Bad with the good

Okay, for a few months I've been writing and posting Chester's stories ... for several reasons.

Originally I wrote as a diary of his progress, a way to track "do's and don'ts". Chester is our first, but likely not our last, rescue dog. Then I decided that sharing his successes and failures could help others who have (or might want to adopt) a rescue dog. From there it went from Facebook entries to the blog. Finally with encouragement from my husband and many Facebook friends, I decided to write a book. The book will be completed and published only when I feel we've made enough improvements in Chester's life for it to be a valid guide.

Several days ago I reported again on some obvious changes in Chester's health and happiness levels. It's time to tell some of the bad with the good.

After weeks of being sick, I woke yesterday starting to feel more like myself. We've had a very long winter so far and it's only December 30. Since we live in the Pacific northwest, we expect rain and grey skies but it can be depressing at times. What we didn't anticipate was for it to be the seventh wettest year on record. We've dealt with saturated lawns, muddy patches worn in the back yard as the dogs use the same paths to go from here to there. Grey skies that seem endless with few days of sunshine. Actually that's not normal either because we usually get more winter peeks at the sun than we've seen this year.

Yesterday morning Chester and I did our normal routine ... headed downstairs and outside for him to potty in the back yard and returned back upstairs to our room while we wait for Glenn and Casey to get up. Then we usually return downstairs for breakfast and another trip to the back yard.

Weather forecasters keep pushing days ahead when we'll see the sunshine. Tomorrow wasn't coming and I needed a mood change. One of my favorite ways to make that happen is heavy cleaning and moving things. Time for a shift of furniture and electronics in my bedroom and home office. Besides, with all the toys around, Chester has outgrown his sleeping area. Our grown kids could tell you childhood stories about escapades doing this over the years. When Glenn returned from work he never knew for sure where he'd find his favorite chair. Anyway, as I began removing wires from a few of the electronic gadgets in the bedroom, Chester began to shift around on his bed a bit. I wasn't anywhere near him and I assured him that he was fine. He settled back down. As I pulled more wires from the back of the TV cabinet, he began pacing around the room. He headed to the bathroom, then across the hall to my office and back. I figured if it made him that nervous that he would definitely freak out when I actually began moving the components themselves.

So, after Chester settled back on his bed, I shut him and his toys in the bedroom. I'd been gone maybe 10 minutes, across the hall in my office, when I remembered a remote control from the other room. As I entered the room I was stunned. It smelled like a sewer and not only was there a huge pile of poo on the tile in the bathroom, but there was a wet spot on the carpet and footprints all over the room. Not only had he peed on the floor, but he'd stepped in it and tracked his now wet and muddy feet all over the beige carpet. This season we've been careful to wipe dog feet at the door and keep the dirt to a minimum on the dark color commercial carpet in the basement.

The upstairs bedroom isn't a small room, actually it's very large as bedrooms go. And having that door closed isn't a new thing to him. There are times during the day and always at night when I close it. Chester is happy to be there alone for short periods of time, although I only do that when there's something or someone in the house that might bother him.

I may or may not have told you that Chester doesn't bark, growl or make normal dog noises. He actually growled one time within the first week or so of being here. If Casey was locked in a room, she'd scratch at the door, then bang on the door with her paw and if that didn't work, she'd bark. The only sound Chester makes, other than during sleep, is this quiet whistle noise. He doesn't even do that much any more. At one time he used it to welcome me back after I'd left the room to make dinner or run a quick errand. 

Don't get me wrong, he's had a few accidents in the house before, mostly in the basement and usually on the tile floor. He came to us as a five-year old dog who doesn't "ask" to go anywhere. We anticipate his needs and respond accordingly. Since we're with him 24/7, most of the time it works just fine. He was raised in a chicken coop with 17 other dogs and then spent months in foster care in a home with a doggie door. We don't have one and won't install one at this house since we're trying to sell. We will have one at the next home.

I was shocked how quickly the fear overtook Chester to cause him to defecate in the house after just being outdoors. I was not happy this time, and he sensed my body language, although I never said a thing to him. I cleaned up the obvious and quietly walked him to the basement where he could spend time with Glenn and Casey until I completed moving things around upstairs. Next time I know to move the dog before I move anything else.

Today the sun finally made an entrance, blue skies above and frost below. Our grey skies keep the temperatures moderate. The rain keeps everything green and pretty year round. When the clouds disappear this time of year we finally get frost. This year the frozen ground is a welcome sight  ... means the mud is gone ... for a few days.

Order of the day ... 1-take Chester outside to potty, again. 2-escort him to the basement to spend time with Glenn and Casey. 3-shampoo carpet in the bedroom. At least that completes my mood change projects for now.

Bad with the good or good with the bad? I believe Chester would tell you that most days are very good. We can weather a few bad times ... if for no other reason than to truly appreciate all the good ones.

I'm not a stuffed animal

Don't get me wrong. His favorite toys are still his collection of stuffed animals.

For the better part of three months I've referred to Chester as being like a stuffed animal himself. Put him in a corner or under a table and he stays there until you go retrieve him (no pun intended). Well, it's time for that moniker to be dropped.

He's finally started to exert some of his own will in certain situations and at the same time he's responding to more of my wishes. He sits or stands still while I connect the leash and generally walks without resistance anywhere in the house or back yard. Lately though he tries to turn right towards the front door when we're actually headed left to go downstairs. He loves to ride in the car and if we go right and out the front door he knows that means a trip of some sort. If we're just taking a walk in the neighborhood we exit through the garage. Chester may be limited in some aspects of his life, but nobody in our household ever said he was stupid. He catches on quickly, the only things holding him back are his nerves and level of stress or fear.

Here's some of the most recent changes in Chester's behavior:

1 - The leash is never required to return upstairs from the basement. He returns to me and the stairway door multiple times each day when I call him. That's misleading because he would return if I never said a word. He prefers to be upstairs in his "space", but if he is otherwise preoccupied in the basement, he will come when I call his name.

2 - Occasionally he actually comes when I call his name for other reasons, not often, but that's improving.

3 - He acknowledges me when I speak to him. He sleeps on a dog bed at the side of my bed, so if I look down at him from my bed, he turns to look up and acknowledge that I've spoken to him.

4 - Today when I not only showed him the leash, but the halter, he stood up and walked to me so I could put it on. That always means he's either going for a walk or in this case, a car ride.

5 - He approaches us more often when we offer him a treat. Previously he stayed under the table or in his corner and the only way he got food, water or a treat was if we brought it to him. Now, especially if it's one he really likes, he will approach us and sit or stand to get his share.

6 - Last night not only did he sleep with his back to the open room, he was completely exposed sleeping with his head in the corner and his tail to the room.

7 - He hasn't had nightmares for awhile. When he had them they'd wake me up as he was obviously in distress. I'd pet him and talk softly to him to calm him down so he could return to sleep. Chester does still snore sometimes when he first falls asleep. Funny, very deep sound coming from this otherwise small boned dog.

