Andre and Tanya a

One of my friends and fellow animal rescue volunteers has been trying to catch a female aussie mix dog for two years. The dog has been too smart for the trap, and SCARF has placed a litter of her puppies. This year, the dog took up with a large black lab mix dog. My friend has been feeding them and trying to catch them. She's had no luck, but another person in her small town ended up catching both dogs in one trap. They were brought to a local vet who boards for us at times. They are in the same kennel. When I found out they were there, I started going out and seeing if I could make friends. The first day, the male dog, who we call Andre, came out of the house and took some treats from me through the chain link. The next day, he let me scratch his head, so I went into the kennel. He let me put some fly ointment on him and he ate several treats. Yesterday I got a collar on him, and today, a leash. This whole time the female, who we call Tanya, stayed in the house. Yesterday she ate some treats I tossed to her. Today, while I had Andre on a leash (we stayed in the kennel), she came out of the house and approached us. She took some treats and LET ME PET HER! I was very excited. She wasn't having any fly ointment, but I got to pet her at least. I'll be trying for pictures in the next few days.

Good work! Your patience paid off!

INCREDIBLE!!!

What great news.

 

Today I only had a few minutes, as we had to get back home to care for our schnauzer, who is feeling poorly. No time for a walk, but Andre allowed the leash again, and walked over and sat with me in the kennel. Tanya came out on her own and wanted pets and treats! I was able to get a collar on her and also some fly ointment. We all hung out for a few minutes, and they were sorry to see me go (or the treats go, at any rate.) These two belonged to people once, or they wouldn't have come around so fast. Someone really let them down.

Today a put a leash on Andre and tried for a walk.  He stuck his head out of the kennel, but that was enough for him today.  We didn't push for more.  Tanya was very sweet, and came out for some love and treats.  Here's what they look like:

Slow but sure slow but sure.

You're making great progress with this pair of sweeties.  

Thank you so much for letting us see the ebony gentleman and his beautiful blond wife. I'm SO grateful you are there for these two! I hope, whatever happens, they get to stay together.

They would be great. The obviously love each other very much.

I hope they get adopted out as a pair......or is that an already a done deal?

Andre is so sweet and eager to please. Tanya is affectionate, but she also wants to run her own agenda in life. Another volunteer and I were out this morning trying to catch an abandoned dog. After that, she went with me to see Andre and Tanya, and they each walked on a leash for her, so they're getting very brave. Andre gets intimidated easily and needs to be reassured often. Neither dog pulls on the leash, and they've enjoyed getting out of their kennels.

That's a good start.

Very good start.

We had a very good walk yesterday afternoon. We had to give them each a pill to get rid of their TAPE WORMS, but then we had a nice time. They both walk easily on the leash. I can hold Andre's leash in 2 fingers if I want to. He walks nicely by my side. Tanya likes to walk out front, but she does not pull on the leash. They are both nice dogs.

Maybe Tanya thinks she has to be in front since she's leading you somewhere......while Andre is happy to go with you anywhere at your side.

Andre is happy to let Tanya take the lead so he's sure it's safe out there. He's a very sweet, mushy-faced dog.

Ahhhhh, so just like in an army platoon she's taking point...and he guards the flank.

I think he believes that I'm guarding the flank. 

We've been walking every day after school. Both dogs are doing well, and are very happy to get out of the kennel and go for a stroll. Today I went over in the morning and helped the folks there move them inside for their surgeries. This afternoon I went over to check on them, and helped get Andre out to the kennel. They put them into a larger kennel, so they'll have more space. I would like to bring them here, but Kevin doesn't want us to foster dogs for awhile, since we have so many kittens right now. The "animal coordinator" for SCARF wants them on the transport list to other rescues, not on our adoption list, which is frustrating. I'd like to see them into their new homes.

WHY won't they put them on the adoption list? Is it they think they're not ready yet? Or that one person won't adopt them as a pair?
I don't blame you for being frustrated after all the time, effort, and love you've put into helping these two.....

Here are a couple of more recent pictures.  The dogs are becoming happier.  Bunny, who took the feral dog Lyra a while back, has decided to take Tanya!  I think maybe Andre will need to come here if he doesn't get a spot too.

They're well on their way.