Animal Hoarding

Starting Their New Life

For seven dogs, who came to Best Friends from an animal hoarder in Victorville, California, it's all about learning to become a real dog.

Imagine spending your life in a small outdoor run, crawling with rats.

What if you had no shelter from the weather, no human contact, irregular feedings that sometimes left you with nothing to eat but the dirt under your feet? And a bad case of fleas to boot. How would you cope? What would that do to your personality?

Then imagine being rescued, given open space and good meals by a group of strangers. How you cope with this whole new set of circumstances might have a great deal to do with your inherent personality, as it seems to have with the dogs rescued from the Victorville fiasco. Here at Best Friends, those dogs are settling into a new life.  We've noticed at least three distinctive emotional reactions: first to the trauma, then to the end of the old trauma, and then the lingering uncertainty of whether it's really all over.

Despite all the trauma these dogs have been through, our groomer, Gail Kaminsky, put it best when she said, "Dogs are so much more forgiving than humans. They say, 'Yeah, I had a bad rap back then, but it's OK now.' " In other words, they move on. And we have no doubt that each of these dogs, in his or her own individual way, will do just that.

Creek and Brook (pictured above), the floppy-eared puppies both have big smiles, and though shy, are getting better and better about coming up for kisses.

Harmon: Overcoming His "Learned Helplessness"

Harmon is an interesting example of what Best Friends trainer Vicki McDonnell calls "learned helplessness," meaning that his trauma rendered him almost completely passive.

When he first arrived, he was so frightened that Gail couldn't even brush him. He didn't bite or snap. He just pulled away in such a fright that she was afraid he would hurt not her but himself.

Just a couple of weeks later, he became so warm toward strangers that he toddle right up to absolutely anyone. He reminds you of a mellow muppet with his long, floppy fur, and sort of a slow bonka-bonka-bonka walk. His curly-haired feet look like giant mittens. He doesn't bark or race around. He just puts his face against you and stays there... warmed by the feel of your closeness. It's a miraculous recovery!

According to Vicki, the "learned helplessness" is still manifest in the way he refuses to communicate his preferences. Most dogs find a way to let you know, for example, "I like it when you scratch my ear, but I don't particularly like having my back feet touched." Harmon communicates nothing about his likes and dislikes. He lets you do anything without expressing an opinion - not so much because he's kind-hearted, though this is so, but more because he's been traumatized into passivity.

In time, Vicki is sure, he will learn to communicate. After all, so far, he has transformed from a frightened creature to a floppy muppet who's already affectionate and fit to be someone's pet!

Sutra: An Unquenchable Spirit

Representing a completely different style of adjustment is Sutra. She came from the same situation, but she has been a bundle of smiles and energy from day one.

"When she first got here," says staffer Stephanie Kettner, "she just let the other dogs know she wasn't gonna be pushed around. She wasn't aggressive about it, she just let them know." Then, ever since, she's been a cheerful doll!

So, how could one dog, Harmon, become so passive through all he's endured, while Sutra, in the same predicament, remained so resilient and confident? Watching this small, bright red girl with the big round head settling down to give a sweet kiss to a stranger, it seems to be nothing short of a strong sense of self. Maybe for some dogs, like some humans, their environment has a greater impact on their sense of self. Beautiful little red Sutra may simply have an unquenchable spirit.

Tito: "Is This Really for Real?"

A third interesting reaction comes from Tito, a slender, sleek black dog with affectionate eyes and a shy smile. He too came from the Victorville hoarder, and initially, he seemed to cherish his new found freedom by meeting each new person and dog with bright enthusiasm. But in the days that followed his arrival here, he became more shy and reflective.

He still wears a smile, and his tail wags bashfully. His gentle eyes make perfect contact, and he's wonderful with the other dogs and with the staff people he knows. But with strangers, he's become reticent, preferring to keep his distance. Is he afraid someone will try to take him back to where he was? Or has he suddenly realized this move might be permanent, and he needs some time to take in the wonderful but still overwhelming implications?

It's fascinating to watch this gentle guy steer a wide circle around potential abductors. With the Best Friends staffers he's come to know and love, he remains affectionate and eager.

Tres (photo right), whose dewclaw had grown deeply into his leg that the infected leg had to be removed, is an affectionate and gorgeous long-haired fellow.

Windy with the rich, brindled fur and gray face is feeling lost and dreamy, but she has recently learned how rewarding it can be to carefully... very carefully... approach a stranger and give a timid kiss. She's going to be just fine!

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