Helping a stray dog: from fear to happiness

In march 2020 we saw and agreed to help a small dog in the north of Spain, who had just entered the local council pound, called Tito. The local volunteers explained how this dog made it into the pound and added he arrived with another dog a young shepherd that was terrified. We could not help but ask for this other dog and when we saw a photo our hearts broke. It showed a small shepherd hunched in a corner with the saddest and most afraid look in her eyes.

What could we do? It was a very difficult case and we were already overwhelmed with many dogs needing help. When we quizzed them further, they explained that the dog catcher had been quite brutal trying to capture her and the dog was now severely traumatised, just shivering by the wall of the hellhole that passed as a kennel in this cold northern council pound. Never a dog seemed to be in so much need of help. We could not ignore her. We quickly arranged for a paid residence to take her out of the pound, and this dog just known as the little shepherd was promptly named Antia. She left the pound behind but not her extreme fear. On arrival to the boarding residence in spite of the best efforts of staff, Antia did not allow herself to be touched. They could not even bring her inside the premises, choosing to spend the night in the yard instead at a far distance from any human, always looking in distrust and fear.

When we heard this, it presented us with a very strong dilemma. How could we help her? The only way to proceed was to find an adopter but sending a dog so traumatised to the UK was just a huge risk. We felt that it would be asking too much from an adopter, no matter how well intentioned. We needed to think of another solution, and fast, Antia just could not spend all her time outside. It was summer now but what would happen in winter? Also, the longer she kept her distance from humans the more distrustful she would grow. This is how we asked, Janine Davenport, a highly experienced behaviourist in the UK, if she would have her as a foster and use her expertise to help her overcome her traumas, and in doing so prepare her for adoption. We were delighted when Janine looked at her picture and said yes, and a plan for her to travel to the UK was set up. With lots of effort, the staff managed to put a collar on her, sufficient at least to get her to the UK safely. Transport was instructed not to take her out during the trip as the risk of escaping was just too high. She was going to be left undisturbed in her crate through the long journey. We counted the hours for Antia to arrive knowing how scared she must have felt.

Antia arrived to Janine late at night and everyone let out a huge sigh of relief knowing she was safe inside the house. The transfer of scared dogs from transports to homes is a time of huge risk, but we knew that nobody would be better equipped at keeping her safe than Janine. Antia was now safe but certainly not happy. When we asked Janine how she was, she told us “she is lovely and will be lovelier once she stops trying to bite me”. Antia was left in her bed in the kitchen for the night with her lead on as every time Janine tried to get her lead off, she would just panic lounging at the air and the lead. Janine confirmed she was very traumatised and it would not be easy, but already amongst all the drama she could see that she was a very good dog, that ultimately wanted to please.

In the meantime one of our supporters and adopters, June, saw Antia advertised and felt in love with her. We explained how scared and traumatised she was and that it would not be easy, but her commitment convinced us that she would be the ideal adopter for Antia. We were delighted. We opened a messenger thread with the adopter where Janine updated daily on progress, techniques used, what Antia liked and did not like so she could not just understand Antia’s issues but also learn how they were resolved. A masterclass in behaviour issues.

Thanks to lots of work, time and patience from Janine, Antia started to have many firsts. The first time she allowed for the lead to come off, the first time a non escape harness was put on, the first time she allowed a lead to be used to guide her around the garden, the first time she went to the garden and did not try to escape, the first time she made friends with other dogs, the first time she licked Janine’s hands, the first time she played with a ball without a care in the world, and the first time she went for a walk, all without forgetting to give us lots of smiles.

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Soon, it was obvious that Antia was a puppy and wanted to live her life like one, playing and jumping and annoying all the other dogs so they would
follow her antics.

After six weeks of work, the time for this beautiful dog to move to her new adopters arrived. Antia’s issues were not 100% resolved but she was now at the stage where she was adoptable. The adopter was now ready to take on the baton and continue to work with her, and most importantly start to create that bond with Antia that will last a lifetime.

On a Saturday in October, transport arrived once again to Janine’s home, this time to take Antia away to her new adopter. A four-hour trip followed. There was a lot of work and preparation for this moment and many tears too. Janine grew to love her and separations are always hard. We, as
the charity home checked the adopter again to ensure that the garden was non escape proof for a dog that was very fearful. A support programme was set up, so the adopter would be able to ask for advice at any time, and during the first few days, she would report daily if not hourly to Janine.

We knew that Antia’s behaviour would deteriorate on arrival, but everyone was prepared to work to quickly get her feeling confident again. It was a huge change for her. She only knew one person she could trust, Janine, and now she needed to learn that there were other people too who also wanted
the best for her. But, like someone throwing themselves in the sea for the first time, this was not an easy step to take.

As predicted Antia arrived to the home and went to investigate the garden where she quickly felt very scared. She reverted to old tricks and laid down in a corner of the garden refusing to move.

Quickly the adopter, June, and Janine through the wonder of technology set up a video conference and worked together to get Antia back inside where she would feel more comfortable. We wanted Antia’s safe place to be inside the house not a corner of the garden on a rainy day. The adopter’s soft words and the comfortable demeanour of the resident dogs soon allowed Antia to feel more relaxed, and amazingly four hours after arrival she even allowed her new mum to tickle her under the chin for two minutes, and was daring her new sister, Rumba to play. A real show of faith by our girl.

The changes in Antia’s life left her feeling very tired and she allowed for her eyes to slowly close and sleep looking relaxed and content.
All of us were able to relax too for the first time. There is a long way ahead for this girl but the worse is now over.

Antia is very far physically and emotionally from that pitiful animal that presented to us in the north of Spain two months earlier. She does not know it but lots of people played a role in her journey to happiness. Once again she showed us that if we are prepared to work hard every dog can be helped no matter how difficult.

We would like to thank all the people that helped Antia. Success stories like this are always achieved thanks to the work of many people; the volunteers in the north of Spain who shone a light on her, the boarding kennels who gave her a place away from the pound, the volunteers at Spanish Stray Dogs, Janine Davenport, who has been key in helping Antia and does so much for all our dogs, and June, her new mum, who got out of her comfort zone to give this wonderful girl the home she deserves.

To all of them THANK YOU!

Blog written by Victoria Vazquez, Spanish Stray Dogs UK