Rescue Stories

Zelda was handed in to us because the owners said they were out all day and she had to be shut in the garage, which they felt was unfair. We agreed. They said she had no vices, liked kids and other dogs. She was a lovely red and white girl, very striking and was clearly very well bred. We found her a home on a farm with a young couple, but within a week they reported that she had growled at one of them and bitten the other. We felt this may be because of the move and to give it a few more days, but to be careful. Zelda then bit one of the other farm workers, so back she came to us.

We then made discrete enquires about her original home and learned that this was normal behaviour for our Zelda and she had bitten several times before. The cause was difficult to ascertain, as she was great for most of the time, so we sent her away for 3 weeks to one of our dog behaviourists. True to form, she behaved very badly initially but once she had a good relationship with the trainer she began to see what was expected of her and at the end of her stay there her behaviour and attitude were greatly improved.

Finding the right home for such a dog can be very worrying, as unless the new owners are prepared to follow the trainer's instructions to the letter in all probability Zelda would revert to her original behaviour if she thought she could get away with it. Luckily, after only a short time, a suitable family did turn up who were more than willing to take Zelda and her problems on. The regime they had to follow was quite onorous and it took a great deal of their time and patience, but bless them they persevered and slowly, inch by inch, they were able to relax some of the stricter rules. She is great friends with the cat (which had been a major worry initially) who sleeps in her basket with her, and after almost a year is a happily integrated member of the family and hasn't put a foot wrong for some months now.

Of course, it always has to be remembered how she is capable of behaving if left to her own devices, but all concerned are very hopeful that now Zelda has a loving home, is no longer shut up in a garage, and has all she needs around her, her first home will just be a bad memory, as will the bad behaviour that went with it. We owe a great debt of gratitude to her owners, who were willing to take on such a risky situation, but they felt she was well worth it, and so far Zelda has repaid them handsomely for all their love and trust in her. Long may it continue.