It's funny this morning I was reading the threads that have been focusing on rescues this morning, and thinking how it's been a while now since I had my last foster/training project.
Well, that's what I get for thinking ;-) I got a call about an hour ago to come evaluate a dog brought into the local rescue this morning for a possible foster. May be coming home with a project ;-) Will update lol.

Is it a Boxer? he is lucky to have found his way into rescue! Am waiting for pics.

Actually, it is a pit bull that was seized in a fighting raid. Will take pics tomorrow depending on how things go with him. So far hs has adjusted very well. Very sweet, very scared though. I spent about 4 hours with him at the shelter with the animal control officer who called me in. After the first hour he stayed glued to my side and wouldn't let me out of his sight. When I got there this afternoon he ready to be euthanized. They had him quarrantined and were ready to put him down, but held off until I got there to evaluate him. I felt comfortable fostering him, so I left with him. He didn't have a name up until now - at the fighters' "kennel" he had a number. He was named "Ivan" tonight. Will see how we progress, but so far he has done wonderfully. Through all the evaluations he was more interested in playing with other dogs than in being standoffish or aggressive. I hate having to rush through evaluations and put an already traumatized dog through them, but that was the only way to get him out of there. This shelter wanted to give him a try in a controlled environment despite his backround because he is so sweet. It is so sad, though. He has so many scars from his past. This is the hardest part of doing this kind of work because this is his last chance. Will post pics tomorrow of him.

Cameron,

Bless you for taking on the pitbull who was in line to be euthanized! Am looking forward to seeing the pictures of Ivan.

We really rescued a gem when we adopted a pitbull several years ago (Buster). Found him wandering the streets, ran ads, vet checked for micro-chip, etc. & knew if we took him to the shelter he would be put down. We loved him to pieces for the ten years that we had him - he was truly a goodwill ambassador for pitbulls!

That is so sad. It makes me angry to hear how this dog was treated. Bless you for taking him, he is lucky there are people in this world like you.

Quick update...
ok maybe it's not quick... sorry! I shortened it a bit...
took some pictures today. I was cataloging his condition and the scars he has as well, so I'm posting links to all of them. I cannot get over how amazing it is to be around him. Last night, when we finally stumbled home, we were both exhausted. I started to walk up the steps, only to realize he was still at the bottom, starting to whine. He had no idea how to negotiate the stairs. It took about 10 mins to go up the 10 steps to the front door. He took it like a trooper, shaking the whole way. Then we got to the front door. For those of you that have never heard/read/worked with a rescued fighting dog, thresholds and doorways are sometimes a big trigger. For many of these dogs, the only time they leave their chain/cage/basement is to fight or be fought. Something as simple as walking through a door, to them, means something horrible is about to happen. We stood on the front steps for close to a half hour while he tried to step across, then would back up shaking. After the shaking started he begain panting heavily. I sat on the steps with him, waiting. I didnt' want to push him, I actually didn't feel I needed to. He was pushing himself. He kept stubbornly stepping up to the doorway, looking in, then shaking and backing up. Finally, slowly, he crawled into my house on his belly. I left him at the door, shut it, and started towards the kitchen. All the sudden he runs toward me, nearly bouncing and all smiles (seriously - this dog SMILES) This process of freezing at the doorway and crawling through it happened with every room that he has been into, but none took as long as the first. After the third he barely hesitated. Another problem was the water bowl. He frantically gulps every last drop from every bowl he finds. It almost seems as though he doesn't know whether there will be water again, so he gets it all to make sure. I have been distracting him away from the bowl after he takes a bit in to keep him from getting sick on the water (happened once this morning). He has the to be expected separation anxiety, also. It started to show up when I was still filling out paperwork at the shelter. The second I was out of his sight he would start barking this high pitch scream of sorts. Once he broke away from the tech who was bathing him for me so I could get him out of there sooner (TONS of paperwork I had to fill out) All the sudden, this head appears around the corner and he leaps into the chair with me. According to the tech, he broke away from her, put his nose on the ground and followed it to me at a dead run. (this facility is HUGE - it was a good 300 ft track on concrete with about 20+ people walking all over the place) (Might have a tracking dog ;-) ) Last night he was very upset about being crated, but quieted down. This morning when I left he was upset again, but calmed down pretty quick.
Tonight, he has been following me from room to room (he's tethered) with his tail going a mile a minute. He still crouches going through the doorways, but doesn't hesitate today. In 12 hours he has learned to pee while on leash quickly, and hasn't had a single "accident" yet. Tonight he went into his kennel by himself without "help" and went right to sleep. I cannot believe how much progress he has made in one day.
Here are the links to the pictures.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/talynarc/Ivan/CIMG0303.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/talynarc/Ivan/CIMG0311.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/talynarc/Ivan/CIMG0296.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/talynarc/Ivan/CIMG0285.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/talynarc/Ivan/CIMG0287.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/talynarc/Ivan/CIMG0279.jpg

Edited by Cameron Feathers (05/21/2008 11:58 PM)
Edit reason: shortened

He looks like a doll, have fun with him, Cameron! Sounds like he is doing very well for his first day. Keep up the good work.

Cameron, reading about this dog crawling through doorways on his belly brought tears to my eyes. I can see from the photos that he must have been in some horrendous fights.

He sounds like is very resilient and responding wonderfully to you. How old do you think he is?

How long, typically, do you foster a dog for? (I'm talking generally, for fosters) ie. weeks, months, or longer?

That's wonderful that Ivan is with you Cameron. I hope he continues to do so well. Keep us updated.

I'd be attached to him in a heartbeat reading your post and seeing those beautiful eyes in the pictures.

Katie

Cameron,

I am so happy that you are already making such wonderful progress with Ivan! He's very handsome (battle scars and all!). Know what you mean about the dog "smiling" - we used to call it "the pitbull grin". Looking forward to more pictures and more progress stories!