8 - For the first time since he became part of our family, I let him outside in back (for potty breaks) by himself or with Casey. Chester doesn't go outside to the back yard for anything other than potty breaks. He believes he's an inside dog and has no interest in playing or patrolling the yard out there like Casey does. I have been so concerned about Chester's propensity and ability to escape, I've gone outside with him every time for several months. Last week I started turning him loose in the fenced yard by himself without fear that he'll try to escape. I go to windows in the basement where I can watch him run. He makes a right turn outside the patio door and runs, all out, around the corner and up the hill. All the while his tail is raised and sometimes wagging. He prances and bounces and jumps around and is obviously enjoying himself. Back and forth, up and down the hill he runs, each time returning to the patio door to see if I'm there to let him inside yet.

All things considered with Chester's progress, I can't refer to him any more, in good conscience, as my stuffed animal rescue dog.

Trust

One step forward, two steps back ... or two steps forward, one step back

Such is the life of a rescue dog, even in the most loving of homes. I believe Chester's doing the latter, but it's still a daily struggle. Most of the real progress will come when he can truly trust us.

Not long after he came to our home he was moving from room to room with me, on his own (2 steps forward) ... now he prefers to camp out in the bedroom and only moves when I leash him (1 step back). A few weeks ago Chester decided that first thing in the morning he'd go to the basement unleashed to go outside to potty ... now he's back to requiring the leash before he moves anywhere from the bedroom (2 steps forward, 1 step back). Although the leash is NEVER needed to return upstairs any more. He comes when I call him and heads upstairs when I open the door. (2 steps forward ... period).

Chester has made much progress and is a long way from what I'd call "healed", but he's headed in the right direction. It's been over a month since we returned home from the trip that disrupted the continuity of his new life in our home. He's only been part of our little family for almost 3 months. We recently found out that Chester's previous life, for most of five years, involved him and 17 other dogs living in a small chicken coop. I'm not sure I want more details. He was a "breeder" dog for a puppy mill and was thankfully rescued by Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon early this year.

This new life must seem like a completely different universe. He stays warm and dry in his own bed, with lots of his own toys ... inside, not outdoors in a coop. He eats regular meals, twice a day healthy dog food with real meat and veggie people-food snacks between meals. He not only doesn't have to compete for food, he sometimes helps himself to anything in his sister's bowl that's left after a meal ... she could care less. There's plenty of fresh water in a clean bowl any time he wants to drink. We take him for walks. He goes out to potty numerous times a day so he's not forced to relieve himself near his food or bed area. The humans keep the back yard free of yesterday's "piles" so there's never any chance of stepping in it. Chester gets petted many times a day and brushed. He especially enjoys being brushed. We speak to him lovingly and tell him he's a good boy. He enjoys watching TV from the comfort of "his" bed, which is in a protected area next to mine. Although he rarely accepts, he knows he's welcome "on" either of our beds or the basement sofa as well.

Every evening after dinner Casey gets feisty, so we have playtime. Chester has the opportunity to join in, although he rarely does, with running and chasing balls or squeaky toys. He watches intently as his adopted sister (Casey) and I play fetch, chase or tug-of-war. He doesn't know how to play but is learning by her example. You can tell he wants to join in, but just doesn't have the courage yet. The most daring thing Chester ever does is to grab a toy when Casey isn't looking. He proudly prances it back to his corner as if he's successfully stolen the crown jewels. This time of year we play in the basement where it's warm and dry. Note: the basement was built as the "Man Cave". It's become the "man and dog cave", or recently I refer to it as "canine romper room". Picture the floor scattered with bones, ropes, balls, toys and dog hair ... you get the idea.

There has been some strictly forward progress this month. We're proud and thankful for every little improvement. He cleans himself regularly, especially doesn't like having dirty feet when he's been outside (wet or muddy paws are unacceptable to Chester). He goes to work on the feet as soon as he is back inside. Note: we live in the Pacific NW and I doubt there's been more than one or two days since mid-October that it hasn't rained. Our back yard is soaking wet with patches of muddy and no chance to keep feet clean.

Chester's weight has increased from 55 pounds in late September to 70 pounds this month and his hair coat is now shiny and beginning to thicken. He comes to us from wherever he is, under a table or in the next room, when we say "chicken". That means chicken jerky treats. He and Casey love them. He drinks water most of the time from a standing position, although he still prefers to eat his dog food from a prone position. Sometimes he forgets that he's supposed to be fearful and actually stands to eat as well.

His tail is almost always "out" ... horizontal or out and up when walking or running. It's rarely between his legs anymore, although he did do that this morning when I introduced him to the Christmas tree in the living room. He doesn't often go into that room because the family room is dog territory. Casey always makes a fuss over the lights and ornaments (never disturbs them, but obviously admires them). Chester ignored the tree and its bubble lights completely. His only response was to tuck his tail neatly between his legs and wait for me to release him so he could return to his room. I'm sure he was uncertain if he should be there and was visibly uncomfortable. 

He truly loves his stuffed animal collection. Some of them were bought new for him, others are rescued from Casey's old toy box. When she tires of them, they become shreds of material on the basement floor with puffs of stuffing scattered around like clouds. Ultimately the squeaker is located and chewed until we see her with it, then it's all trashed. Chester does no such thing to these cherished and beloved animals. They are his friends. He gently plays with them, moves them strategically on his bed between himself and the wall whenever Casey approaches. He knows she might steal one and a guy can't have too many friends. He reminds me of a preschool aged girl with her dolls. These animals are definitely his treasures.

Chester's most outstanding achievement to date came this week. Any other "dog Mom" wouldn't pay attention to something this "ordinary". Thousands of dogs do it every day without anyone taking notice. As I mentioned, he spends a lot of time in our bedroom, on his bed watching TV or playing with toys. This used to be where he slept at night (more on that below). No matter where he is in the house, he's ALWAYS in a protected area ... in a corner, under a table or chair ... he must have his back protected and where escape is easily possible. Most of the time now it's a corner as opposed to under something, but there are areas where under is safer than out. Note: he's recently begun sleeping at night elsewhere in the bedroom but always in a corner.

On several occasions this week I noticed Chester, in his bed area, playing with toys or taking naps ... and his back was AWAY from the wall. He trusts that he's safe in that place and isn't afraid to expose his back to the room. I've never seen him do this. He trusts me to keep him safe in his little space. He knows this is his home and I won't let harm come to him.

Trust ... now that we're seeing the first real glimpses of it. Anything is possible.

Follow me

For two months we've taught Chester to move throughout the house on a leash. He's always good about it; sits there and waits to be hooked up. But he never initiates the move himself. When returning upstairs he now stops part way up the stairs for me to unhook the leash. Then he scampers the rest of the way on his own and runs back to our bedroom. Showing a bit of independence is a great indication that he's starting to heal.

