PetsAlive.com

Trudy · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 1259 Location: Milford, CT

Trudy,

It's been about five months since I adopted Darla and I'm happy to report we are all getting along. That wasn't the case when I first brought her home. For some reason Darla bit my extremely calm 12 year old Lab 3x's in the course of two days. It had something to do with food and the pecking order but I'm happy to report that situation has been corrected.

To be honest I thought about bringing her back to the shelter but hung in there.
Currently we are enrolled in professional training @ stylebrite dogs. Sandy Clark, the owner, is an expert and within two lessons we made tremendous headway.

Darla, being a 5 year old hound, always has her nose to the ground as expected. One day she picked up a sent and got so excited she leaped right over a low section of my fenced in backyard. SOOOO, I had to chase her all through neighbors yards and finally caught her. Not a pleasant scene.

We are still going through some housebreaking issues but getting better every day. Despite all of her annoying puppy like antics she is just soooo sweet. When she is good she is a pleasure but when she gets energy, OH boy, what a handful. Despite all the negative activity I'm keeping her.

I attached a couple of photos of Darla in her new home.

Paul, Darla & Sandy.

Trudy · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 1259 Location: Milford, CT

One more

kerryclair · Site Admin Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 420

I'm always amazed, deeply move and very impressed by people that commit to a dog like this. Darla has had such a terrible life. Her sisters are doing so well, but I always wondered about her. I always worried about her. She responded so slowly and was so slow to trust anyone. When she went home I had a bad feeling it wouldn't last and she'd be abandoned again and that would make her even worse and less willing to trust again or try again.

I wouldn't have blamed someone for giving up on her but I am so moved - very much so - that you stuck it out and loved her enough to give her a chance.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Rose · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Posts: 424

Thank you so much for loving Darla and doing everything you've done to give her a chance, like Kerry says, it's so touching to read of such a strong commitment. And let's not forget to say thanks to your Lab who got bitten three times!

getshelterpets · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 82 Location: Anderson, SC

I am so thrilled and thankful to all of you for taking care of Darla, and especially to the family who adopted her and stuck with her and loved her through it all.

When I learned about Darla, she was living with 10 other hounds, in a muddy pen that belonged to a local hoarder. I was outraged by the conditions these beautiful souls had to endure, and the treatment that they got. I've seen the hoarder (who's property faces my business) pick 4 month old pups up by the leash rather than reaching down to get them! This man is someone who uses dogs for "hog dogging" which is illegal in SC so he had to go to GA to do it. He didn't have the chance to use these girls for that, because despite all my ranting and raving and calling authorities on him with no success, his wife finally got tired of having the dogs around and so she loaded them all up and took them to the shelter. Most of the time I would be very unhappy about this, but since I have a great relationship with the shelter staff and they knew I had been fighting for these dogs, the shelter manager called me the minute the lady left them at the shelter, and she promised me that they would be taken care of until I could place them.

Darla, Ruby, and Starlet were the last 3 of these sweethearts that I placed. I can never thank you enough for taking them and giving them the chance to find their forever homes! Although Ruby passed, she still felt more love with you than she had ever felt before and I am so thankful for that!

And as for hoarder man...well, I'm on to my next fight with him..it never ends!!

LindsayM · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 17

I can't thank you enough for those words.

Darla, and the other hounds that were rescued along with her, always held a special place in my heart, for a couple reasons. One being the condition they were rescued from. Another being how SWEET they are, but I knew they were a little unruly and always, in the back of my mind, questioned if they would be able to find the right people that would help them along their journey. (Also there's just something about hounds that always touches me, maybe their eyes)

THANK YOU FOR BEING THOSE PEOPLE!! I cried when I saw those pictures because they are so different from the images in my head I have of her at the shelter. It takes so much patience, courage and character to help a dog through training issues. People expect dogs to be perfect, when they're not what THEY want, they give up. Thank you for having the intelligence to realize that Darla is a living thing, and just like us, isn't perfect all the time. She probably had no training and no human interaction before you guys. Thank you for caring for her, and giving her love and affection which is what she's been missing, and deserves... and has probably been waiting for for her whole life.

I am thankful for people like you every day. I hope things get better and Darla comes out of her shell and continues to blossom into the amazing dog that I know she is! Give her a kiss from me!!

justduckyreally · Joined: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 78

I am moved to tears when I see the pictures of sweet Darla finally in a wonderful home. I started volunteering this Summer at Pets Alive and got to know Darla and her sister Starlet.
They are gorgeous spotted girls who both needed the right families to make a difference in their lives.
Thank you for being the ones to make this HUGE difference in sweet Darla's life. Thank you for understanding that a dog is not just a "plug and play" thing but a sweet little creature who needs a caring person to show them the way and to understand them.
I'm a Mom to 2 Shetland Sheepdogs, one of which began demonstrating food aggression in puppy-hood. With a strong commitment to training, we began to understand & identify the environmental cues, stresses and situations likely to cause the unacceptable behavior. We've learned to how give him a happy life. I am grateful that we could make a difference in one dogs life, but he's made an even larger difference in ours.
I am sure you feel the same about Darla and for that I praise you!
I understand what a special commitment it takes to make a difference in a dog's life and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Jan

kerryclair · Site Admin Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 420

How is Darla doing?
Any update?

Trudy · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 1259 Location: Milford, CT

Another update from Darla's dad Paul:

Darla is doing fine but still stubborn.
She is not %100 house broken yet and often sneaks downstairs to relieve herself. I cant blame her entirely because some days I have to leave for work at 6:30am and don't get home until 6:00pm. On those days we are all up at 4:00am, eating, exercising and toileting in an attempt to prevent accidents.

My neighbors must think I'm a pervert as I follow Darla around the yard in complete darkness with a flashlight making sure she doesn't try to escape under the fence. Something she has done before.

Darla also makes this weird hound noise while chasing unsuspecting squirrels that wander across the yard. She chases them at breakneck speed, turning on a dime and never slowing down. The chase noise she makes sounds like I'm killing her and I'm sure that adds to the neighbors suspensions. OH WELL.

It's just so funny to see her tiny head and big floppy ears at the front window when I pull down the driveway. Daddy's home daddy's home!!!!!!!! Or when she follows me to a room with a partially closed door that she nudges open with her nose, sticks just her head in, rolls her eye's around just to see what I'm doing without her.

And oh yea, there is the occasional excitment pee when I get home......UhHHH.
I'll try and get some photo's of her funny behavior and send them to you.
Thanks so much for following up and please keep in touch.

I'm still keeping her.
Paul

getshelterpets · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 82 Location: Anderson, SC

"I'm still keeping her"

Words that make my heart leap!! Very Happy

I love that little girl, forever and ever!!

getshelterpets · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 82 Location: Anderson, SC

"I'm still keeping her"

Words that make my heart leap!! Very Happy

I love that little girl, forever and ever!!

Trudy · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 1259 Location: Milford, CT

That last line put the biggest smile on my face Very Happy

This is what it's all about; time, patience, determination & LOVE.
Darla is one very lucky pup to have such an awesome dad!!
She never knew home, never knew a dad, never even had a name
but NOW ...... Darla has EVERYTHING dog can dream of Very Happy

Thank you Paul!!!