A complete turn-around

So, everyday it amazes me to think that THIS is the same dog as the one at the shelter.  She is absolutely comfortable here.  And she has picked up a new way to express her excitement.  Jumping... or rather, SPRINGING!!!  Again, I am so not used to a Rottie that has full ability to jump and run and play (well, my first Rottie did but that was so many years ago).

Raja springs onto the couch, springs off.  And... she even sprung onto the bed!  And it's a high bed!  It was funny, but I am assuming this wont be so funny when someone is asleep and awoken by her springing on their head, LOL

She is FULL of life, full of energy and full of love.  She shows us her belly to be rubbed and when you stop, she nips you (another new way she is showing her excitement).  She has even showed a slight tendency for mischief when no one is looking.  Obviously these are all habits we need to now train her not to do... but it's fun seeing how happy she is and how she has returned to her puppy state... rather than being depressed and scared.  She is safe, loved and happy!

Raja's first car-ride

It was the following Tuesday, I believe, after taking her home.  All though she jumped in effortlessly, something I am not used to (Ursa had hip displaysia and Butch is just lazy), once in the truck she was a bit unsure.  The windows rolling down scared her.  Apparently a noise she never heard before.  This adventure was one that reminded me of how little she had been exposed to and how everything is new to her right now.  She did great, though... she just sat in the back and took it all in.

Her second car ride was much better.  I rolled the windows slowly so as not to scare her.  And the rest was cake.  She is a Rottie after all, they are so stoic and "tough" on the exterior.  Big mushes in heart, though.

Friday's Milestones...

Today's Milestones...

• She grabbed a ball when Ava threw it past her, and she played with it for a few minutes! Prior to today, she showed no interest as it rolled past her.

• She came into the bathroom! I dont know if it reminds her of her kennel, because its narrow and small with no windows, but she would not come into the bathroom until today. She’d stay in the hallway and look.  She came in and out several times, and even made it in far enough to peek in the bath tub with an expression that seemed to say, “what the heck is that?!” 

So much has occurred in just a few days...

I havent been able to keep up with Raja's journey, day by day, because we had a lot of adjusting to do! No time for writing...or documenting... all though I wish I had!

Almost immediately after taking Raja in, I had written Heather Hovis, the Mission PETS Animal Communicator and a dear friend of mine, asking her if she could help Raja to trust us... and for Butch to like Raja! She had some amazing things to say, as she always does, and I shared her message with my closest friends and family who were on this journey with me (and Raja).  She assured me that Raja was a gentle, loving soul who had been severely neglected and had become depressed.  She spoke to Raja and told her we loved her and she can trust us and that she can tell the difference between people who meant well and who were guided by the "lack of light."  She also assured me that Ursa, my beloved Rottie who passed away in November, had made sure that I found Raja to help her.  Ursa related to Raja as a "sister" - a kindred spirit.  She asked Raja to be shown how to play and be loved by Ursa and Butch.   She also told me that this was good for Butch, because he had been missing Ursa's presence in the home.

So what happened after that? As a brief summary, Raja began walking around the day after she came "home."  I opened the kitchen gate, and she got up from laying down (where she had been all night and into the morning) and we went outside to see if she had to go to the bathroom... she hadn't even been out to potty from when I took her home.  She went to the bathroom outside right away.  We came back in, and she walked around, sniffing around.  

Now that she was "mobile," my Boxer, Butch, didnt seem to like her much!  He would growl at her and avoid her at all costs.  She didnt seem to want to bother him much since he wasn't showing any interest in her but she did go back to see him here and there.  She rested most of the day, as my daugther played around her.  And she got up here and there.  The day progressed this same way... this same pattern occurring... until bed time.  I let her stay out with us in the living room, instead of putting her back in the kitchen.  I woke up in the middle of the night, and found her - cone head - staring at Butch with her tail wagging.  He was on the couch sleeping.  It was really funny.  She was just waiting for him to play!  But, he didn't play.  I was beginning to think that maybe this was not going to work... but Heather said this was good for Butch, too! Why didn't HE see that?

This is Raja resting on Tuesday, March 29, 2011... 

And resting, with Ava playing behind her (Ava had just come out of the bath... and yes she likes being naked).

Day 3... Wednesday, March 30, 2011... 

This is Raja by the table, resting, as we ate breakfast.

