When Fear Becomes Happiness

I met him on August 21, 2010.  Most people would have said "why would you make friends with HIM?"  He was mean, didn't want anything to do with people, he just wanted to stay by himself.  He was homeless, cold, and obviously scared out of his mind.  He was big too which made him scary in itself.   But I made up my mind that no matter what I was going to break through his outer shell.

We sat there on the steps under the overhang of a building in downtown Cedar Rapids and I sat there silently for at least 10 minutes.   Occasionally he would grumble a little but he wasn't going to speak - he was only going to make sure I knew he wasn't happy that I was bothering him.

I sat there for a good 10 minutes, almost in his lap and refused to budge.  He refused to budge too. 

Then something happened.   After 10 minutes of silence he sniffed my shirt.  I didn't say a word nor did I look at him,touch him or talk to him.   We are on his terms simply because his growling at another volunteer 15 minutes prior told us he meant business...The police had now arrived after someone reported him as a vicious pit bull (thats a whole nother topic).   So my work was really cut out for me. 

It was time to PROVE to the CRPD that he wasn't a threat to anyone including myself who had spent the last 15 minutes in silence next to a dog sitting taller than my own head.  I asked the Officer to stay back and let me work with the "'vicious pit bull" he seemed all too happy to allow me to handle him.   I told him who I was and what I did and he relaxed just enough to allow me to finish my "dog whispering" activity.

This boy continue to come close enough to sniff as I continued to ignore him for about 2 more minutes after the officer arrived (and kept a safe distance).  We had been selling dog treats at the farmers market this day so I had a stash brought over from our table and slowly began the treat game.

We started we setting a treat down on the ground and he ate the first one.

Then I bumped the ani up a bit and he had to start eating it out of my hand.  Within 20 minutes from start to finish this growling, shaking, thin, halk hairless dog was walking on a leash with me down 5th Ave!

I contacted my rescue friend DeAnne and she met me with her vehicle and we opened the back door and he jumped right in.   She took him to Cedar Rapids Animal Control Center and they scanned him for a chip (nothing found) and they told her he would be euthanized because of his skin condition looking like Mange and the fact that he would be labeled a pit bull mix.

I gave her clear instructions when she picked him up that if there was any issues to call me and tell me and Id find a way to get him into my own large pack at home.   Well the call came not 45 minutes after they had left for CRACC...And we made plans to bring him back to my home base...At 12:30 DeAnne brought Bubba Gump III to me and we drove home the 45 minute drive while he slept with his head in my lap the entire time.

He has spent the last month in my home with my 10 other dogs and has been the BEST Rottweiler Mix ever!  He loves my nieces who come to visit often, loves every dog and cat I have and more than anything loves sleeping in my bed at night.

Today is a special day for him - He is meeting his new family!  I foster allot of cats and dogs and the moment they meet their new families is so bitter sweet - more sweet than bitter but you spend a lot of time with thes kids sometimes they are in the worst of shape not only physically but emotionally and you help them heal.  And then they find their forever home and you shed a tear out of pure love for them.  Happiness that they found the perfect family.
 
That Bubba Gump III became my friend that day because I didn't label him, didnt show fear but strength, and because I opened my home to ONE MORE DOG even when I had so many already.   It was his fear that gave me strength and determination to SHOW him that the world is a better place because of humans and not the other way around...

Bubba got a 2nd chance and was saved from euthanasia but he reminded me that all dogs deserve a 2nd chance even when the outside shell tells you to run away!