Zoe

Profile

Sponsored by:

Sherry DiBacco

For my beautiful butterfly! Love, Foster Mom

"What the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world
.....the butterfly knows is only the beginning"
 
Just over one week ago, I picked up a little girl who was scared to death.  She smelled terrible.  She wouldn't look at me, and she buried her nose so far into the corner of her kennel that when she breathed, she almost snorted.  It took her two days to come out of her kennel without urinating on the way out, shear terror filled her wide, golden eyes.  She had no idea that my extended hand was a friendly hand, that it held the key to a new life and a new beginning.  Her name is Zoe and she is free of the commercial breeding facility she has spent her entire 6 short months living in.  RAGOM rescued her and 28 other souls from a horrid existance, and they brought her to me.  How blessed am I that I am the one to help guide her and teach her about Trust and Love and Safety!

In the short time that our family has had Zoe, she has made amazing strides.  We have been able to move her from a large crate to a huge wire crate that is located in the middle of our living room so she will get used to the daily activities of a busy household.  Initially, she HATED it as it was far too open for her liking, so we covered it with a blanket to offer some privacy.  It is no longer covered and she is comfortable coming and going from it at will.  However, she is far more comfortable in it than out.  So, when she is out and we are home, we close the door to it so she can't retreat in it and hide. She sleeps in it at night and when we are gone.

Zoe has learned to respond to her name and will look at you.  She enjoys being outside, although she is on a 25' lead, so she runs circles around you.  Not sure what this is about, but from the sounds of the other fosters, this seems to be typical Puppy Mill behaviour.  She will do her business on a leash, but it takes her a while.  She is by no means housebroken yet, but she has made incredibley strides in the past few days, but it is a work in progress.

Zoe LOVES to be petted, and will come to me for attention.  This is the result of many hours of trust-building quiet time between us.  She has no problems allowing my husband to latch her to the leash and take her outside, but she is not comfortable yet with him approaching her for pets.  She is skittish of ALL new people, including my children.  She has shown no aggression at all towards humans, but once she figured out that the toys in the house were hers, she didn't appreciate my 9 month old resident puppy trying to take them away from her!  She will let out a growl, but has not attempted to bite.  I think she is overwhelmed sometimes by the exhuberance of the pup and isn't quite sure what to make of her.  Zoe is very eager to play with our other resident dog, a much older and quiet guy, but he shows no interest in her at all which I really think bugs her!  She will persist and bat at his tail and he'll growl at her and she will bow down.  Then she comes at him again, he growls again, she backs off, and the cycle repeats!  It's really quite interesting to watch!  On the other hand, you have the puppy who wants to play with her, but she is more interested in tormenting the older dog.  It is a funny little pack that we have here!  All that being said, Zoe MUST have another dog in her forever home.  She relies on them so much for comfort and learning.  A confident, older dog, to teach her how to be a dog is a must.

I can't tell you how pleased I am with the dog that Zoe is becoming!  The first time she rolled over and exposed her belly for a good rub-down just melted my heart!  Every day she comes a little bit more out of her shell.  To watch this sweet girl play and tease the other dogs is truely a beautiful thing and I feel so blessed to be able to witness her re-birth.  I can't imagine what she has been through, and what  it must have felt to her the first time she was touched with a loving hand!  She is becomming this beautiful butterfly, baby steps each day!
 
She still needs to be spayed, but her vaccinations are up-to-date.  She needs a booster on her distemper/parvo vaccine in another week or so.  It is because of the kindness and generosity of those of you who adopt and sponsor these amazing creatures, that we are able to do for them what we do.  Won't you consider making a donation or sponsoring  this sweet girl, it would be so very much appreciated?
 
Zoe has certain criteria in her forever home:
 
**a physical fence (due to the risk of escape)
**another fairly confident medium to large sized dog--she needs this for comfort and to have as a role model!
** no children under 10 years old in the home
**you must understand that introductions may always be required to be done slowly and at her comfort level
**she loves her kennel and I would hope that you would be willing to always have one set up in your home for her to always have a safe spot.  She is a Golden Retriever and needs to be with her people, not in the basement or back porch--enclosed or not.  She wants to be able to see you and hear you at all times!
 
This girl is special.  She has amazing potential and has blossomed these last few days!  I look forward each day to seeing what tricks she has up her sleeve to surprise me with!