Glenn and I feed the dogs about the same times each day. Potty breaks outside are scheduled about the same times each day as well. We know that repetition is important in learning anything new, for people or dogs. But we feel that in Chester's situation it's probably more so because he needs an extra level of comfort before he'll even attempt anything new. 

Chester ignores normal dog obedience commands. In fact, until recently he ignored anything we said, literally. No eye contact, no movement on his part at all as if he didn't even hear us. We know he's not deaf, he just chose to tune people out of his life. He only sits on command when I hold a treat above his head and say "sit". I could say "run" and he'd still do the same thing because it's a cheat and he's not obeying. It's instinct when dogs look straight up, their bottoms automatically hit the floor. That's the only time Chester will sit on command, if I raise a treat above his head.

At first I had to drag Chester everywhere. I should have made a video of me pulling his leash, sliding him along the hardwood floors down the hallway. At that time I kept the halter on him except when he was ready for bed. Trust me, it's easier pulling a dog on a halter than with just a collar (and safer for him). The visual of that makes me laugh now ... this 55 pound dog just sitting there, sliding down the hallway. It wasn't so funny at the time. On carpeted floors I had to physically lift him up to get him to start moving and he stopped frequently for any number of reasons. When Chester decided that it was okay to walk with me we stopped using the halter inside the house. 

Yesterday morning when I woke up, he was in the middle of our bedroom floor playing with one of his prized stuffed animals. That's a fairly new behavior and he only does it when he thinks I'm still asleep, or when I'm out of the room. Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed, put my shoes on and a jacket and grabbed the leash for our normal walk downstairs to go outside. Chester stretched, as usual, and walked towards me. But instead of sitting to wait for his leash, he got up and headed to the door and all the way outside with me following him. When Chester decided it was time to return upstairs, he walked to the basement door and waited for me to open it (another first).  That probably doesn't sound like a big deal to most people either, but it's a positive sign. Our dog who acts like a stuffed animal and lives under tables and in corners is feeling confident that he can express his wishes and won't be punished for it.

This morning was the same. He waited for me to get ready, headed to the door, down the long hallway, around the corner and downstairs, across the family room and out to the back yard ... all by himself. Amazing how much pride I have just watching him do things that should be natural to any dog.

Progress comes slowly for Chester but every bit of it will help him become a well adjusted and happy dog. One step at a time and someday he'll follow me anywhere.

Fear ... theirs and ours

Chester is a fearful dog. There's no question in that statement. It's true.

But, his fears, and those of other rescue dogs like him aren't the only stumbling blocks in the healing process. We hold them back with our own fears. It's easy to pity a helpless animal who has been abused in any way; starved or neglected, maybe beaten. And sometimes it's difficult to determine if what we feel is pity or love. One of those has the power to heal, the other could drag us all down. Sometimes it's difficult to determine which emotion we have at the time. Do we simply feel sorry for the animal? Or, do we see potential in him and believe that we have the patience and desire to help him heal? Does love factor into the equation at all? Will Chester's progress depend on the emotions I have for him? The short answer to all these questions is "yes".

I'm beginning to realize that many of the improvements Chester has made stem from our ability to believe in his success. If I'm persistent and push him to do a task that I know will help him heal, he seems to oblige. He rises to the expectations I have for him. It wasn't easy, on Chester or me, to physically drag him down the hall to another room or outside to potty. On the other hand, if I was hesitant and let "my" fears dominate the situation, he would surely have failed. If I had left him under a table in the basement he'd probably still be there. 

Chester improves a tiny bit every day. He doesn't balk or pull away when I leash him and walk throughout the house. He will follow me, or sometimes lead, just about anywhere within the walls on our home. Going to the back yard is easy and not a fearful thing any more. Walking out the front door isn't as great but we haven't done it as much lately as we should. That's me holding him back because I wanted to give him some normalcy after our traumatic road trip. I thought he might need some time in a comfortable, controlled environment to get over the stress of the long road trip. If Chester could speak, he'd probably tell me to "get over it" and "let's go back to the parks and take long walks again". Yes, the road trip was traumatic, but likely as much or more for me than the dogs. I felt so badly that the dogs were scared and I was embarrassed that a family member was so nasty to them. I wanted the trip to be a good thing for Chester. I never dreamed the outcome would be so different.

Hurdles attempted and achieved include:
1 - Walking throughout the house and outside to back yard on a leash
2 - Doesn't always flinch or jump at most common noises
3 - Smiling
4 - Wagging tail, a few times
5 - Rarely walks with tail between legs, sometimes though
6 - Playing with toys, loves soft toys but still no balls or ropes
7 - Drinking from the "community" water bowl
8 - Eating or drinking from a standing position, occasionally
9 - Looking "at" you when you speak to him, more each day
10 - Rising to meet your hand when petting, sometimes
11 - Playing with adopted sister Casey, several times
12 - Taking walks outside, still must have Casey along and still fearful and anxious
13 - Allowing others to pet him, in a quiet corner of his own home (even children)
14 - Not always underneath a table or chair, most times spent in corners
15 - Eating treats from our hands, will stand or approach to get them sometimes
16 - Approaches me when I've been out of the room awhile, wants acknowledgement
17 - Bath, enjoys it
18 - Personal grooming, he does this regularly
19 - Brushing and combing, he likes us to do this now, before he allowed it
20 - Gained approximately 10 pounds
21 - Enjoys being petted, originally he only tolerated it
22 - Stands and approaches for treats
23 - Loves getting "in" the car and taking rides (this wasn't new to our home situation)

Not a bad list for two months in a new home with new people and another dog. Chester has a long way to go but we won't hold him back. He will progress at his own pace, but with our encouragement ... and sometimes at our insistence.

Bath time

This morning I braved the unknown. Figured if Chester can handle doing this numerous times each day, it's the least I could do for him.

He smells. "Nothing personal Chester, but you've had a faint, unpleasant odor about you since the day we first met." It's been over two months, but today I summoned the courage to attempt giving him a bath.

Taking into consideration all of Chester's known phobias and the possibility of injury in a slippery bathtub or on the ceramic tile floor, I prepared the room. I cleared the hall bathroom of good towels, bathmats, waste basket and vanity decorations. I gathered several old large bath towels, a bucket and sponge and a rubber dog scrubbing brush. Then I filled the tub with lukewarm water, about four inches deep, and grabbed the nicest smelling dog shampoo I could find.

Before I began, I told Glenn to ignore any strange noises coming from the bathroom until I gave him the "all clear". I didn't need him opening the door, thinking he was saving me from some unknown danger. We don't need a scared, wet and soapy dog loose in the house.

Chester walked politely with me while I held his collar leading him to the bathroom. I was holding hope that since he enjoyed the ocean with his foster family, that the water itself might not send him into a frenzy. Given his fear of everything else, who could have guessed what happened next?

