(Photos are at bottom of page)
The purpose of this blog is to help other rescue people learn what is possible when rehab techniques are applied to tough rehab cases. Often HCF has dogs brought to us from rescues that are not able to resolve that individual dogs behavior issue. Each dog is different - we do not apply a cut and dry formula for rehabbing dogs. We do make errors….. and we learn from these. Each new rehab case bring us new knowledge and offers a challenge to our team. This blog will be updated as often as possible and contain day to day progress. We will attempt to link video when possible. This information is not being supplied for a guide for the general public or any individual to put to use on their own dogs or animals in their private care or in care of their organization.
Background info on this dog:
Yellow Lab
Previous stray with 2 pack mates
Outdoor dog
Other rescue contacted by concerned citizen.
Other rescue provided basic vet care and neutering.
Dog remained in concerned citizens back yard.
Dog displayed timid behavior and bonded with female in stray pack.
Dog disappeared for approx 10 days and returned with gunshot wound to neck.
Email plea from original rescue to help dog that they had gotten to their vet for treatment for gunshot wound.
Dog remained at vet for approx 2 weeks. Dog started to display severe fear aggression at clinic…. growling… snapping.
Dog was tranquilized and transported to HCF by other rescue. Dog arrived wearing a muzzle and was displaying extreme fear aggression including urination and defecation when handled.
Arrival date: March 28, 2009
Goal - Continue medical treatment to heal gunshot wound and Rehab dog to make him a great family member for potential adopters.
(Please note if you are wondering why he was named him Count Spatula - we run out of names - and on occassion when we cannot find a name we simply look around and name a dog after the first thing we see - or a theme for names that may hold for a week or more…… this weeks theme is “kitchen utensils” - The Count part was added during a humor filled conversation)
This blog will contain graphic photos of Spatula. We want to share with those interested the process of his medical treatment.
Day One March 29, 2009
We allowed Spatula to roam through the house a little. He seems very attracted to Puddin’ and Paul. We had a minor bit of growling and snapping when attempting to move him back to his crate for lunch. He is quite terrified and relieved himself on the floor. We are not worried about housebreaking him at this time.
Day 2- Spatula visted the vet today and it was decided his wound was looking good enough to close and put a drain in. He was not happy about the ride. We are treating him more like a prey animal than a dog. Once at the vet clinic we carried his crate to their restroom to release him so we could muzzle him for treatment. He showed fear aggression and snapped at us- not a earth shattering event in our eyes. Once muzzled he was not that difficult to handle and accepted IV injection of presurgical tranquilizers without protest. He is now safe with us and doing well. We will post new pictures of his medical status as soon as we have a moment. 10 pm here and we still have work to do.
Big thanks to Dr. McGarity for staying late at the clinic to sew Spatula up…. and it was his birthday… we apologize to his wife for keeping him from home to celebrate.
We will be pairing Spatula up with Puddin’ (the dog) so he has a pack mate to help him learn about be calm and that humans are not here to harm him. We can pet and touch at this point but he is easily startled still and will revert to fear aggression if too much mental pressure is applied.
Day 3 - We are just letting him hang out with us and select gentle pack members. He seems to enjoy being in the same room with humans and is allowing more relaxed petting time. He is eating like a pig.
NO APRIL FOOLS - APRIL 1st - WE HAVE TAIL WAGS FROM SPATULA!! Lots of petting tonight and lots of tail wagging….. little hand feeding and interaction with the core pack. We are slowly building trust…… it is good to see his tail up and wagging! (will post photos when we have time) Just a few days ago he was trying to bite us.
April 5th - Lots of progress. He is now coming when called for petting and attention. He will require another surgery early this week. Still gaining trust so no real pressure is being applied as of yet. Tail wags and relaxation is becoming the norm for him. Doing great with all the other dogs and cats.
April 6th - Spatula went in for follow up surgery today. He did very well behavior wise. No growling or snapping. He is now allowing us to lead him on a leash. Nervous at the vet but no aggression. Surgery went well. We will update with new photos when we have a chance.
April 28th- He is doing great. Now a full fledged couch tater. Allows brushing and petting. Still won’t come when called all the time. 100% improvement from day one when he arrived trying to bite. No aggression towards humans at all at this point. No issues removing some of his sutures. A few more weeks and we can start working on the leash with him. Excellent house manners. He slept outside of his crate last night for the first time - the sofa is still intacted.
May 05- Spatula is doing excellent. He now sits on the couch and relaxes, enjoys grooming, even allowed strangers to pet him during our Rescue Rehab Workshop. His wound looks 100% better and we hope to start leash work with him mid June. Spatula has made many new doggie friends here too - loves playing with Helen and Blu probably the most. He will be placed up for adoption soon. See his new photos below.
June 11 - Doing great - comes when called, loves all the dogs - great with cats. Starts leash work soon! He is now officially up for adoption!
Day 1
