Smiley's Gotcha Day!!!

[LILYLARUE]

Yesterday was the 3 yr anniversary of Mr. Smiley Boy coming into my life! The shelter my rescue worked with kept sending me pics and begging me to take him on. He had major anxiety issues and needed a strong leader to help him overcome his issues. He was on quarentine for 6 mos because he was brought in by the drug task force for being found during a drug/dog fighting case, where it was believed he was a bait dog. After his hold was up, he spent 3 mos waiting for a new home. He was adopted but returned 30 days later for supposedly killing the man's pet goat. The shelter didn't believe it! When Smiley was out in his run, he would climb the 20 ft. chain link fence, run around the building and sit at the front door waiting for someone to open it so he could sneak back in. LOL When he could, he would run behind the desk and jump, spin and be all excited cause he really thought he did a good thing. All he ever wanted was to be near people.

They called me every week for 3 mos making their plea. The last call was that he would be euthanized if I couldn't take him. To be honest, his pictures scared me a little. He had quite an intimidating look to him. I agreed to foster him until I could find a new home.

I picked him up on transport and he was very scared. He sat in the corner of the crate, shaking, drooling and peed on himself. All the way home, every light I stopped at, I could feel the car shaking from him. I cried most of the trip. He was such a sad, scared dog. I stopped at the cafe that my daughter worked at so she could meet him and he could get out of the crate for a little bit. I was hoping he could relax a little before I introduced him to Lily & Buster. When I opened the crate, all he wanted to do was take off! I almost lost him! I sat inside the hatch and just stroked him, massaged him and softly talked to him until I could see the stress melting away. Finally he leaned on me. I wrapped one arm around him, held him close and then the miracle happened - He kissed me! I knew right then that he could overcome his fears.

When we got to the house, he was nervous again. He would pace at the end of the leash, trying to get away and find a place to hide. He walked so low to the ground, his belly touched. His head was so low, ears plastered back, and tail tucked and looked as if he didn't even have one. We reached the porch. He stopped. He refused to move. I tied him to the post and opened the door and closed the screen door so my dogs could see him, smell him and he would notice them too. I was hoping they would entice him to come close to check them out. He wouldn't budge. I sat on the step and coerced him to come closer. Finally he did and tucked himself in between my legs and just shook. After about 45 mins of trying to get him to go into the house, I had to do something. I wrapped my arms around him and attempted to pick him up. He wrapped his paws around my neck and his back legs around my waist like a scared little child. I slowly went for the door. When I opened it, my dogs sniffed at him. When their nose touched his leg, he quickly pulled it up as high as it would go. He was soooo scared of them, he peed on me.

I opened the back door and let my dogs out to go play. Smiley stayed with me in the house to get acclimated. When I put him down, he tucked himself between me and the wall. I could tell all he wanted to do was hide. I took the leash and gave him a tour, all the way he was up against the walls. Never ventured into the middle of the room. After a little while, we headed for the back door so we could meet the other two waiting on the other side. They both did very well at first. His anxiety and lack of socialization was obvious and my two were very leary of him. I guessed because they didn't know how he would react to their noseyness. When they approached him, he would just freeze. Head tucked low, tail straight up, stiff as a board. But no aggression. No growls. Nothing but a statue.

After some time, Buster warmed up to him and didn't react when he got too close. Lily had trust issues and since he was such a bull in a china shop, she pretty much stayed clear of him. He sooo wanted to make friends with her but she was having none of it. So he was glued to my side. He didn't change much for about 3 months. Still sticking to walls, hiding under tables or glued to my leg. He never got on the furniture unless I put him on it and then all he did was shake until I let him back off. Bones were his favorite thing. He would just chomp for hours. I realized it was his own way of releasing his stress and tension, and must have found this coping skill while locked in the shelter kennel.

I was really worried that he would never be a normal, playful dog. Then one day I had to do transport and pick up another emergency foster that escaped the euth list because I would short foster him until another could step up and take him. He was a 9 mos old pit/hound mix stray. Smiley took the trip with me because I knew he couldn't stay home alone. He happily sat on the passenger seat and kept me company the whole way. When I picked up the new boy, one look at his sweet, gentle face, and I called him Fozzy Bear. When I opened the hatch to put him in the crate, he zoomed past the door and ran to the front seat and cuddled up beside Smiley. Smiley's face lit up and he wiggled and licked Fozzy for a good 5 mins. He was Happy!!! The first time I actually saw him Happy!!! These two never met before, but became the bestest friends that very moment.

When we got home, Smiley was a new, happy go lucky dog! He brought Fozzy right through the front door like he never was afraid of it. He introduced him to Lily and Buster. Took him out the doggy door to show him around the yard. He was a completely new dog! He was confident, and quite the social butterfly. I knew that moment that they had to be adopted together. I also knew that moment that adoption wasn't gonna be an option! I had worked so hard with Smiley to overcome much of his fears, that the thought of another person who could do harm to him terrified me. And who would adopt two pit mixes at one time?

That day I signed the adoption papers for both new boys and welcomed them into my home permanently. Yes, I was crazy, but I couldn't live without Smiley. He was the joy in my life. The one that made me laugh constantly. The one that made me believe that dogs can change with hope, love and a lot of understanding. He was MY BOY!

So yesterday, Smiley got lots of cuddles, lots of massages and even cuddled all night in my bed with me. I allowed him the bed to himself, and the others were forced to sleep on the floor for the first time. Smiley was King yesterday. He even got an extra trachaea for his bedtime snack.

My life is such much more full with Smiley. I even made him the Mascot of my business and the spokesman for the business mission statement. He is a very special boy. He deserves all the love I can give him and my only wish is that I get many more years of enjoyment with him in my life. I love you Smiley Boy, from the deep crevices of my heart. I belong to you and you me. Happy Gotcha Day!

[Sansal]

Awwwww..... I'm sitting here, reading your tribute to Smiley and crying a little bit.....

Happy gotcha day Smiley!!!

Glad you found the best home possible

[Roge]

Well Mr Smiely Boy heres wishing you a very happy gotcha day. Lisa that is such a lovely tribute to your boy that it brought tears to my eyes also.
So as they say the proof of the pudding is in the eating and you cant judge a book by its cover ,many would have given up but you saw into his sole and the sweet boy that was in their emerged with your loving care and is now the light of your life.
OOOHHH how I love happy endings.

[Cami]

What a beautiful story and I can tell by the emotions in your words that he is deeply loved (and loves you too).
Happy tears here!

[brodieboxer]

Very moving story! Thank you for sharing it with us. Happy Gotcha Day Mr. Smiley Boy!!

[Stub]

Ditto the above. What a great story and a great love.

[Holden's Mom]

What a great tribute to your Smiley! Truly inspiring.

Pam and Autry

[Lizzie]

That was a wonderful tribute for Smiley's gotcha day He is obviously loved and was meant to be with you