He liked it!! Chester stood on a bath towel in front of the tub and patiently let me soak him with water from the large sponge. When I was confident that he wouldn't scramble and hurt himself, I lifted his front feet into the bathtub and followed with the back legs. He stretched out and enjoyed the massage with the dog scrubber. He let me wash him all over and he stayed in the same place while I rinsed him completely. It was easy getting Chester back out of the tub and he sat still while I towel dried him. Then he shook. My otherwise fearful dog even stood and let me clean out his ears.

Bath time with Chester might some day resemble the days when our daughter was a toddler. She enjoyed baths or showers so much that the mere mention of "bath time" brought about a predictable response. She headed that direction, removing clothes and dropping them in a path all the way to the bathroom. Our granddaughter's reaction was much the same.

Now we know one more item on Chester's list of "likes" versus "dislikes". He's another family member who enjoys a good bath.

Touch

Most of Chester's fearful behaviors are textbook. We anticipated and expected many of the traits he exhibits. Other reactions weren't initially obvious to us, like his lack of desire for personal grooming. He was part of our family for quite awhile before we ever saw him so much as lick a foot. I know the lack of personal hygiene is a symptom of depression or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people, but never thought about it related to abused dogs.

One of the most pitiful revelations I had with Chester was that he didn't seek attention. He wasn't interested in being petted. Sure, he would let us pet him on the head or back, but most times it seemed that he was just being polite. It truly wasn't something he craved. Actually I'm not certain he even enjoyed it. Most of the time he would drop his head away from the touch. At the same time he very deliberately looked away from the person touching him. Chester's preference was to be alone in a safe location where he could watch us without having to interact.

Golden Retrievers generally thrive on attention. Praise in any form is not only appreciated, but craved or expected by these loving creatures. Our other Golden, Casey, physically pushes her way under your hand or arm when she thinks it's time for more loving. She knows that everyone loves her and simply wants to assist people in touching her to prove it ... that's her version.

Chester still doesn't approach us to be petted, with one exception. If I leave him for awhile with Glenn and Casey, he stands and walks towards me to be petted when I return. He wants a quick pat on the head, just a fast acknowledgement either that I'm back or to let me know that he's happy to have me back in the same room.

Recently Chester's attitude is starting to change regarding touch. I'm sure he's not wholly changed yet, but it's a start. When we pet him, he raises his head to meet our hand. He loves to be brushed or combed and sits quietly while we work on his hair coat. Some of Chester's actions are becoming more normal for a five-year old dog. He likes us to touch him and sometimes he even looks directly at us when we do.

Enjoying touch and making eye contact might not be like claiming the national dog show blue ribbon, but for Chester it's a definite win.

Names ... revisited

November 27, 2012

Okay, naming pets should be a basic task of any pet owner. It's not like we're naming our first born, or at least it shouldn't be that difficult. One-word names that distinguish them from other pets, or names that highlight their color or a personal trait should suffice. Most of our pets were given names that were easy to say and presumably easier for the animal to learn. We shouldn't have to consult with grandparents, aunts and uncles to make sure the name fits properly into their genealogy.

Chester, on the other hand, was given his random name by someone at Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon. His foster family actually called him by another name, but it doesn't matter because he doesn't "answer" to any name. We call him Chester but he rarely even responds, blinks or turns his head when called by any number of names. Actually he doesn't even turn his head to look at you when you make kissing sounds or little whistling noises. We know he's not deaf, but he is very much adept at ignoring people and things around him, if he chooses. I'm sure that was learned behavior out of necessity for survival. Was he beaten when he responded? Was food withheld when he didn't respond? Did he live in a home where people screamed at each other all the time so he learned to tune out voices? Most of the time he's aware of too much, particularly when he's not in what he deems a "safe" location. 

Lately I've been experimenting with him on names and sounds. The only name that seems to even slightly get his attention is "Baby". I'm sure that wasn't his original name, but no doubt there are people who've called him by that nickname.

We don't know how many homes Chester was in or how many people considered him "their" dog. Since he was rescued from a puppy mill, we can assume he was there at least throughout most of his adult life because he was used for breeding. I've mentioned this before but I think he might have had at least some field training, or maybe he spent some time in a rural area as a puppy. As uncomfortable as Chester is in most situations, he seems at home on a leash in an open field. This is an anomaly because his comfort zone is generally small spaces where escape would be easy but where his back is always protected. Glenn and I have each noticed his change in attitude when he's out in a field or large dog park, as long as there aren't other people or dogs around. He's still fearful but definitely more relaxed than walking in the neighborhoods.

Maybe his name was Hunter, Remington, Buckshot, Scout or Sport. I doubt it, but it bothers me that he thinks we don't know who he is. I wish we knew what name he prefers. How would you feel if everyone called you by a strange and unfamiliar name? Hopefully he doesn't think we're just stupid for not knowing his name. Maybe he believes it's just a nickname we like. I will keep trying names and when he smiles at me in recognition, I'll know the truth. In the meantime, he's Chester, our "Baby".

My toys

November 26, 2012

Toys … We use them to teach our children about colors and shapes. We also include them in lessons about sharing with others. If they are for babies or infants, they are typically made of hard plastic or at least they have washable surfaces.

Dog toys are another thing. If you have ever had a large dog, you know that toys get trashed pretty easily and sometimes the same day you present it to the dog. The dog may begin playing with a stuffed animal and you think it’s cute to watch them cuddle it as if it’s their baby. Over time the dog gets bored and starts using the toy as a bone … at least Casey does. She has dozens of stuffed animals, squeaky toys that have been unstuffed with fluff balls left all over the house. She likes holding a soft toy between her front feet and ripping at the other end with her teeth to shred it.

Well, Chester didn’t have the privileged life that Casey has enjoyed (or taken for granted). We don’t know for sure, but the only toy we know of that he ever had was a stuffed duck that he loved while at his foster home. Since we first met Chester at a neutral location, we weren’t able to take his favorite toy with us to his permanent home. At the time we thought it sad that he didn’t have something to call his own, but then we decided that a clean start was probably a good thing. We’d buy him his own things.

At first Chester didn’t seem interested in toys, or anything else. He wouldn’t pick up a tennis ball (Casey’s favorite thing to toss around and chase). He has never had a rope in his mouth that we know of. He’s not big on bones either but I think his gums get sore easily because he hasn’t done much chewing like that. Stuffed animals, on the other hand, do seem to be Chester’s “thing”.

People say that Golden Retrievers have “soft mouths”. They have been known to carry up to 3 raw eggs in their mouth at a time without breaking any of them. They love to carry stuffed animals around, especially if they have squeakers inside. Originally these dogs were bred to “retrieve” birds from the hunt. It wouldn’t bode well with their owner if they bit through the bird or tore it into pieces before returning it to the hunter.

