This biweekly column is written by Suzanne Lawter, Director of Community Outreach for Sadie lived the first three years of her life in fear. She was neglected and abused, and had completely shut down when she came into rescue, preferring to hide curled up in a corner to avoid whatever terrible thing life was going to throw at her next. Over the following six months, Sadie had two foster families who showed her the first kindness she had ever known. She slowly started to trust her foster moms, and found some solace with the other dogs in her home, but her progress was very slow and she refused to engage with the outside world.
We brought in an experienced trainer, Mark Reed of Exceptional Dog Training, to assess Sadie and help with her rehabilitation. She was one of the most withdrawn dogs he had worked with, but he noticed right away that she made good eye contact with people even though she was nervous, and her resistance was more out of stubbornness than fear.
Understanding these key, subtle behavioral clues helped Mark develop a plan to address her issues, and showed that Sadie had an underlying strength of spirit. Mark worked with Sadie and her foster family to push her boundaries, and to get her comfortable walking on leash outside of the home for the very first time. She made major strides in just one session, and it was clear there was a more confident Sadie waiting to emerge.
Soon after her training started, we found out that Sadie’s foster family was unexpectedly being reassigned to a new base.
The timing was unfortunate; Sadie had just started making progress, and we didn’t want her to have to adjust to yet another foster home. Because of her fear, Sadie was not a dog who would greet potential adopters with warmth and enthusiasm, so we knew she would not be an easy dog to place. She was still terrified of new people and would immediately try to hide when anyone unfamiliar came near her. We needed to find that special someone who could see through this behavior and realize Sadie’s potential, and was willing to commit to a “project” dog.
That week, we featured Sadie’s story in Bethesda Now and on various Patch sites around the region hoping the right family would see her and want to help. Thankfully Linda, a reader in McLean, saw Sadie’s story and felt an immediate connection.
Sadie reminded her of her own beloved dog named Sadie, who had passed away a few years prior. Linda and her husband, Ed, really missed having a dog in their lives, but had not been able to agree on the type of dog they wanted. Sadie had some of the same qualities and quirks as their previous dog, and Linda knew right away this was the dog for them. She shared the article with Ed, and they both agreed this was the sign they had been waiting for.
When Ed contacted us about Sadie, we were so excited, and knew right away they were the perfect family. Linda is retired and Ed works part time and mostly from home, and they were empty nesters with a quiet home and large, fenced back yard. They had never rescued a dog before, but Linda had become aware of rescue and really wanted to save a dog in need. Both of them came into this process with open minds and wide open hearts, with no fear of Sadie’s history and a total commitment to her rehabilitation.
They quickly enlisted help from Mark to introduce Sadie to her new home and teach them how to help her work through her fears. Mark counseled them to keep Sadie close by in the home and engaged with the family, and not allow her to fall back into her behavioral pattern of hiding to avoid interaction. They implemented a consistent daily routine that Sadie could trust, and began taking her on multiple daily walks to familiarize her with her new neighborhood, always making consistent eye contact to reassure her that she is safe.
They keep a journal of her daily progress and setbacks, which they share with Mark so he can adapt her rehabilitation plan.
Sadie has made incredible progress in her new home over the past six weeks. Within days she began to relax, sneaking into Linda and Ed’s bed one morning on her own initiative, and now comfortably sleeps with them through the night. She’s learned to enjoy her daily walks and will even wag her tail as she trots down the street.
She worked through her fears of the back yard, and now wants to be outside all the time. She prances around the yard like she owns it, rolling around in Ed’s perfect grass and chasing the occasional squirrel. Linda loves to watch Sadie in the morning when she first lets her out, she sits like a statue in the yard, listening and watching the birds, and really seems at peace.
When I first met Sadie, I saw a dog who was trapped by fear, but in my follow-up for this story, I met a very different dog. In just weeks, Sadie has come alive. She’s more confident and relaxed, her tail is up, she walks taller, takes treats from visitors, and we even got a smile during our photo shoot.
She’s very affectionate with Linda and Ed, and has clearly bonded with them both. She has started to accept that she is safe, loved, and now has a great life to live, which is reinforced by Ed when he serves up her daily marrow bone treat on a plate. This sweet girl sure has come a long way from being forgotten on a chain.
I asked Ed and Linda how this experience has impacted them. Linda shared that she had a very positive first rescue experience, and felt that we listened to her needs, and prepared her for what to expect with Sadie. They both feel Sadie was a true gift who has already enriched their lives.
Ed explained, “Sadie gives us another basis to relate to each other. Working on her rehabilitation together has given us a new, fun, and positive focus, and something to talk about that we both enjoy.”
Our hope in sharing Sadie’s story is that potential adopters will take a second look at a dog who may have come from an abusive situation, or an adult dog who has seen some tough times, and know that they are not broken, and can become a joyful, loving member of their family.
If you are looking to add a new pup to your family, click here to learn more about other wonderful Mutts Matter dogs.
A special thank you to trainer Mark Reed, who donated his time to help Sadie, and to our dedicated fosters, Miranda, Heather and Chris who offer these dogs a safe, loving home as they start their rehabilitation.
Photos via Mutts Matter Rescue