I was getting worried and anxious that the two of the dogs were not getting along and I wondered if Butch would ever come around.  After all, my daugther is 18 months and he still gets up and runs away when she comes too close.  I began to feel discouraged.  But I wanted to be proactive! The past 2 days were rather annoying, having to keep Raja on a leash... and chasing her around to make sure she didnt go near Butch.  Because, as the days were rolling by, she was becoming more interested in him in a playful manner.  Even outside, where Butch is most comfortable, he seemed to try to get away from her with his tail tucked (he has a lot of fear issues we havent been able to fix quite yet.)  Needless to say, I got nothing done for days... having to keep a constant eye on her and make sure she didn't get too close to him.  The last thing I wanted was for him to growl or instigate a fight with a nearly 80lb, previously-neglected Rottweiler.  I tried to come up with something, I called my dad to ask if he thought they'd ever get along, and he said give it time... I reminded him how long it had been since Ava was born and how Butch still is unsure of her when she gets right next to him.  I was frustrated to say the least.

I decided I'd try to give him a treat every time Raja went near him to make him think it was a positive experience.  Raja comes close, Butch gets a yummy treat (his favorite kind)!  An hour or two later, I took them outside and he initiated play! I couldnt believe it.  My grumpy old man had turned a corner... but was it for real?  Permanent?  Raja didnt care, she was just so excited he was playing with her.  She is, after all, a big puppy.  When they came in the house, it continued.  Butch seemed to like her!  This was truly a blessing for me, and I was so grateful. I dont know if my treat idea worked, or if he came around on his own, but that night... they played for hours! Inside and out (soft play where they would just mouth each other, she grabbing his legs and him bouncing away, since she just had her spay surgery).  I was beyond elated.  This was a dream come true.  

A walk together, Butch and Raja, on Wednesday morning.

Little by little, Raja began to come out of her shell.  Each day she'd do something new or show a new side to her wonderful personality.  Within a day or two of having her, she began to wiggle her nubby tail when she saw the family she recognized.  She'd get excited to see us in the mornings and as we came back after being out.  She wanted to be petted constantly!  

Here's Raja getting loved and petted.  She was pet an hour or more until she fell asleep right next to my Dad... This photo was taken Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

(ADDITIONAL PHOTOS - TAKEN ON WEDNESDAY - OF A SMILING AND BEAUTIFUL RAJA ARE POSTED BELOW) 

Anyway, she was turning out to be a big mush! And a big puppy at that... by Wednesday night or Thursday (I dont remember exactly which), she had started mouthing as you pet her because she was so excited.  She also began to barge out the back door to go out because she loved it so much, walking and sniffing outside.  The transformation that was unfolding was so incredible it was surreal.  This was a dog that was previously neglected and shut down at the shelter... and she was like a normal dog, a puppy even!  She was playful and fun and loving.  She was smart, learned to sit for a treat immediately, and wanted to please.  She was curious and active yet gentle at the same time (all though she did knock my daugther down a few times because she didnt know where her butt was).  

I quickly realized that, in true Rottie fashion, she had become my shadow.  Ursa would follow me no matter where I went.  And being she had hip displaysia, torn ligaments and arthritis, I felt so bad that she would do this. I'd try to run back and forth quick before she had a chance to notice I was gone... but it didnt work.  Raja followed suit.  She could be in a dead sleep, and if I left the room... she was right behind me.  As  I am typing this, she is lying next to my chair.  Everywhere I go, there she goes, too.  And she wants to be pet every where we go, too! LOL 

Some photos taken of Raja on Wednesday... I'd say she looks happy, wouldn't you?

Thursday, March 31, 2011... The progress was still remarkable to me, and I continued to be thrilled by it and humbled by it.  Each day was full with surprises... "what will Raja do today?"  One funny thing she did, it was about 4 am and I had woken up and petted her (she was sleeping right beside where I was, but on the floor) and then tried to go back to bed.  She began pulling my hair, biting it, to get my attention. LOL  Too funny.  It reminded me of when Ursa would grab chunks of your hair and yank if you were facing the opposite direction.  Raja was a bit more gentle - I dont think I lost any strands like I did with Ursa.  

By Thursday, she was a brand new dog, seemingly at ease in her new home and with her new family.  She still showed fear outside when new people would walk by... but that is to be expected.  I havent had any guests since she arrived so that she could adjust to her new environment.  But she seems to be thriving! She is so happy, full of life (just like Ursa) and a joy to be around.  Heather Hovis had told me that Raja had so much love and light to share with the world... and I agree.  I feel like my heart is smiling and shining a bit more these days with Raja present.  And her connection to Ursa makes me feel somewhat whole, again. 