Chester LOVES toys!! His favorite is the stuffed duck we bought to replace the one he enjoyed at his foster home. Since then he has become a toy collector and a toy thief. He has turned his dog bed area, next to my bed, into a haven for lost and damaged toys. Casey’s former toys that were put away in boxes or lying around the house, yard or garage; end up in his stash, sooner or later. This morning I noticed a few I hadn’t seen there before, tucked neatly at the edge of his bed, out of sight, just under my bed. He has certain locations for each toy. They don’t seem to ever be out of place and when Casey approaches the room, he makes sure ALL the toys are behind him or hidden where she won’t take them back. Chester usually greets his sister Casey with the favorite duck in his mouth. He doesn’t want her to get the wrong idea and unstuff or shred his best friend.

Does Chester have a dog version of obsessive compulsive disorder? I think he probably has many disorders, perhaps including OCD, given the traumas in his former life. What I know is that Chester uses his toys, and those rescued from Casey, as additions to his own little family. They are a comfort to him … and that’s a good thing.

Recent photos

It's the eyes

November 25, 2012

Here's the next installment of "Chester's Tales". It's an unusually long one, but I hope you enjoy it.

Improvements in Chester’s daily life have been subtle. There were no misgivings that one day he’d wake up and be “cured” of the years of abuse and neglect he suffered. When you live so close to a person or animal, you tend to miss obvious signs of change. Thankfully this morning I didn’t miss the most precious moment yet. It gave me the inspiration to write this chapter.

Chester hasn’t behaved like a dog since we adopted him. I mean he hasn’t acted like any dog we’ve ever known. During the first month in our home his behavior was more like that of a stuffed animal, no whining or barking, not a peep. Put him in a corner and he stayed there. When you wanted him to go outside, you physically took him there. Originally that meant physically pulling on a leash attached to his harness, or physically lifting him up. Chester weighed only 55 pounds when we brought him home, but the muscles in my legs, shoulders and arms got quite a workout. Since Chester and I spent most of our time upstairs, that meant moving him down a long hallway, around a corner, down the stairs, across the family room to the sliding door to the back yard. Corners are bad too because the apprehension was obvious whenever we approached one. At night time the lights had to be on in advance of any movement. Closing doors behind us as we walked would startle him into “freeze mode”. Sometimes just hearing the furnace kick on was enough to stall our forward progress for a minute.

His eyes were probably the most telling, almost lifeless, empty. Chester never really looked “at” you. Even when I sat down on his level and looked directly into his eyes, all I saw was a far away look of sadness. He avoids looking directly at anyone for any reason. Chester’s hair coat was thin, dry and dull and he had rolls of extra, loose skin. At some time in his previous life, this dog had been much heavier. He’s as long bodied as Casey although Chester is taller and has finer bones. Her healthy weight is about 90 pounds. If it was meal time, you placed a food bowl directly in front of him and he put his head into the bowl. That usually meant reaching under a table or chair because that’s where he spent much of his day. Making sure he had enough to drink also involved physically bringing the water bowl to him and placing it within his reach. He had no intention of walking to it, at least not when people were in the vicinity. Also, Chester never ate or drank from a standing position. He was always prone with front feet on either side of the bowl, head literally in the bowl, protecting the contents from others.

Sleeping arrangements were originally in a kennel placed in my room, the kennel door always open, where we put a soft dog bed and a few toys. Chester never picked up a toy, but he occasionally snuggled next to the larger soft Clifford-type dog I bought for him. The kennel was his safe haven. When startled by the smallest noise or quick movement, he scampered back inside the kennel. Unless you’ve owned a fearful animal, you might not realize how extreme this can be. A small noise could be a slight cough, blowing your nose, shoes walking on hardwood floors, the closing of a cabinet or drawer. Simply picking up the TV remote generally caused him to relocate for awhile. If he didn’t physically run away from the noise, he noticeably flinched or ducked into a smaller space to hide.

Taking walks with Chester was a struggle for us all. Originally he didn’t seem to enjoy leaving the house at all, always looking side to side and frantic at the certain danger lurking somewhere. At the suggestion of his foster family, we double-hooked his leash to collar and harness. Good idea because as fearful as this dog was, nobody ever said he was stupid. He knew how to back up and pull out of his collar or harness, lowering his head and scrunching his shoulders to inch out. My leg and arm muscles got more workouts every time we left the house. Chester wouldn’t go anywhere outside of the house or our back yard without Casey. She had to lead the way and even then it was a physical battle pulling his leash to get him started. Once walking alongside Casey, he was okay but always fearful. Seeing another dog on a leash or anybody simply walking on the other side of the street would send Chester into a tailspin, literally spinning in place seeking the best way to escape. He tried to run under vehicles, or jump into truck beds or into thick underbrush, anywhere he might be safe.

Chester isn’t the same dog we adopted in late September. He is making slow progress, at times actually seems to enjoy his life. He knows he will eat healthy meals regularly a few times a day with treats and people food occasionally in between. He still hides under tables, at times, but spends most of his time in corners and always with his back to a wall. His sleeping place of choice is on the dog bed in a corner beside my bed. He doesn’t seem to miss the kennel. Toys are strategically placed where he wants them as if they’re special companions. He sometimes picks a few favorites up to take with him when he moves from one room to another. He has never picked up a ball or rope, although he watches Casey play with hers. He’s not a retriever yet. Chester sometimes enjoys “stealing” toys from Casey. They have this game where one picks up a toy and runs; when they drop it, the other dog grabs it. They aren’t actually playing together yet. Chester occasionally runs when Casey does, but they’re not really interacting, he’s in another area simply mimicking her from his own space. She has been a good influence on him and she acts like the typical big sister even though he’s about three or four years older than her. He watches intently how she interacts with us, from the safety of his corners, of course. Chester ends up with most of the toys at the end of the game because Casey doesn’t seem to care about them for long. They are, for the most part, her “old” toys, nothing new for her to have “things”.

Some of the biggest gains in Chester’s battle to become a dog aren’t the obvious ones like having a shiny hair coat or having gained weight. I don’t know how much he weighs for sure because I won’t stress him out needlessly by taking him to a veterinary clinic to put him on the scale. He still doesn’t like getting out of the car anywhere, not even at home. My best guess is that he’s put about 10 pounds on since we adopted him a few months ago. There are still a few bony areas but mostly he has filled out nicely. He doesn’t waste time when eating or going potty. Once the food dish is in front of him, he eats. When he’s taken to the back yard, he goes potty and returns immediately to the back door to come inside.

Yes, Chester is learning to become a Golden Retriever but we knew that would happen in time. He patiently sits or stands to be leashed for walks anywhere in the house or to the back yard. No more balking at those moves, although he may turn around and return back to the original room when the leash is removed. Sometimes he follows us to another room or the basement on his own. Whenever I’ve been out of the room, even for a few minutes and then reenter, he makes this quiet whistle sound as he gets up to approach me, to be petted. Most of the time he stands while drinking from the water dish, but old habits die hard as he still prefers to eat and drink from a prone position.

