 This Willow Now Has Roots!(Here is an update on Willow, the White German Shepherd, by her new mom.)
Willow has learned a lot fast! She learned "potty training" in two days, only an occasional accident since. She learned her new name in one day. She learned which of our 8 cats would tolerate her trying to carry them by the neck and which won't yet play "her style"! She is still learning how to play with the two pigmy goats and two of the three potbellied pigs, all strange animals in her eyes. She seems to have remembered how good life can be when you get love and give it back. And is Willow ever good at both! We are so lucky to have been allowed to add her to our family. Several 4-legged members of our family were abused/neglected by previous owners, so I was prepared to deal with possible effects from past abuse. Pam, who had fostered her for a month had gotten her to gain almost 30 pounds, so that battle was half won already too. The biggest fear I had was if she would be willing to bond with another human, after being treated so badly. Willow amazed me. No need to worry in that concern. She was ready, just looking for a family to adopt and become hers! She has become "my buddy", her nose is inches from my knees at any given point, my other Shepherd waits for Willow when I walk them, and Tiggy, a cat who strayed in a while back, comes running to greet her when he hears Willow outside. So often when I look in her eyes and see the trust and building confidence in them, I am amazed by her. I doubt I could have been that forgiving, or that quick to heal. No, everything isn't perfect yet. She doesn't like small motors at all. Like the dishwasher, vacuum or blow dryer, so I take her to another room when they are in use. She is still learning acceptable behavior towards a few of our other 4-legged babies, so I have to supervise the times they are together. I fully expect both of these problems to work out in time. She has come so far in the very few weeks we have been together. She has earned our affections and made a place for herself in our very varied family. We haven't once regretted adding her to our Baymeadows Ranch family. However, a few tears still come, when I think about what she went thru before being rescued. Our "Sincerest Thanks" to Cindy, Pam, Lorraine and the other shelter volunteers. Without each of you, we wouldn't have our Willow, and we know now, what we would have missed! Jenny, Ray, T-Bird, Magic, Nikki, Max, Mica, Extra, Emma, Callie, Cuddles, Fuzzy, Tiggy, E.T, Megan, Ripley, Beanie & Pewter. |
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[Illinois Kennel Rescue] |