The Dog No One Wanted.
It took a week before she could be vetted and get transported. Friday was the day. Norma Jean was taken to Winding River, and I picked her up. I was pretty nervous getting her...I committed to a dog..I had never met. I have kids, cats and an 8 year old dog at home..was this a good idea? Dogs are never what they seem behind bars. But those eyes..looked so kind.
A young gal brought her to me, struggling to keep from being dragged around. She wasn't huge..but definitely strong. She had no reaction to either of us at all, didn't even look at me. I struggled to get her OUT of the building..man she was strong. I was thinking in my head, (ok SCREAMING in my head) "OMG..what have I gotten myself into!" She had to potty so bad we barely made it up the stairs to the driveway before she had to go. Poor thing. She was pulling wildly..no response to me at all. The cheap lead around her neck was cutting into my hands, but didn't slow her a bit. I only parked across the parking lot-but it seemed like a mile! Norma Jean did some aggressive fence lunging at some dogs who were in a run outside. Not going to lie-that was scary. But..she'd just left death row...she'd been through a lot. She was drooling excessively-which made me NOT want to even put her in my car. I normally work with American Eskimos..they don't drool OK! They are small! They can't pull me around! WHAT WAS I THINKING! Barely was able to get her INTO the car. She wanted to go everywhere but where I wanted her to go. Once in the seat (drooling everywhere) she finally looked at me briefly. Then back to looking at something far far away out the window. Her nipples were huge and inflamed. Hair was missing on her legs and backside. Sores on her legs. Her privates were horribly swollen..she had to be in pain. Her hair just looked awful-it was course and dirty. I didn't like the thick collar around her neck.
That is us still in the parking lot. I couldn't put the keys in the ignition for awhile. I told my hubs we'd have her for just the weekend. After this display..no one in their right mind would want this dog. My husband was going to kill me. I tried to talk to her, to see if she'd calm down. No change. I drove off toward home, having mini panic attacks the whole way. Finally Norma Jean laid down and curled up. I stopped at a stop light and snapped another photo of her.
Things only got worse when I got home. I always immediately take all new foster dogs for a long walk around my neighborhood so we can get to know each other..blow some steam..and relax. I attempted to "walk" Norma Jean. She pulled me so hard I nearly fell on my face every other step. Every fence with a dog in it, she got so ferocious I was terrified. I had ZERO control over this dog. She was dangerous. No way I could even think about having her in my house. I've got two young kids! Cats! And an 8 year old American Eskimo. No way. Panic set in.
I didn't even take the crate into the house, I left it in the garage. I took her out back to run around in our fenced in yard while I got her food and water all ready. While in the kitchen gathering things..I hear a scratch at the garage door. OMG. How did she get out?! But there she was, at my garage door. OK, so she has no training, aggressive and jumps fences. That took my chances from slim to NONE. I had to get her into the crate. Well, that sounds good on paper. Ever try shoving a 52lb animal into a crate..that does NOT want to go in? It's like giving birth to a water buffalo. But I got her in there.
No, I could not continue to do that...no way I can have this dog at my house. In my house. NEAR my house. I immediately started messaging my rescue friends in a panic. WHAT DO I DO? Where can I take her? I can't keep her! She is dangerous. HELP ME. No one had any ideas or options...and I certainly didn't want to take her back to the holding facility. Might as well dump her back at a shelter. I survived that night. Of course I reassured my hubs she was going to be gone by Monday. Knowing fully that was NOT going to be the case.
I only let her out to go potty and feed her on Saturday. I would sit and talk to her through the crate. She seemed sweet..a little rambunctious..but not vicious like I had seen the day before. None of my rescue friends had options for her. I posted in a group asking for advice, but of course got nothing of any use. That night I let her out to feed her and my husband came with me. We were just talking and then noticed Norma Jean was standing there...looking at us both intently. I know she was WILD and terrifying yesterday..seemed to have NO training at all. But, nonetheless I asked her to sit. She did. WHAT?! I asked her to roll over. Lay down. She did. Shake, she did. Turn around, she did. Really?! My hubs was very impressed. At least I didn't have to worry about being murdered in my sleep anymore..
After it was still KIND OF hard to get her into the crate..but she seemed much more calm after our "mini get to know you" session. It was like a light bulb went off, "OMG, these humans speak my language!" My hubs and I couldn't believe she knew every command we could think of. Maybe things would start to go in my favor?