Thankfully I didn’t miss the subtlety of what happened this morning. He was lying on his dog bed, watching television. I came into the room, around the corner and walked up to pet him (like I do dozens of times a day). He looked up at me … right into my eyes. His eyes said “I love you, you care for me and I appreciate it.” They weren’t the dead, unfocused eyes we’ve seen for months; they weren’t those far-away sad eyes with their tales of abuse. His eyes were bright and shining and full of love and understanding.

Photo: Chester on the left, his adopted sister Casey is upside-down and silly on the right.

Travel regrets

November 22, 2012. Chester's Tales ... Thanksgiving

We are so very thankful to have each other ... in our own home ... with our two precious dogs.

Rehabilitation, that’s the word used most often when referring to the needs of these dogs, the “rescue dogs”. According to Thesaurus, English, U.S., it is treatment, therapy, healing, remedy, cure, analysis, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, physiotherapy. The Encarta Dict

ionary, English, North America cites the definition as being: (1) help somebody return to normal life (2) restore somebody to rank or rights (3) restore somebody’s reputation (4) restore place to good condition.

Chester’s situation requires a better definition, or maybe an entirely different word to describe his needs. We don’t want him to return to anything pertaining to his previous life. We would, although, love to restore his rights as a sweet, gentle and loving animal in this world. His reputation should never have been tarnished, just that of his previous owner, the abusive person who turned him into a fearful shell of a dog.

Well … relating to Chester I am not sure we’ve done such a great job recently. Our intentions were good and we will do our best to remedy the situation as soon as possible. In six days we managed to see weeks of improvement disappear and in some respects Chester has regressed. He’s still a very fragile being. We’ve been so careful to properly manage his care; it breaks my heart to see him take steps backwards.

Just over a month into our permanent adoption of Chester, we had the opportunity to snowbird to warmer weather. For part of the time we’d be sharing a home with a family member, not the property owner. We would be out of the Pacific Northwest winter wind and rain and the muddy back yard, at least through the holidays. There would also be a larger yard for the dogs to enjoy. The opportunity wasn’t taken lightly because it involved closing our home up for the rest of the year. There was significant expense involved making the trip, but we decided to try it. Since our home is for sale, it also included heavy cleaning, boxing up and securing personal items. I even did more “staging” of the house that included removing any clutter, personal photos, extra items on the kitchen counters, etc. Arrangements were made for utility billings to be made online, a friend was hired to check on the house and forward some mail. Arrangements for prescription medications and medical follow-ups were handled. I also took the opportunity to paint a few rooms before we left. Figured that since we would be gone, the house might as well look more like a model home than one occupied by two people and two dogs.

Chester and Casey travel well. They each enjoy rides in the car or truck. Typically they sleep in the back seat when the vehicle is at freeway speeds and pop up to look around when we slow down as if they might recognize our location. In Casey’s case she looks into other vehicles at stoplights to smile and say “hi” to the occupants, assured that they’ll smile back or speak to her. She loves everyone and even when sitting she sometimes can’t keep her tail from wagging. Casey knows that people love her in return … typical Golden Retriever. Chester’s travel behavior is somewhat more relaxed. He simply enjoys being with us, particularly in a smaller and controlled location.

Our destination was over 700 miles away and would involve many hours in the vehicles, stops at unknown areas for water and potty breaks and an overnight at a hotel. We’ve never taken a road trip with dogs before and certainly not this much of a trek. Chester was terribly fearful any time we stopped to get out of the vehicles. Even at home we have to physically remove him from the back seat of the vehicle. He jumps into a vehicle willingly and loves to ride but hates to get back out. He might see strange people or animals that scare him. Chester is fearful of sights and sounds, but also of the unknown. The dogs handled the trip as well or better than we could have anticipated. They were model occupants at the hotel. Casey slept on the bed with Glenn. Chester, much to my surprise, climbed onto the other bed with me. Although he sleeps in a bedroom with one or both of us, he has never slept on the bed at home.

The first several weeks of our stay were fairly uneventful. Chester found hiding places, behind a sofa, under a table saw in the garage, under a patio chair. He seemed to be acclimating well to the new yard even in a neighborhood where other dogs bark a lot. At home we rarely hear another dog, although there are plenty of them in our little area. Casey and Chester spent a good part of their days in the garage with Glenn while he worked on projects. They had access, through a walk out door, to the back yard. From there they could drink from their water bowl or run and play or go potty whenever they needed. Chester seemed to enjoy stretching his legs in the larger yard. He was making improvements, romping in the yard with Casey and then jogging back to his safe place numerous times each day.

The last 6 days of our trip was another story. We were not aware that the other occupant of the house is an animal hater, especially dogs … not afraid of dogs, just hates them. Chester hid all day and night in one room when he wasn’t in the garage with Glenn. Casey wasn’t allowed to approach to be petted and was yelled at when she came into the same room. It was obvious that I wasn’t going to be able to continue Chester’s therapy and healing when he confined himself to a bedroom. We returned home.

On our return trip the dogs were again model passengers. They were well behaved at a hotel, no barking and no accidents. They slept on the floor by our beds. The next day was a 9-hour travel day, including pet stops, and they were each perfectly behaved.

Since we’ve been home Chester’s behavior has changed again. If we walk into the room where he is, he moves to another room. He doesn’t hide as much under tables, but he still prefers corners or protected areas. We removed his kennel/bed before we left on the trip and haven’t reintroduced it because he’s fine sleeping wherever Casey sleeps.

Rehabilitation … begins again slowly. The important thing is that it will continue in a safe, happy and loving environment … his home.

Not much new

October 28, 2012

Chester - it's not all roses and smiles. He spends time in places like this (in the garage, under a table saw stand) throughout the day. He's perfectly comfortable under things or in corners, watching what happens around him. There are times when he's brave and stays out in the open, but more often than not, this is the type of location he prefers. Just another day in the life of a rescue dog.

Casey's story ... her place in Chester's life

October 25, 2012

I've had numerous requests for another segment of Chester's Tales. Here's a double dose ... hope you enjoy.

Chester – Day 32

Togetherness is a good and special thing. In our relationships we all search for this

 feeling of belonging. Most often it’s a sense of peace in finding another person who enjoys our company or someone who likes doing the same things. It’s being close to someone we trust and appreciate.

Summer 2011 and I was running errands in town. When I left the grocery store I noticed a cardboard sign: “Golden Retriever puppies for sale”. Glenn and I had talked, at length, about getting a Golden someday, but not until we sold our home and bought another with a much larger yard. I wasn’t looking for a dog yet, actually hadn’t thought about a puppy either. I jotted down the phone number from the sign and put it away. That afternoon when I was done with the errands, I called to inquire about the pups, although I had no intention of getting one, I was curious. The lady on the phone was very friendly and said that she’d have the 4-week-old puppies out in the yard since other people were coming to look at them as well. I agreed to stop by and take a look.

