RESCUE TAILS / To Know Her is to Love Her
To know Millie was to love her! Millie Moo was with us so long she became like family to us. She had many friends and fans, even beyond staff and volunteers. Since she was so comfortable with children, she became our go-to girl for all our Critter Camps. She would greet the kids one by one with a wiggly butt and a big smile, then charm and impress them with her playfulness and willingness to sit when they asked. She loved kids but also enjoyed the attention and companionship of adults too. One of her favorites was a volunteer who very much wanted to adopt her but wasn’t able to do so. Instead, he would arrive several days a week to walk her and give her a bit of a life outside the shelter. He adored Millie! Her smile, her energy, and her sweetness made her the dog everyone wants in their life.
So why was she with us so long if she was picture perfect? The crack in this picture was Millie’s behavior around other animals, especially dogs. In fact, that was the reason she came to us in the first place. Millie was brought to the Keys in the summer of 2021 after being adopted from a rescue organization in Gainesville, FL. Her previous history revealed she had been adopted and returned before, although the number of returns is not certain. Once in Key West, her adopter discovered Millie’s reactions to other dogs during daily walks was extremely challenging to manage due to Millie’s strength and the intensity of her behavior. After a negative interaction with another dog, the caring but concerned guardian chose to bring her to us.
The origins of Millie’s big feelings toward other animals are unknown, but several factors could have played a role. The first is her past history, starting from puppyhood up to the present. Every interaction is a learning experience. If experiences are negative (causing her to feel frustrated or unsafe) or simply too limited (inadequate socialization), a dog’s comfort around others as an adult can become compromised. Second is environment, which has a HUGE influence on behavior. Sometimes if a dog feels overwhelmed by others or is experiencing sensory overload, the dog’s behavior reflects that and reactivity/aggression can result. Breed-type is another factor that can play a role in sociability towards others, especially as dogs become adults. And of course, age, health, and gender status affect behavior. In general, Millie’s behavior could have been influenced by any or all of these factors. The result was a dog who was much more challenging to place and live with than some others would have been.
Millie did get adopted about a month after she entered the shelter but was returned a couple months later. And then the long wait began—2021 became 2022 and then came 2023. Millie was still with us. Potential adopters either had other animals or lived in environments or situations that could easily set up Millie to fail and be returned yet again. We held out hope the circumstances would change with her steadfast volunteer friend and that she would get adopted by him. But that wasn’t happening. Millie was now 6.5 yrs. old and had been with us for over a year and a half. Her resilience during that long stay was made possible by her human friends who provided outlets (long walks) and enrichment https://www.dogminded.
Then last month Tom and his wonderful family came in to meet her. They adopted from us before and had experience with a big dog who initially exhibited behavior challenges. The family successfully lived with that dog until age took its unavoidable toll and they had to say goodbye. Their pet history, home environment, and attitude all rang big “YES!” bells for Millie. She loved the young son, and the interactions between the two during the adoption meet were lovely. When he heard the words, “So when would you like to take her home?” he looked like he was about to blast out of his chair with joy. The incredible smile on his face will be one of those forever memories for our staff!
Millie may always be a work in progress like we all are, but she is well-loved by good people who support her and manage her life to help her succeed while also meeting her needs. They have given her a chance at her best future. We couldn’t be happier or more grateful!!
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]
No Comment