"I'm Coming Home"

Raja’s Journey

Monday, March 28, 2011

Raja’s journey began today... well, a new journey. She has already been through a lot for a young dog.  While being spayed today, the vet reported he believes she is under a year old.  She’s been through a lot for such a young dog.

A Rottweiler was seized by the police just this month, on March 2, 2011, her owner gone to jail for murder.  She was brought into Brookhaven Animal Shelter & Adoption Center with Akitas, a Boxer puppy and a bearded dragon.  The Cane Corso’s reported to be living there were missing when police showed up.  Once at the shelter, she was name “Brenda.”

The story has been distorted so I am not quite sure which is factual, but Brenda was either found in a basement with another dog, or all the way in the back of the property... and not found until the second day police searched the property.  I’m not quite sure which, but either way... it’s clear that this dog has had little to no social interaction with people.

These photos illustrate a sad, shut-down and depressed "Brenda"

She is beautiful... her coloring a rich mahogany that simply melts into the rest of her black fur.  At the shelter, “Brenda” hid in the back of her kennel.  We would try to coax her to the front with hot dogs and other goodies, but it never did any good.  I told my father about her, because he is as obsessed with Rotties as I am, and he decided he had to meet her, and take her out for a walk one day soon.  As it came to be, the following week on March 22, he was able to get her out with the help of a staff member and so this is truly when her new journey began.  It was the first step, a baby step, in the right direction and the catalyst of all that was yet to come.

I heard he walked her, and I was, as expected, extremely jealous and excited.  So a few days later, we went together to the shelter and took her out for a walk.  I tried to keep my distance since she was so weary of people, and so shy.  But I did sneak a few hugs for a photograph! 

After that day, neither of us could stop thinking about her.  She was so terrified in the kennel.. shut down.  I’d stop by and say hello (hello meaning throw her some hot dogs) any time I was at the shelter.  It all sort of blurs together after this point (not sure what came first); I inquired about her to the Director, played with the idea of mentioning it to my husband and parents, and slowly it all came together.  I showed my husband photos I had taken of her the day my father and I had her out for a walk, and he said, “If we get a storage unit, we can foster her.”  OMG, I think my jaw dropped and my eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store.  He said he wanted to name a dog RAJA. So I looked up the meaning (I am big on name meanings) and Raja meant “hope” and “anticipation.”  I felt this was a good fit... hope and anticipation for a new life! 

Needless to say, only a few days later... I got a message from the Director of the shelter asking if I could take her today (Monday, March 28, 2011) because they had 7 strays come in and no kennels for them.  I agreed.  At closing time, 4 PM, my dad and I went to pick her up.  She was asleep in the puppy room; apparently her surgery was late in the day and not only that, her papers said she was in heat.  So her surgery was more complicated, and has more risks (hopefully she will be fine!).  She got chipped, and she is all up to date on shots.  We drove her home.

Her journey that day... shelter to "home"

My daughter was out of the house, and so I took my Boxer, Butch, out to go potty while my dad walked Raja in. Once she was secured in the bedroom, I came in with Butch.   My dad tried to get her to lay down when she came in, she wouldn't.  She stood there, wobbly, until her body couldn't stand anymore.  Poor thing, she is so afraid. Obviously stressed.  I think this is her first time in a HOME.  

She’s pretty shut down.  She hasn’t moved much since being “home,” and when we tried to take her out to potty, she put the brakes on.  She didn’t want to go, I think she is very unsure and scared.  She was outside a few minutes... maybe ten... and didn't do anything so we brought her back in and moved her into the kitchen so we wouldn't disturb her in the bedroom (with the baby sleeping).  I will surely have a large mess to clean up tomorrow morning! LOL!

I did catch her trying to get the cone off when she thought no one was around. So, I caught a sneak peak, a glimpse, that there is SOME ONE HOME in there.  She is so still and quiet, you’d never know just yet.  And she has let a few whimpers out here and there, she must be uncomfortable.  Maybe hungry? 

I must say... seeing her butt on the doggie bed, with her head hanging over the front, and the cone on is giving me serious flash backs to Ursa’s last days.  It’s amazing how ironic that is...  Ursa’s last days remind me of Raja’s first days... It is bittersweet. 

Day one is almost over.  It’s after midnight now.  Can’t wait to document her journey!