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| Ben was recused by Echo from the local shelter here in Chipley, FL. on April 29, 2009 Ben is a sweet boy who was so scared in the shelter he was sitting in his kennel facing the corner, tail tucked under him and head hanging. He is skin and bones and has no muscle tone. This poor boy was an owner surrender. He had been at the shelter for a couple of weeks and no one had handled him due to him being so scared. I visited Ben at Echo's request and evaluated him. |
| Ben in quarantine here at FWS. He's so much happier now even being in quarantine. |
| I spent about an hour with him and in that hour we became friends. I slowly earned his trust, got a leash on him and we went outside for a walk. He so enjoyed the outside and enjoyed our time together that day. When I left Ben that day he was a much happier boy, he was laying relaxed in his kennel and smiling. I left him with a good meal of canned food and a toy and left to contact Echo. |
| 4/30/09 It has been several days since I could return to get Ben to his vet appt. after Echo's adoption. I was happy that although he was scared when I first approached his kennel, once inside he seemed to remember me and willingly let me leash him happy to be going outside again. His trip to the vet was uneventful and I am to pick him up tomorrow morning. He will have to be in quarantine for 2 weeks once home though. |
| 5/2/09 Ben is warming up to me more each day. He even came to Tim to be petted today. He's so happy now and smiles almost all the time. Tim fixed up an old horse corral so he could have some place to exercise while being quarantined. He LOVES it! This gives him a chance to stretch his legs, run around, enjoy the sunshine and sniff the air. |
| You can see how skinny Ben is in this picture |
| 5/3/09 Ben is progressing very nicely. He came to the kennel gate to greet me this morning with his tail wagging instead of waiting in the back corner of his kennel for me to go to him. This was a big step for him and shows me he really beginning to trust me and he's beginning to respond to my kindness. He doesn't potty in his kennel, he waits for me to come and let him in the exercise yard. He again today came to Tim asking to be scratched. He ran happily in his exercise pen today, this is the first time he's run to play. He even bowed down with his butt in the air and barked playfully for the first time and wanted to play! He's also now giving me kisses. I sat with him in the exercise yard today for a couple of hours and then left him to enjoy his day outside. When I went back to him this afternoon to feed him, he again came right to me even grabbing the leash in his mouth to play then stood happily for me to snap it on. I took him back to his kennel, which he loves and feels secure in now and sat with him while he ate his dinner. We play wrestled for a little while, he's so gentle and soft with his mouth. He then laid down by me and we snuggled for about 30 minutes and took a little nap on the carpeted floor of his kennel. |
| 5/6/09 Ben now comes to the gate of his kennel jumping and whining to greet me. He's so happy see me whenever I come. He's such a sweet boy. He is also really beginning to play now in his exercise pen. He comes bouncing at me when I slap my legs and jump around. He's no longer afraid of my fast movements, he completely trusts me now. He's beginning to trust Tim fairly well too. However he still worries when Tim makes quick movements. I think Ben would make a great dog & companion for a woman. He's a big baby who now tries to sit in my lap when I sit in a chair. He still hasn't shown much interest in toys. I don't think he's ever had toys to play with. He also shows no interest in the rawhide bones I gave him. He does seem to like peanut butter dog cookies. He also prefers the lamb and rice can food over chicken or beef. |
