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| CP Trapeze nka Trapper & Kloe fka CP Libra, together Forever! |
Foster
Trapeze is now “Trapper” and a resident of sunny California! He flew out Friday, just
in time to miss one of the biggest late snowfalls in March for 101 years in St. Louis! LOL
Here's
a little history on this boy. He was one of the Under the Big Top kids, rescued
by Col. Potter last June, only about 18 months old, but one of the most damaged
kids we've fostered. In his first few weeks here, he'd pee/poo his crate
almost every night, and the instant his door was opened, he'd come barreling
out, hitting you in the chin if you were in the way, running away from you in
fear.
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| CP Trapeze at intake, a terribly damaged little boy |
For
the past nine months, we've tried to get him to overcome his fears of people,
flinching at your touch, having to be cornered to be picked up, soaking his
belly bands and pooping at least once daily in the family room after you'd left
the room, even if he'd just been outside. He was one of the best “snackers”
I've ever seen - he knew when another dog here was trotting off to leave their
deposit, and he'd have his nose up their rear, catching it before it ever hit
the ground.
Outside
he was better socially, and he loved to run and zoom with the younger kids
here, barking at the silly rabbit that's taken up residence against our fence,
and even playing ball. Yes, he loved to fetch a Kong ball, but he could
only bring it back to about five feet from you - just not able to approach you
any closer.
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| CP Trapeze made so much progress in his Foster Home! |
About
Christmas, during all the hub-bub, his rate of progress changed. Almost daily we
had a tiny glimmer of progress - following us into the kitchen, going out the
door without being cornered/carried, finding his safe spot to stop and sit/stay
to have his belly band removed/put on, wagging his tail, hopping on the far end
of the couch and staying as long as you didn't acknowledge he was there.
I
also started tempting him with McDonald's french fries :-) You had to
offer with a closed fist because he'd lunge to get the fry and take your
fingers in his haste to make sure he got it and could exit without being
touched! I had bruises on my hand
and fingers until he learned "easy". He started playing fetch
with toys in the house, still only able to return them a number of feet away
from you, but excited and happy to play the game.
I
debated about putting him on meds or even asking he be moved to another Foster Home,
thinking he needed a shake up to help him move forward. I didn't know if
we were doing him justice - he's been the toughest foster we've had to try to
help find his Cairnittude. Even with all this extreme fear, he never once
has offered to use his teeth to defend himself. In January, I decided to
put him as Available and see what happened - if the right home was out there
that wanted to work with him, he could be making these small positive steps
with his Forever family.
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| Trapper & Kloe meet for the first time, all ears up! |
Enter
Fate and Destiny, working their magic once again! Much to my surprise,
early in February, Suzanne C. contacted me with a family interested! She said she'd been "totally and
brutally honest" with them in describing Trap and his challenges, and they
weren't deterred - they'd been watching him for months! I read their information she sent me,
and I wanted to speak with them and asked for the Match. We had the three
of us on the line, and I again was brutally honest. They didn't care about his issues - they were
willing to work thru it all, and still wanted him to be a member of their
family!
Don't
ever underestimate one of these kids and their ability to adapt! To the right home, these frightened kids can
prosper. This boy has totally amazed me in his first five days in his
Forever Home. He came out of his crate that first day and sat down and
waited to be leashed. He's explored the house, hopping on the couch with
his dads and accepting skritches, even though his ears are back, showing he's
still a bit timid about their touch. He and his sister Kloe are getting
along "like cheese and fine wine" to quote his new dad. LOL He has even figured out how to use the
doggy door to go in and out on his own, and he's not had an accident in the
house!
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| Trapper & Kloe hanging out on the couch. |
His
dads are great with updates - there's nothing better than the smile on my face
and the happy tears I've shed as they've reported how well he's doing!
And today I sent them an update on their Kloe, fka CP Libra. She
was part of a group we picked up back in October, 2010, so she was here for her initial vetting before she
moved on to her Foster home :-) I've had both of their CP kids here, getting their first kisses!
Happy
Forever, Trapeze!
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