesy of Ashley Dunleavy of UAN.)
Wilma is an example of what TTouch can accomplish. When Hardy first saw her, she was extremely stressed and rigid in her crate. After receiving TTouch, “She just blossomed.” Her feet came together; she stretched, yawned, and became aware of her surroundings. Now Wilma enjoys being let out of her kennel for runs. She even whines for attention, a major breakthrough.
“It’s exciting because every morning you see a more improved attitude and then at the end of the evening, you see even more progress,” notes Hardy. She has contacted fellow TTouch practitioners from around the nation with hope that they may volunteer to further help the dogs as they are distributed to various other shelters and rescues.
Windy finds a foster home:
EARS volunteer Ashley Dunleavy has known Asquith for some time and when she heard about “Camp Reno,” she knew she needed to act.
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Windy at “Camp Reno,” provided courtesy of Ashley Dunleavy of UAN.)
She spent four days last week helping to socialize the dogs. Although she promised to not bring back any animals, at the end of her stay, she called her boss at the
Yolo County SPCA to say she wanted to accept one dog. “She’s not the most social, but she’s the one that needs us the most,” explained Dunleavy. That is how Windy, formerly Wind Talker, found her foster home.
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Windy settles in to her new foster home, provided courtesy of Ashley Dunleavy of UAN.)
While many of the dogs have truly made progress at “Camp Reno,” Windy remained so scared she was always trying to disappear under her kennel mate. Despite her fears, she never showed any signs of aggression. “I knew that if she could just come out of her shell, she would be adoptable,” states Dunleavy.
Fortunately, Dunleavy has learned some TTouch techniques and has some canine partners to assist her with Windy’s transformation. Her border collie, LJ, is extremely social, and her hope is that he can ease her fears and become a role model. Though only at her home a short time, Windy now keeps her head raised to watch everyone and has even been enticed out of her crate for the first time by LJ.
More rescues needed:
A few, such as Maggie and Wilma, are already to the point where they can be adopted into appropriate homes. However, there are still 32 dogs in need of rescue and only two weeks until February 20, when the UAN must vacate.
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Maggie looks out at her surroundings provided courtesy of Ashley Dunleavy of UAN.)
While the dogs are now out of Gabbs, Nevada, they still need organizations to foster and place them. So far, the Gabbs rescue has only been possible because of many organizations working together on behalf of the animals. That collaboration must continue until these dogs depart this temporary facility.
“It’s really going to be about a lot of groups taking a few dogs each,” says Shannon Asquith of UAN. Dunleavy agrees and states, “I think that if people are part of a small rescue and can take only one, that’s a lot of help.” With the individualized attention that is possible in a foster home, the dogs are likely to overcome their fears more quickly to become suitable for adoption.
“These dogs have come so far so quickly,” Asquith notes. “Dogs who ran away from us at the ranch are now rolling over for belly rubs and greeting us at the door, tails wagging. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see their transformation.”
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Lynn Frischmann helping to socialize Race provided courtesy of Alexis Raymond of UAN.)
How you can help:• Please be a part of the Gabbs rescue. If your animal welfare organization can help by taking one or more of the dogs, please contact Shannon Asquith with United Animal Nations at 916-216-3677 or Paul Bruce with the Humane Society of the United States at 916-344-1710.
•
Donate to the UAN so they may purchase extra tasty treats and continue their rescue work.
For more information: •
Shannon Asquith’s United Animal Nations blog about the dogs at “Camp Reno”•
Tellington TTouch Training• There will be
TTouch Workshops at the Best Friends Sanctuary in 2008; February 16-20, June 25-29, and October 21-26
• See a video of
“The Girls,” three lab mixes from Gabbs, as they are learning to trust people.
Yolo County SPCAPO Box 510
Davis, California 95617
Phone: 530-304-2041
United Animal Nations (UAN)PO Box 188890
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 916-429-2457
Lead photo shows Lynn Frischmann offering Race a tasty morsel. Photo provided courtesy of Alexis Raymond of UAN.