Focaccia is such a rarity at the Care Center that I do a double-take as I pass her kennel - could this stunning young girl really be a stray? Her heritage is a mix of two highly intelligent herding breeds, shes slim, elegant and fit as a fiddle and her sleek ebony coat and expressive chocolate drop eyes are those of a doggie supermodel. Who wouldnt want to claim such a prized pup as their own? Focaccia is a bright, active and very sensitive dog and the combination of confinement, barking neighbors and so many strange humans has left her highly stressed out. This is no place for a special girl like Focaccia and Im hoping she wont be staying with us for long. Shes very wary of the leash and yelps pitifully when I loop it over her head but once that trauma is past she walks quite nicely, alert to every sound and movement and mostly ignoring other dogs as we pass through the hall. Free in a pen she searches all around, thoroughly sniffing the perimeter before circling close to me, curious but not yet ready to engage. And this is when I bring out my secret weapon, the chew treats. Like little magnets they draw Focaccia in...one step...two steps...then its paws on my lap and a wet nose snuffling my back pocket for more! She takes most of my fingers in her mouth as she eats but in a very gentle way and now that weve passed the first handling hurdle Im allowed to softly scratch behind her ears and slowly rub her side. Focaccia enjoys ball play, waiting with a big smile and a high tail for my throw, but shes a bit too distracted at the moment to really show off her skills and after a few retrievals she loses interest in her toy and we decide to head for the street instead. Caught out in a sudden rainstorm we jog back inside and to my happy surprise Focaccia allows me to give her a full body towel-down with no complaints. To make so much progress in just one visit speaks to her deep yearning for the friendship and security of a human companion and Im convinced that in a quiet, patient forever home Focaccia will shine as the loyal, loving and talented star she was always meant to be. https://facebook/photo.php?fbid=837816972897850&set=a.611290788883804.1073741851.152876678058553&type=3&theater
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:47:32 +0000
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