Elle was pulled from a local shelter by a rescuer who was touched by her. With no where for the rescuer to take her, she put her in boarding to buy her some time while she set out to search for a more permanent home. While looking, the rescuer suffered a personal set back and Elle found herself living in boarding.
From the moment I met Elle at this boarding facility, my heart was stricken with joy. Elle has nothing but love to give. When you walk into her space, she immediately looks for acceptance and affection. As I got to know Elle over the next few months, my heart began to feel saddened by her predicament. I watched as her anxieties grew and her weight decreased. It was then that I realized the real toll taken on this poor girl, living in boarding, with no one to champion for her.
As our bond grew, I began to find ways to help reduce her stress. It was always in the most simplistic of things. Elle loves water. So one afternoon in the Fall of 2014 I decided to take down a kiddie pool and see how she would respond. As most dogs that love water, she went right to it.
Soon I would also learn that Elle's anxieties would lessen if she was in an outdoor run that had a crate in it. She suddenly went from a dog pacing back and forth all day, to a dog that could finally calm down enough to lay down and just soak up the sun.
However, even with all this, Elle still began to decline, as many dogs do when they are living in boarding. I did my best during my days, balancing my responsibilities to my job and the other animals counting on my hard work, with finding time within the day to spend focused attention on Elle. Whether it was simply a few minutes stroking her after a brushing...
or sitting with her after a round of fetch...
Elle always showed her sweet inner spirit as we connected on a higher plain.
Then the day came that I rejoiced. I had found a family wanting to adopt her! The family came to visit her in boarding followed by a home visit on another day. They professed their love for her, so off Elle went along with my bittersweet tears. Tragically 3 days later Elle would suffer another round of abandonment as the family chose to return her. Why? Because she hadn't caught on to home life quick enough, not knowing to potty outside.
Elle is now living in boarding again. Her anxieties are high and her declining is on the rise.
So What Does Elle Need?
Elle needs, first and foremost, a pack leader. Her hero must understand that her journey to recovery and happiness will take time. Elle is part heeler and would do well with a hero that is active and can help release pent up energy through exercise. Her hero must be able to practice patience. And her hero must express love.
Elle needs out of boarding ASAP. She needs a foster, a rescue group or an adopter. If you can be any one of these heroes for her, please message me at hozsanctuary@gmail.com and I will put you in contact to start the process. If you can't be her hands on hero, please consider donating to her care through PayPal Email: wagtime2009@yahoo.com.
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