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Over the past year, I've fostered a series of small dogs who came from bad situations (actually one big bad situation). They came to me extremely skittish and with very few, if any, everyday canine skills, such as leash-walking or even the ability to comprehend phrases of approval like "Good girl!" Especially the last two girls. I got accustomed to being looked at as if I were an ax murderer and causing these little ones to cower in fear just by turning my gaze in their direction, but of course I hated that.
So for months and months I've been trying very hard to gain their trust and get them to relax and feel safe around me and other people and dogs. There have been discouraging times when I actually thought that their horrible puppyhood had caused their brains to become wired in such a way that they would never be able to trust me. But I just kept trying and waiting patiently (what choice did I have?). Patience is one of my life lessons, so I guess these gals came into my life to finally teach it to me.
There were small, incremental improvements: One night, they slept on my bed. At some point, they started wagging their tails. Soon, they took food from my hands. I could pet them if I cornered them, but otherwise they were very hand-shy and would skitter away if I reached out to them. However, I did manage to acquaint them with the pleasures of leash-walking.
One day, I took them up to Williamsburg, Virginia, to see Dr. Tracy Lord for some acupuncture. I told her that I couldn't afford to keep bringing them back repeatedly so she should just do what she could for them in this one single visit. Well, pretty soon, they all looked like pin cushions, with needles poking out of them in all directions.
They all got sleepy as we let the needles do their work, but the treatment had the most profound effect on round little Sarah, a Chihuahua-pug mix. She couldn't keep her eyes open or even hold her head up. It was too cute for words when she rested her chin with her adorable crooked smile on the back of one of the other dogs and dozed off.
But the miracle of acupuncture started to manifest itself right outside in the reception area as we were waiting to pay the bill. A little 10-year-old boy held out his hand to Sarah, and she went right up to him! She let him pet her for about 10 minutes. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
And that was just the beginning of an accelerated pace to their rehabilitation. After that, new "firsts" occurred nearly every day. I'll never forget the first time that Sarah approached me and "asked" me to pet her. And now we're well beyond that, with frequent chin and heinie scratches!
The trip from Norfolk to Williamsburg and back is a travel nightmare (at least on Saturday in the summertime), but there is no question in my mind that it was well worth it. If any of you locals would like to make an appointment with Dr. Lord, call the Animal Clinic and Wellness Center at 757-253-0812. She's there on Thursdays and Saturdays.
For everyone else, check out the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society to find a veterinary acupuncturist near you.