I held a few pups, got my puppy “fix” and was about to leave when the lady asked if I wanted a male or female. I said that if we got one I’d prefer a female. She counted the pups in the outdoor pen and said, “Oh, there’s another one in their den, I’ll go get her.” They had a neat area set up in the garage with 2-foot plywood walls for the mother dog and her pups. It consisted of a large main room and a few smaller rooms with pathways only large enough for the puppies to walk through. Clean straw was placed in the small rooms that the puppies used as their bathroom area. The largest area held blankets and toys and an area for nursing. The walls were tall enough where the puppies couldn’t get out but momma dog could jump in and out as needed to feed and care for her babies. It was obvious the dogs in this household were loved and treated as revered members of the family.

When I held Casey she stole me heart. She licked my face and cuddled under my chin. When I put her down on the lawn she started showing off. Before I left, I placed a large deposit on our new puppy. When I returned home, I told Glenn “you’ll never guess what I did today.” In the meantime I had done a lot of research and planning. It had been awhile since we had a dog and I wanted to do everything right. We purchased a kennel for her bed and training. We had all the usual puppy toys, food, treats, leashes and other necessities. I’d spoken to a local veterinarian and checked into puppy obedience training.

She would be MY dog … one I could train and spend time with, my jogging buddy and a cuddly friend to sit by me on my bed while I read or listened to music. I was thrilled that I’d done it the right way and she was going to be my special companion. Several weeks later I brought her home. The very next day, our world changed.

While working in his garage/shop Glenn was knocked off a ladder and crushed by a large stack of lumber from an upper shelf. From inside the house it sounded like a large truck had gone through the garage door and into the house. At first I couldn’t find Glenn in the pile of rubble and when he didn’t answer my calls I feared that he was dead. Several lacerations on his arms and a headache from hitting the floor were the least of it. The lumber had split Glenn’s sternum and broke it in several places. His full recovery took about 9 months. Every day Casey was by his side. How could she know that I chose her to be my friend and companion? She thought we brought her home to protect and care for Glenn. She holds up her end of the bargain every day.

Glenn is retired, but he’s always busy. He enjoys working in the small yards with all kinds of plants. Our yard is a showplace of flowers, shrubs and young trees. He always has a small area for growing some berries and tomatoes. The back yard is fenced so Casey can play with her toys or follow Glenn around. If the weather isn’t good for being outside, Glenn spends most of the day in the garage doing a woodworking project of some kind, usually with the garage door open. Casey can be tied to a long lead where she is close to Glenn but where she can’t go visit the neighbors on her own. When we are home she’s comfortable being connected to the lead in the garage so she can go inside or out while Glenn works. She’s happy because they’re together.

Recently Chester has found togetherness. At the one-month mark of his permanent home adoption he’s succeeded in finding a peaceful sense of being together with me. He still spends part of his days by himself in a corner but at times he sits close to my chair in the living room so I can pet him while I write or watch TV. Occasionally he moves under the dining room table where he can watch me in the kitchen. Lately, since we’ve been at Grandma’s house, he not only enjoys but seeks out Glenn and Casey in the garage.

We wouldn’t be able to tie Chester to a lead and leave him in an open garage like we do with Casey. She doesn’t try to get away; she wouldn’t want to leave. Chester’s primary instincts still tell him to flee when he’s out of his comfort zone. If we’re on a walk and try to go someplace other than the usual route, he balks, backs up and tries to pull off his leash and halter. We double hook him whenever he is outside of the fenced yard to protect him from himself. If Chester was tied up, his instinct would be to escape. If he got loose, he would run until his legs would go no farther and we might not ever find him. The slightest unfamiliar sight or sound would send him into a frenzy that would cause anxiety and his flight instinct would take over. He runs when we see anyone. He is comfortable around us and no one else yet. It’s a good thing that Grandma’s garage isn’t cluttered with woodworking tools. The projects Glenn works on here involve sorting and organizing shelves and drawers. It’s a closed-door environment where two dogs can just hang out with “Dad” while he works.

A new kind of togetherness is building between Chester and his adopted sister Casey. Recently when we’re on walks they sit together when we stop to rest. The past several days they lie together in the garage while Glenn works. The newest situation is their fondness for lying on the leather sofa in the living room here at Grandma’s house. It’s becoming a regular scene. One dog jumps on and before long the other one appears there too. I think it’s their favorite place to be with each other. Actually when Casey gets on first, she curls up at one end or the other. When Chester gets to the sofa first, he chooses the middle cushion, front feet crossed, leaving only small spaces at the ends for the largest dog in the family. He looks like those lion statues that people use at entrances to fancy estates, regal and proud.

Yesterday we watched in amazement as Chester initiated play with Casey. She had a piece of a pork bone in the back yard. Chester was sitting by me on the patio when all of a sudden he jumped up, ran towards Casey and started chasing her, tail wagging. These moments don’t happen often or last very long but they’re signs of improvement and encouraging to witness. The wagging tail is still a rare occurrence as well so it’s a big deal when it happens.

Just now Casey came in from the garage with Glenn. Chester jumped off the sofa and ran; tail wagging, to see what Casey was doing. The bond between these two dogs is increasing and it’s nice to see these short bursts of fun from Chester. Although the dogs are together all day, most of the time they ignore each other; so when Chester initiates any type of interaction or play, it delights us to no end. Togetherness is so important … for people and dogs alike.

Arrived

October 20, 2012

reached our destination. We hope this will be good for Chester with new surroundings to adapt to but where he has the comfort of "his" people and his adopted sister Casey. Will be here for at least a few weeks and I expect Chester's progress to be notable. We will keep you posted as time permits.

Road trip?

October 18, 2012

Chester on a road trip with his new family ... doing great!! Details later.

Nicknames

October 14, 2012

Hi, we wanted to let you know that we're still around and making improvements. Here's Chester's journal from yesterday.

When we first started this adventure, adopting Chester, we each had a few preconceived ideas of what to expect. We didn’t have a specific plan of how to go about rehabilitating Chester, we just figured that love, patience and time (and Casey’s persistence) would do the trick.

I have to tell you, ALL my previous visions of how this would go are already out the window. Chester functions on his own time and completely in his own way. In most situations he has exceeded anything we could have expected in terms of progress. If Chester’s life stayed exactly as it is today, I believe that he would be a happy dog. He has a comfortable home, people and another dog who love him, plenty of food and water, exercise, toys and structure. But his life won’t stay the same and with each day he is awakened to more and more that life has to offer. Yes, he wagged his tail the other day (just that one time), but he smiles a lot. He won’t sit or lie down when you tell him. He won’t even come when called … he knows his name, but WE don’t. “Chester” was a tag the GBR people gave him. No one in his life now knows entirely what his past consisted of or what his name was.

