Broken

Broken is definitely the right word in this situation. We love Luda. It breaks my heart to have to send her back and to another foster. However, there is one thing I cannot do – and that is aggression. I cannot adopt another dog out that has aggression issues. I would feel responsible if something ever happened to another small dog or worse, a child.

Ultimately it came down to Luda’s instincts are not to cry or yelp, they are to snarl and lunge. My dog was terrified and wanted nothing to do with her and I have to put my current family first. I know that my family and friends support this decision, I don’t feel the rescue community sees my view.

I am getting used as an example of why rescue’s don’t want to pull for fosters. I gave Luda an amazing loving home for three weeks – a solid two weeks after she attacked my dog and husband several times. I waited for the organization to find another foster home, she is not in boarding. I worked on her food aggression every day and we met with the rescue’s trainer.

I tried to do a good thing. Why is it that it always comes back to bite me in the ass? As much as I want to help euth dogs in NYC, I may never do this again. I think I’ll wait until I move to a bigger home, and then go to ACC and walk the cages and hand pick a dog to keep Port company. I have to be sensible, I can’t let my emotions trick me again.

I’m really saddened by how the poster’s on Urgent Part 2 flip flop quicker than politicians. I saw that one family offered their home to a dog, but when it didn’t work out, the hate messages started flying. Its happening to me as well. Today another person used me as an example why rescue’s don’t want to pull for facebook fosters. Its spreading mis-information about people that want to do good and that’s a shame because it discourages people to step up to the plate.

So I’m done, for now and maybe for a really long time. I want the best for Luda and I really hope she finds a great home.

Happy 4th and Update

I feel like I owe a long update to this blog about Luda. Luda is still at our home. We have had no further bad incidents of food aggression. Posh Pets sent us a dog trainer and we have been using her techniques to establish leadership and "own the food." In less than a week we are able to feed Luda, pick up her bowl and have Port and Luda eat next to each other. I still wouldn't leave Port's leftovers down and leave the house, but she won't go after them when we're right there.

Luda and Port don't play. Luda tries, Port ignores her. We had a friend's lab over and Luda very much enjoyed wrestling with the other dog. She is very dog friendly.

Luda loves towels. Its hilarious to watch her with the two towels on her dog bed. Sometimes she just gets very excited and flips her head around and does a little dance. Has she never had toys before? She is very playful with the toys we have around the house, so I'm not sure.

Luda's ears are getting better. Still absolutely disgusting, but I can see a glimmer of pink now. She hates having her ears cleaned, but tolerates it like a lady.

Luda got scared of the fireworks last night. We were out on the back patio watching them and when we came back in she was tucked in the corner of our spare bath and didn't come out for about 2 hours. Poor thing.

I would not put Luda in a home with small children. I think she would be fine with older kids as she's OK with everyone she's met, I just don't think she'd tolerate little kids pulling her ears and such. She's not a easy manhandler. If she doesn't want her belly rubbed, she refuses to roll over.