SUNDAY, December 7 and MONDAY, December 8 - Juana's Special Report, continued - Page 3

The new rescue stays safe and warm for the evening in Hospital II at Straydog

     I called our shelter and made sure they knew where to put the dog for the night. Everyone told me that this doggie was so very afraid and did not want to be touched. She was just way too scared. So I spoke to our overnight man, Randy, again to make sure that he didn't let this doggie loose. I told him that we were planning to take her to the vet in the morning. Roberto and Randy carried the crate with the new rescue into our H2 building. She stayed in the crate and really didn't move at all. Randy couldn't get her to move or do anything. He said she was way too scared.

The new dog visits the vet clinic Monday morning

     Monday morning we called the clinic to ask if we could bring the new rescue in today. I also told them that more than likely they would have to help us take her out of the crate.

New rescue walks on a leash

     We had to carry the crate out to our van, and Bill and I left the shelter to take her to the clinic. She rode along very quietly with us, not moving or making a sound. I could tell she was very nervous. As soon as we got to the clinic, I opened the crate and after looking into her eyes, I told her in a very quiet voice not to worry, we were just trying to help her. She sniffed my hand, and I kept on sweet talking to her, and I saw that she was becoming less afraid of me. I was told that no one had walked her on a leash, but I told the sweet doggie that I was going to put a leash on her. I did this very slowly, and she didn't pull away from me. Bill kept saying, "Be careful, don't get bit." But I knew that the beautiful black dog was in my pocket by then. I could touch her and rub her ears, and she didn't pull away. I had the leash on her now, and I asked her to come out of the crate for me and she did! And she jumped out of the van onto the clinic parking area. At first she looked around like she wanted to flee, but I guided her all the way inside the clinic. Of course, we were very, very careful not to scare her, but she was becoming comfortable enough not to even try to struggle against the leash.