A Heart of Gold
By Sarah Domingos
December 2012
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Zeke’s first year was spent on a chain; his next 7 years were with a family that divorced. The father planned to take him and his buddy to the pound for almost certain death. A loving teenage daughter made a desperate plea to Best Friends Pet Adoption (BFPA), and Zeke entered foster care last January.
Now, as fall eases into winter, Zeke has melded into his forever home with me, my sister Buff, and our other 3 dogs. He enriches our lives, but the path to this point was rocky. Zeke presented challenges to any adopter – a large-boned mastiff mix, he weighed around 90 pounds; at 8 plus years of age a dog his size had very few years ahead of him; he had poor social skills. His fear aggression hinted at a history of abuse with its related behavioral issues and insecurities. Buff and I were touched by Zeke’s story as posted on Petfinder; in May we visited him at his foster mom’s home. He was very shy and fearful and wouldn’t let us touch him. Even so he tugged at our hearts, and on Memorial Day he arrived on our doorstep for a trial run. A few days extended to almost five months before we officially adopted him. Two days after we got Zeke, our vet at Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital diagnosed him with severe dysplasia in both hips and referred us to the Veterinary Surgical Referral Practice in Cary. They recommended surgery, made possible when BFPA agreed to split the cost with us. Zeke’s recovery was complicated by pneumonia. The first 2 months after surgery he couldn’t do stairs, so our whole pack – Buff, I, and the other dogs - slept downstairs to keep him company. Zeke was a hard nut to crack. Buff and I have rescued dozens of dogs over the past 30 years; friends refer to our home as “doggie heaven.” Most dogs warm to us right away - it discouraged us when over a month passed before Zeke began bonding with us. It also took months before he merged well into our canine pack. His progress was slow, and at times we were disheartened. Zeke had very low expectations of life; he mistrusted and feared both dogs and people. His head hung low; his tail was often tucked. He was never aggressive towards us, simply fearful, but when strangers visited, he barked and lunged. He didn’t want to be petted or to cuddle; he didn’t interact with our other dogs. He wouldn’t eat in our presence, only on the deck, and he wouldn’t take treats. Sometimes he would go for days without eating at all, and he lost weight. He hid in a family room corner by day and in a bedroom corner by night. He scuttled like a crab from one “safe” place to the next. |
Zeke trotting in the field at QDA
Almost in tears Buff and I turned to Luther Livermon of Quarry Dog Adventures (QDA) who was recommended by 2 friends with “problem” dogs. We took heart from his conviction that with hard work we could reveal the nugget of gold beneath Zeke’s rough exterior.
In late June Luther began to work with Zeke, first in our home and later at QDA. Zeke now goes to daycare weekly at QDA. He runs loose over 5 fenced-in, rural acres under Luther’s careful supervision. Luther continues to work at curbing Zeke’s fear-driven aggression, improving his social skills and instilling in him good manners. Zeke initially charged doors like a locomotive, barreling down everything in his way. He now stands stock still a couple of yards away, waiting for elderly, arthritic Bashful to totter out the door. Only at “OK” does he go through a doorway. Buff and I knew we had gained Zeke’s trust when he first raised a huge paw to ask for a belly scratch. Now, after 6 months in our home, he regularly rolls over for tummy tickles. He snuffles at our faces affectionately and purrs as he leans against us to be stroked. At night he sprawls in my bedroom, occasionally snuggles in bed, and relishes his bedtime cookies. Zeke has gained much needed self-confidence – his head and tail now stand proudly – and his gentle, true nature shines forth. A cooperative effort between many dedicated people and organizations brought a difficult adoption to a happy conclusion. Zeke has evolved into a rewarding companion and family member, earning a firm place in our hearts and in our pack. Hard work, patience and compassion strengthen our bond with Zeke daily. He trusts that in our home he will be loved, secure, well fed, and treated kindly if firmly. This holiday season Buff and I give thanks for bringing Zeke into our lives, and he shows us daily that he, too, gives thanks for his new forever home. |
Take a look at Dog Tails for more stories about our beloved dogs! To see how Sarah and Buff first became involved in dog rescue read "Commitment to Dog Rescue" under "About Us". You may also want to check out dog rescue resources on our links page.