Sunday I decided she needed to stretch those legs. I wasn't as scared of her today. Norma Jean seemed pretty interested in a ball the night before, so we brought that with us in the back yard. Must say, we had a pretty tired girl after that! Of course, she played fetch dead on...and brought it back and placed the ball into my hand! (Notice the nasty thick collar was replaced!)
Introductions with my Eskimo went..ok. Kiara is 8. Doesn't like nonsense. And didn't appreciate being bumped into. But, better than expected. No aggression from Norma Jean. Didn't even attempt kids or cats just yet. Not ready.
Now that we started with fetch..we played it at least once a day! We played until she was too tired to walk. Then, her rash started, After about one week of being with me. Everywhere. Itchies. Neon pink dog from head to tail. Turns out in addition to everything ELSE..she had severe allergies to all the fun outdoor stuff. Didn't we already go from slim to NONE? Now add daily allergy meds and special food to her list. 7 pills a day to be exact. And vet insists that YES she is part Pit Bull. And somehow NOW..I just don't really care what she is. She's a dog. A white dog. Who cares! (We did DNA test her finally for fun..she is a Pit Bull/German Shorthair Pointer mix!)
Luckily we got her over the round of antibiotics and steroids for her swollen nipples....and steroids and special bath for her allergies..and onto a treatment plan. She wasn't in so much discomfort. Which meant she started to really react like a normal dog with our family. I have a giant crate I borrowed from my neighbor, and put it up in the middle of the living room. So she could see and hear my kids and cats..our routine..what we were about. She was very calm, and even when my terrorist cat was stealing pieces of food out of her bowl..she didn't care. So..I started letting her be out and about on a leash in the house. Had to do some corrections about jumping..and trying to go after my cats. But only for a week or so. Then we had to teach her she wasn't allowed to shred the toys. She could rip apart a Kong in less than a minute. Bully Stick? Gone in less than 5 minutes. Everything she got a hold of...GONE! But the LEAVE IT command saved me there. Thank goodness..someone taught her that too! In addition to STAY. Another command that helped me with this girl. Soon she was free roaming when we were home.
And..I just couldn't call her Norma Jean. It somehow didn't fit her. So I spent three days saying every name I could think of. Trying to get a response out of her. And I mean every! When I said "Kasey" she tilted her head to the side. Well, it's as good of a name as any! Not to mention I love the letter "K"...
She had pretty horrific separation anxiety. AND crate anxiety. OMG. Thanks again to my dog trainer friend, Melissa, for saving me. I gave up on the crate thing...because with further use of LEAVE IT..she touches nothing that is not hers. We tested her..she is an angel when we leave! So free roaming it is! But...still anxiety when we GO. Melissa gave us some "tricks" to get her past that. Working with flying colors. With the help of tossing a handful of treats as I walk out the door of course. But my girls and I have been hard at it. We were able to get her over this faster because I stay home with my kids (still working on it..but oh so close) . Not everyone would be able to work with this dog. Maybe this was the right foster home for her after all.
Lord knows we fought BATTLES over her skin issues. Bills of over $1,000. Then her nipples started acting up again! ON NO! Doc said some had to be removed. She did wonderfully and is healing great. Not every dog is so lucky to get a boob job. Thanks to some awesome supporters-I've collected funds from my fundraisers to help cover some of her surgery. Wow..I know some really cool people. What would I do with out them?
She is too busy snuggling to be vicious. That's a photo of Kasey with her sister, Kenzie. Kenzie took good care of Kasey after her surgery. So mothering..to a dog! Kasey also snuggles with my kids. In fact, she has been with us about four months, and I trust her with my kids ( 3 and 5) more than my 8 year old American Eskimo. No joke. Kasey watches over them, and if one falls or gets hurt..or they start to fight with each other (hey, kids do it!)...she comes running and "boops" me. That dog does not miss a beat. She worships my girls. I know they are safe in her paws.
Forgot to mention I did have a few applications on Kasey..but none wanted anything to do with her after they heard "daily allergy medicine" and "special food". So, maybe she is stuck here? I guess now it doesn't seem so bad...but honestly. Who wants her anyway? She cost me over $1,500 in four months. Meds daily. Special food..still working on some of her training. She loves my kids. And her boyfriend the cat..how can I put her through being rehomed? Who will lay with me while I eat popcorn? Who will wait for me to go to bed? Would another family make sure she has cute clothes to wear? Kasey doesn't like to be cold.
~Stephanie
Kitties & Kritters
