Rescue Tails / Ringo’s Soft Landing
By Cathy Baier
At 10 years of age, Ringo’s life took a sharp turn. Up to that point, Ringo had been in a home and although he may have had some ups and downs behaviorally through the years, he had managed to stay with his family. But when Ringo showed some concerning behavior towards a small child, his life with his family came to an end and he was brought to the shelter.
It took us a while to get to know him. Whenever possible, he would opt for retreat when given the choice, but at times he could put on a more offensive display. But it was obviously out of fear and underneath all that worry we eventually discovered a very sweet dog who needed some help. As his trust in us grew, he became a favorite and was put up for adoption. Given his senior age, Ringo became part of our Golden Paw Program, a program aimed at helping senior pets find homes. The program provides a free adoption plus other benefits.
We had been told by his previous people that Ringo had been a bit of a Houdini in his younger years and would escape his yard, often by digging out. Once at the shelter, we noticed when we would leave him behind a closed door, depending on the door and the situation, he would sometimes scratch furiously in an attempt to get out. Given his history and the behavior we observed, we suspected either some confinement or separation issues, or both, given the major life change Ringo was experiencing.
Separation anxiety and confinement anxiety are both fear-based disorders which can present as destructive behavior, lack of housetraining, excessive vocalization, and other challenging behaviors. These behaviors are a dog’s way of coping with the build-up of fear and stress they are experiencing. They are not being “bad dogs”; they are dogs who are struggling and need help. Yet, these complex emotion-driven conditions and the behaviors they can generate can be very challenging for the humans who live with them. Ringo’s first try at a new home was unsuccessful due to his apparent panic-driven destructiveness when left alone. He was returned after only a few days. We knew then he was going to require the right people AND the right situation!
Fortunately, he found it with Jessica and Alex! They came to meet him a few times until he greeted them with recognition and a smile. We shared his history and provided information on what they could be dealing with in the days ahead, and what he might need to succeed. They were willing to do whatever it took. They felt he was the dog for them and we felt they were the people for him, so he went home.
They have kept their word and gone above and beyond for our boy! They arranged their schedule so his transition could be slow. They are providing him with appropriate exercise, mental enrichment and fun, along with a predictable routine and other supports. Jessica told us he was the perfect dog for them. They admit they are in love with him, and from the updates and pictures we are getting, that feeling is entirely mutual!
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