September 09, 2009 : From Angela's journal: Hi everyone! I didn’t think I’d be sending an update so quickly but I wanted to let everyone know the happy news! 
It all started when I was approached by someone who knew that Zambi just graduated from the Guardian Angel program. She asked me how Zambi would now be re-integrated into the sanctuary environment. “Since Zambi doesn’t have any medical problems requiring her to be fostered any longer, will she come back to the sanctuary and live in a run at one of our areas?” This one simple question got me thinking. She has lived in a home for the last year and is approximately nine years old. In my book, Zambi has had one heck of a life so far. There was no way I going to make her leave the comfort of a home and the routine she has so nicely adapted to. As far as I’m concerned it's "spoil, spoil, spoil" for Ms. Zambi.
 Zambi is, in my eyes, the perfect girl. Does she still have the ability to show some not so desirable behavior? Yes, if she gets a rawhide or some other “high value” food, she will guard it from the best of us and let us know she means business. But it’s not out of aggression. It’s because she can’t really eat these items and wants to be given a chance to try to enjoy them. This doesn’t mean I allow her to display the negative behavior, but once I retrieve the item from her and allow some time to go by, I offer her the exact same item to show her she doesn’t have to guard it, she can have it without issue. This tactic has worked really well and Zambi seems to understand my intent behind it. It’s also at this point that Zambi will apologize in her own way, as she knows the display isn’t “ok”. I’d hate for Zambi to get into a new home only to be misunderstood or do something that I know can potentially happen.
So what better way to make sure this doesn’t happen and ensure she has the best years of her life ahead of her?! If you haven’t figured it out already, it’s my honor and privilege to be Zambi’s person and put the oh-so-deserved “ADOPTED” next to her name. 
|
