When Donna Lochmann found a 4 month old puppy cowering in a wooded area, she knew capturing her would be difficult. The pup was one of 19 animals to be rescued from a private residence that day, but she was the most timid of the bunch.
Backed up into a corner, the young dog barked in defense at her rescuers but they refused to leave her behind.
“She was pretty feral” Lochmann, chief life saving officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL)said . “She clearly had not been handled by humans.”
Lochmann and her team didn’t know much about how the animals were raised, but she could tell that they hadn’t been properly cared for. Lack of human interaction had caused the dogs to become fearful of humans, and this pup, later named Roaring River, was one of the most affected.
Still, Lochmann and SRSL’s shelter manager, Kiara, persisted.
Roaring River was overwhelmingly fearful of the situation, nipping at Kiara’s hands as they reached towards her, but she eventually calmed down. Soon, Lochmann had the dog secured in her grasp, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she carried her to her Jeep.
Roaring River and her siblings went straight to the shelter, where they received full medical checkups. Each dog was given the treatment they needed and the love they’d always deserved, and then they quickly started to thrive.
At first, Roaring River was still extremely fearful of leashes and couldn’t walk on one. To help her out, shelter staff started carrying her out to their yard.
“We carried her out to the yard the first few times until she got more used to being on a leash and walking some” Lochmann said. “But even then, it was a struggle.”
Walking on a leash was hard for Roaring River, but, eventually, she got the hang of it. Not long after, she learned what it was like to run.
“She runs, plays and chases the other dogs” Lochmann said. “She’s a totally different dog.”
Finally, Roaring River is able to experience all the joys of puppy life without feeling scared.
Walking on a leash was hard for Roaring River, but, eventually, she got the hang of it. Not long after, she learned what it was like to run.
“She runs, plays and chases the other dogs” Lochmann said. “She’s a totally different dog.”
Finally, Roaring River is able to experience all the joys of puppy life without feeling scared.
Now, she lives with some super fun dogs at Stray Rescue, and she’s ready to go to a home that will continue helping her become socialized. Happy, condfident, playful dogs is a must. And someone that will introduce her to new people and get her more confident on.
Source: AMA Animal
