Here's our rescue boy, Teddy (on the floor, the one without the sweatshirt)
on the day we got him, 2/15/97.
Also pictured are Elie (on the couch) and Jeff (the slightly less furry
one).
Teddy settling in a little after about 1 week in his new home.
The beasties dominating the couch! They are becoming buddies.
Teddy's Story
We adopted Teddy from Dallas/Ft.
Worth Sheltie Rescue Feb. 15, 1997. His first few years of life have
been hard and unpredictable. As a result, Teddy is very shy of loud noises
and new people. I'll begin Teddy's story by saying that he has finally
found a permanent, loving home and is making progress every day. This story
will have a happy ending.
Teddy was born April 14, 1994 in a puppy
mill. He received little or no socialization and love here. A puppy
mill is in the business of producing and selling dogs as quickly as possible,
without reguard of the dog's temperment or health. Teddy was sold to a
family in Fort Worth, Texas. The woman was very attached to Teddy, but
her nine year old son did not get along well with him. The boy reported
that Teddy had been aggressive towards him. I don't know the whole story,
but the owner called the vet and was advised that Teddy should be euthanized.
Fortunately, the owner contacted D/FW Sheltie Rescue who agreed to take
him in under the condition that he would be put down if he exhibited vicious
behavior. Teddy was good and never showed so much as a snap.
Teddy was later adopted by an elderly woman who soon decided that she
was not up to the challenge of Teddy's shy behavior. She did the right
thing and sent Teddy back to Sheltie Rescue.
Teddy was fostered this time by Esther Mooring in Plano, Texas. This
wonderful lady began the job of socializing Teddy and discovered that he
is much more comfortable with other dogs around the house. Teddy was then
adopted by a couple who have owned Shelties in the past. Their daughter
and her family (and dogs) were there during the holidays, for about a month.
When they left, Teddy lost his security and began to hide in the closet,
apparently depressed. The family was referred to a canine counselor who,
over the phone, without ever seeing Teddy, said that he could not be helped
and would need drugs to be a family dog,. Though they loved Teddy, they
decided to send him back. Back to Esther and Sheltie Rescue.
Esther, her family, and menagerie (3 dogs, cats, other rescue dogs)
worked with Teddy to get him ready for another adoption. Karen and I met
Teddy 2/9/97 at an Adopt-A-Pet in Mesquite, TX. He was scared of all the
noises, smells, and people there. He was also scared of us and our sheltie-girl
Elie, but Esther was determined that we were the home for Teddy. She wouldn't
let us look at any other dogs and kept telling us what a wonderful dog
Teddy was. We fell in love with him very quickly and, after the adoption
process was completed, Teddy was delivered to us 2/15/97.
What a joy Teddy has been! He likes his 2 mile morning walks, he loves
to bark at joggers passing by the house, he has learned how to use dog-doors
to go outside all by himself, and he just lives to play with Elie. We will
never really understand why Teddy didn't fit in with three other families,
but we will always be glad that he found ours.
I need to thank Esther Mooring, Sigrid Mureen, Paulene Martin, and
everyone else involved with D/FW Sheltie Rescue for spending their valuable
time helping these wonderful Shelties find good homes!
Update 12/1998 Teddy is happy and healthly and is our sweet
little boy. He has shown some signs of separation anxiety and fear
aggression, but they have been few and far between. We know the things
that make Teddy upset, and we can put him in his "safe place" (the bedroom)
until things are normal for him. Teddy likes this arrangement and
actually runs into his 'safe place' when he sees that we are leaving.
Teddy loves his little sister, Elie. He
would be totally lost without her. It's so fun to see them chase
each other around the house and yard. Sometimes Teddy wins the game,
but often Elie puts the much bigger Teddy on his back! I think he
lets her win to keep the game going! He is our Teddy Bear.
The Mud Man
Sometimes I play ball
Me and my Sissie
