During the Great Recession, I was under a lot of load. But a lot of things suffered as a result: my attitude, health, housekeeping duties, lawn maintenance, relationships, and such. Some days I would start out with nothing in my bank account, and I had to make money before the day was over to keep the lights on. Many people I knew didn’t understand, didn’t believe me when I told them what I was going through. I was working 4 jobs and was still living by the skin of my teeth. Those were some lonely times.
I watched as the shelters were flooded with dogs, people losing their homes, jobs, marriages. I had more cancellations for one year than actual appointments.
So, when I went to the hospital a month ago, I asked every nurse to please forgive me if I was rude to them. I wasn’t my best and I didn’t want them to take the brunt of my discomfort. I’m still recovering and I am not at my best. A month of pain and fatigue will do that to you. You lose all semblance of dignity and privacy in a hospital bed, needing to be bathed, given warm blankets, watched going to the toilet. And worse.
People expect too much of a newly rescued dog. They are also not at their best. Often underweight, traumatized, no one to trust, and all previous training isn’t going to work for a while. Many don’t give these dogs the time and effort to fully recover. They are expecting the perfect dog, and that isn’t fair. I see them go all stern and demanding on these dogs and start bullying them. And they end up back in the shelter.
Recovery takes time.
Give your new rescue dog that time.
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