Charley Gets to Stay in his Home – with a Little ‘Animal Help’ from Best Friends!
photo of June and CharleyWhen June Romeo of Brea, Ohio wrote to our Animal Help department, she was desperately worried about the fate of her rescue dog. Despite being a great pooch in all other ways, Charley was getting into fights with her two other dogs and June thought the only solution was to find him another dog free home. It was breaking her heart to think of having to part with him.
June wrote:
“Charley was badly abused and we got him after our vet rescued him. He’s a “mutt” and appears to be some sort of boxer/shepherd mix. When we got him from our vet (who had found him and cared for his wounds) he was all skin and bones, with lots of torn skin, open sores, and had a chunk missing from his tongue. When you stretched out your hand slowly to pet him he flinched. He’s afraid of simple things such as a spoon (he won’t even lick a little icing off one)”
“He's three now, and keeps attacking our dogs, Georgie and Rexie. We never know what might set him off. He just stiffens and before I can intervene, he's fighting with one of the others. He is about 3 times their size, and has bitten them several times.”
“We separate them at night and when they eat. My other two are frightened of him. I'm afraid to give him away because he loves us so much and is so gentle when he’s with us by himself. I think it would break his heart and ours.”
“I've taken him to a really nice dog trainer, and I work with him as much as I can. As soon as we pull him off the other dog when he's fighting, he immediately slinks down and hangs his head and raises his paw. I'm desperate. I'm afraid that if I can't find him a home (I hate to think of not having him live here...we love him so much) I might have to have him put to sleep.”
Medha Isaacs, one of our Animal Help specialists, got in touch with June and sent her information and suggestions about how she might be able to work with Charley in her home and keep him. She recommended that June to do more training and work with a behaviorist as well. June wrote back and said the following:
“I can’t thank you enough for your most encouraging email! Charley is such a wonderful dog, and neither my husband nor I want to lose him. I must admit, we haven’t been as diligent in working with Charley on a regular basis, but we will start again today!”
“June also said that the recommendation of Introducing Charley to the very humane basket muzzle really helped- particularly when he has to go to the vet. Even though the vet is the one who rescued him, Charley remains terrified when he visits and is likely to bite out of fear, not a lack of gratitude!”
A few months later, Medha received the following news of the very happy ending of this story.
”I'm not sure if you will remember me, I emailed you in the middle of the night asking for help with my rescue dog, Charley. At that time I was afraid we'd have to put him to sleep because he was attacking my other two dogs. You replied the very next day with a whole bunch of ideas. Your email made me sit down and cry because I felt that there was hope that I would be able to keep my dear, beloved Charley living with us.”
“We actually did something relatively simple. We bought two "baby gates" and divided the house into two parts. We have a large rambling Victorian house and we have blocked off the large back bedroom, utility room, kitchen and dining area and a second part that has the two parlors and the whole upstairs. We are able to let one "doggie group" out the back door into the fenced yard, then let the second doggie group into the back part from the front area, gate it off, and let the first doggie group back into the front part of the house. The dogs have adjusted beautifully to the routine and each "set" gets to be in both parts of the house throughout the day.”
”Both my little dogs and Charley are so much more relaxed and happier than ever before! Now none of them are afraid or insecure and all three get more individual attention than before. When we are gone from the house we block off the kitchen so that there is a "no fly zone" with a buffer in case one of the gates would get knocked down. During the day the doggies come up to the gates and lick each others' noses.”
”Medha, you gave us hope, and it is due to you and Best Friends that Charley is still alive and well and loved. He is the most wonderful dog...always smiling! My dogs are my family and my husband was also just sick at the thought of having to consider putting our Charley to sleep. Charley is firmly established with us now, and we are becoming expert "hurdlers" over the gates! The doggies are happy and feel safe, and that's the most important thing. Again, with all my heart, thank you!”