For the most part Chester doesn’t care what we call him as long as he has the basic comforts. He simply hasn’t a clue that this is just the beginning for him. His life will become so much better.

In our family, including our now grown children, we have nicknames for all our animals. With regard to our daughter, a single nickname for a pet would be too easy. She always had several names for each one and each name usually invoked a certain sound or octave change when spoken. That might not be too difficult if you think of a “normal” family with a few pets. Actually we’ve never been “normal” and over the years some of our pets included our purebred Polled Hereford cattle. Our children started raising breeding stock for 4-H and FFA projects. We weaned and halter broke calves and the kids showed them at junior association events and fairs. Each calf (or cow) had nicknames … and sometimes several … because they were all purebred and had formal pedigree names. Those stories are for another time.

Chester already has a few nicknames. Bandit and Rascal are each fitting names for his rapidly developing personality. Each day, we watch to see how many times he “steals” Casey’s black bear toy and wonder when she will take it back. They always do it when the other one is away from the area, but last night’s episode was precious.

These stuffed bear squeaky toys belong to Casey. She’s had them for probably 6 months. One is brown, the other black. Chester has recently “claimed” the brown one as his and Casey seemed okay with that. A few days ago while she was outside Chester grabbed the black one too and put it with his other. Under the table it went. We laughed but let them sort it out. Last night Casey retrieved the black bear and was lying in the middle of the family room floor, playing with it. She asked to go out. No sooner was she out of sight than Chester came out from under his table and swiped the black bear and put it back by his brown one.

When Casey returned to the room, she was baffled. She looked around where the bear had been. She sniffed around. Then she went to the bedroom closet (there’s a box where I put damaged toys for later repair). She looked on the sofa where Glenn sat. She was truly puzzled at where that bear had gone. All the while Chester watched, smiling, from under his table. He had both bears securely snuggled where she couldn’t see them. Bandit? Rascal? You bet!!

Book notes

October 11, 2012

Chester’s journal has been an eye-opening adventure for me in more ways than I could imagine. In a few short weeks he has changed our lives so much. He’s a joy and a love. He has become a permanent member of our family. Our hope was that we could have a positive impact on his life, maybe help undo some of the damage inflicted on him by others. We could help him know love and develop a real sense of belonging. We had hoped to “rescue” this dog and to become a positive force in his life. That goal is starting to become reality and the rescue part is mutual.

The real surprise is what he has done to us, to me particularly.

I honestly didn’t realize how much of an impact Chester would have on our daily lives.

As a result of Chester’s journey and the new awakening in me, I have made another life-changing decision. I am officially returning to one of my other “loves”.

I haven’t written professionally for 20 years but I have decided to write a book about Chester … “Chester’s Tales … diary of a Golden Retriever rescue dog”.

Actually several books are in the works, about our dogs and about our time on the ranch in Oregon with our cattle.

The Chester journals will continue, but I’ll only post them as he makes significant progress.

I’d like to thank all of you who have encouraged me in this venture, especially my husband Glenn. After 45 years of marriage I have him completely fooled. He still believes I can accomplish anything I decide to do, and he supports me fully in this effort.

Chester and I are not going away. You’ll hear from us soon.

Thanks

Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

October 11, 2012

Chester – Day 19

Okay, Glenn and I knew from the start, even before we met him; that Chester was in need of a good home and plenty of love. After meeting him, I knew he was smart … the sparkle in his eyes, the way he was aware of his surroundings, the way he jumped in the back seat of our car without hesitation. He knew in the depths of his being that we could be trusted. In my heart I knew he was the right dog for us.

Prior to meeting Chester I actually had mixed feelings about which dog we might adopt. Like I mentioned before, my first desire was to get a dog of my own. Glenn and Casey had such a great relationship and I wanted to have that special bond too. I was looking for a jogging buddy, a dog who would curl up with me on my bed while I read, or one who would get up and follow me when I moved from the living room to the kitchen.

Then we saw the short write-up about Chester on the Golden Bond Rescue website. Glenn and I agreed immediately that he needed and was deserving of having a special home, one that we could provide. We thought we should meet a couple of dogs on the same trip and make our decision accordingly. Most of these dogs are located in Oregon, primarily around the Portland area. That’s a 4-5 hour drive from our home so we wanted to meet more than one to economize on the trip. In the meantime, I had already let our adoption coordinator know that Chester was one we wanted to meet. Several days later I received a call from her. It seems that Chester’s foster family (who live in the Portland area) was taking a weekend trip to Washington and would be willing to bring him along. That would cut our driving time in half. We met Chester and the rest is history.

These breed rescue associations are volunteer groups and operate a little differently from each other, but the outcome is designed to be the same. We live in the extreme northwest corner of Washington State, almost into British Columbia Canada, and there’s no Golden Retriever rescue society in our state at this time. In the case of Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon, the process went something like this: We submitted an 8-page application along with a $25 non-refundable deposit. They checked our references and contacted our veterinarian to make sure we care for our existing dog properly. We received a phone call from GBR for a “welcome” and phone interview to find out something about us and answer any of our questions. They scheduled a “home visit”. A GBR member who lives a few hours away from us brought her Golden Retriever and came here to see our home; to make sure we have proper fencing and facilities and to meet Casey. That way they can see how the existing family dog interacts with a strange dog in their own home. Then our application was submitted to various foster parents for their evaluation to see if their foster dog might be a fit for our family.

Normally there’s a 24-hour “cooling off period” between the time you meet the dog and when you can take them home. The exception is if your drive to meet the dog is 2 hours or more, they ask that you leave for awhile to think about it. No one wants buyer’s remorse caused by a decision from the heart instead of a rational purchase. There’s a 2-week period where the dog can be returned and money refunded. But finding the right fit from the start will minimize the stress these dogs already have. Long process, but I’m sure they generally get happier results. Our process ended up being a bit different due to circumstances and thankfully so because it’s one of the best decisions we’ve made in awhile.

Chester continues to do well as evidenced by yesterday’s leap instead of baby steps. We know he will improve but we also know that “spiking the ball in the end zone” or “hitting a home run” only takes a few minutes of the overall game. We’re in this for the long haul. Chester is a rightful member of our family and he deserves and will get all the time he needs to get healthy. Baby steps are still the order of the day. He is still comfortable under tables (his preferred location now is basement/family room) where we spend time watching baseball, reading or working on our laptop computers.

This morning Chester and Casey have spent time together in closer proximity to each other. Our morning walk was normal, Chester leading the way. Every day he seems to walk farther ahead of Casey without being stressed. Casey jumped on the bed awhile ago and Glenn “assisted” Chester to join her so he will know it’s acceptable behavior (see photo).

These two Golden Retrievers have now officially adopted each other as brother and sister … and they think Mom and Dad are okay too.