Cloud has been at Toronto Animal Services South for over two months now and he still doesn't like going outside. He knows enough to do his bathroom breaks outside but he's like the winter camper who reluctantly exits the warmth of his cabin to find a sheltered spot, pees and scrambles back in as quickly as possible.
I've been "walking" Cloud pretty well once a week since he arrived and it's the same thing every time. I put the leash on him. I half encourage, half drag him out of his kennel. Once he's out of his kennel, he's okay about making his way to the exit. We go out, turn the corner of the building. Cloud sniffs, pees, sniffs, pees, sometimes poops then he turns around and wants to go back inside.
I try to make him linger a bit, smell the flowers and all that, but he's a strong boy and if try to keep him outside against his wishes, his anxiety level shoots up, he gets frantic and it's like playing tug of war with a tractor and what would it accomplish anyway other than producing an even more stressed out dog and a dislocated shoulder on my part.
Cloud runs/drags me back to the door and if I don't open it quickly enough, he starts panting and scratching at it demanding immediate entrance.
I'm no psychiatrist but I think Cloud is an agoraphobe. Seriously.
Of course I feel sorry for him but I can't help thinking there would be lots of applicants for this guy if he were presented properly. Think of all the people who would like to be dog owners but don't get a dog because they don't have time to walk or exercise one. Cloud is perfect for those people. He's about as close to being a trouble free teddy bear as any living creature could possibly be. Feed him, make sure he's got water, take him outside to the backyard for literally five minutes or less a few times a day and the rest of time just set him up on the bed or sofa and he'll be perfectly content.
Or at least he seems content staring out at the world as it passes him by. Who knows what inner turmoil, if any, he endures.
For adoption information on this dog and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.
Having never been to the Toronto Humane Society, do they perchance put a little typewritten card on the front of his cage? A little blurb pointing out his good features and who might be a suitable owner would be great - possibly they already do this?
ReplyDeleteI wonder what happened to this guy to make him so frightened. Do you think backyard breeder or puppy mill? And Fred, how is the little jack doing? Has been on my mind since you posted.
ReplyDeleteCloud is such a weirdo. I say this lovingly, because he's sweet and adorable and a favourite around the shelter, but man he's a strange dog. I guess a more complimentary term would be 'quirky'!
ReplyDeleteNK, at TAS sometimes there are descriptions on the kennel doors, sometimes not. Cloud should definitely have one. Thanks for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteselkie, I've never encountered a dog like Cloud so I can't even begin to guess why he behaves the way he does. As for the JRT, he is doing well, at least physically. All the tubes are out and it looks like his wounds are healing. I'll definitely be checking up on this guy.
I have heard of dogs who have spent their whole lives outside reacting this way once they are in a home - they are afraid they may never get back inside again. Is it possible this is Cloud's story? I hope someone will take him and love him and show him he doesn't have to worry about being let into the house, because it's HIS home now.
ReplyDeleteActually, thinking about his behaviour, there was a dog I used to walk at the THS with very similar behaviour - except more aggression. But the littel guy I used to walk was FRANTIC when he was outside; I would barely get him out before he was trying to drag me back inside. I walked him frequently for at least a year (in bewteen two very short failed adoptions) - and eventually, after a LONG time, he began to trust me. I used to go and just sit in the park up the road and give him some slack on his lead. Once he was actually away from the shelter, I found he would perk up a bit. Eventually he did get used to - and LOVED - walks - but it took a lot of time and patience.
ReplyDeleteI hate waking up every morning, checking TAS and seeing that Cloud is still there. Is there noone who could even foster him for a while? What is going to become of him? He has been there so long? It's killing me (I have asked every single dog loving person I know...no luck...which presumably is happening there as well). Can you put another blurb on your blog promoting him?? Is he going to fall through the cracks and end up as one of the 2% or so that don't make it out of there....
ReplyDeleteI saw Cloud yesterday evening and as much as a dog can be happy at any shelter, Cloud seemed pretty happy - well, happy isn't the right word but he was okay. He actually seems more at ease these days, going for slightly longer walks, being quite social with people, wanting to hang out. He's still got his problems no doubt but perhaps on a day to day basis, things aren't so bad for him. I can't say what's going to happen to him but I'm thinking that as long as he remains stable, behaviorally and physically, TAS will keep him sheltered and continue to try to find him a home.
ReplyDelete