Sheldon
2.3.18 update: Sheldon has been adopted.
Meet little tiny Sheldon, all 13 pounds of fluff and scruff. When I first saw Sheldon come up on the euthanasia list I had to stop. She had a definitive scowl on her face that looked like one of Andy Rooney’s, “I am about to tell you what I think about what you think about my unruly eyebrows!” or so we thought. Assumptions can be funny things.
Sheldon was fostered in Texas which gave her some time to decompress from whatever her ordeal had been. Whatever it was, it was not good. The foster reported to me that she was very shy and that she would run if given the chance. What we have seen since this tiny pup arrived is a completely shut down dog. She was not at all aggressive, just shut down. She did not want to eat, go outside, sleep or be held. There was zero response to anything.
And so a few days ago I decided to start putting her in a little playpen where she could watch the activity and see dogs moving around. That is when I saw her tail wag for the first time! I had begun to wonder if she might have some paralysis as I had not seen her walk. Suddenly she was walking about her little space. We decided to let that be her safe spot to do her business instead of taking her outside. Now her crate is spotless and she does her business the moment that she hits the floor. We reassure her that it is awesome and praise her lavishly.
Two days ago I felt prompted to let her out in the room with Penney, Karen’s English Bulldog. Penney is stoic and kind and as slow moving as a sloth. I felt that she would not startle little Sheldon. Well this tiny pup bounded out of her pen and right to Penney for comfort. She licks her and jumps on her and leans against her. Penney just sits and occasionally puts a paw on her head as if to say, “You are safe with me.”
Little Sheldon will be a long but well-worth-it-project. The progress in just a few days is amazing. Sheldon is most likely a Wirehair Dachshund/Australian Terrier cross and will be quite small. Her birth date is 7/12/2017 so she is just a baby.
Watching her blossom and open has brought three grown women to tears. Sheldon is ready for adoption. We are looking for a family or person who understands that she needs time and patience to learn to trust. Seeing how comfortable she is with Penney leads us to believe that with the proper introduction and time, she would do well with another dog in the family.
