Snickers

Snickers got me in trouble. Not really, but kind of. I came across this girl on Facebook. Another pit bull advocacy group had posted her, and like I said, I see hundreds of these posts everyday (it can get pretty depressing). The word "Indiana" in the description, caught my eye.

Snickers was living outdoors in a very small kennel, with just a decrepit dog house (see pic) for shelter, about an hour north of here. Her neighbor, a saint of a lady, named Tracy, had been going over and feeding her and making sure she had water (not a block of ice), and bringing her comforters to keep warm. This was 3 days before Thanksgiving. The weather was predicted to drop to below freezing temperatures. I gave Nichole the info, and though we were dog sitting Bert, and a friend's 2 pitties for several days over the Thanksgiving holiday, told her that we'd foster Snickers.

Nichole, being as crazy as I am, agreed. She did us one better and agreed to keep Snix at her house until the dog sitting dogs had gone home, and she had passed her temperament test. So we went up to Muncie to go get her.

Tracy had asked Snickers' owner if she could take her, as she'd found a rescue interested in helping her. The owner literally went and got a leash, and handed her over. Ironically, Snickers' collar says "princess," though she's lived outside most of her life. Tracy is truly a saint. Like I said, everyday she trekked over, let herself in the kennel and besides feeding and watering Snickers, she tried to give her some attention. She took her dogs over there, and they wagged and play bowed from outside the kennel, and Snickers showed nothing but interest in playing. Same thing with her 4 year old daughter. Tracy knew this dog, though having no human contact or socialization, was proof that nurture isn't usually indicative of a dog's temperament and personality. It's a lot of nature.

Snickers did well on her temperament test, but was sent here with orders to get as much socialization with people and dogs as possible, since she missed out during her formative months as a puppy and being an adolescent dog now (about a year or so old), it is important to instill good behavior in her. Bella and Spike have happily been "schooling" Snicky on how to play appropriately, and on the rules of the house. These dogs make my job as a foster parent a lot easier, because dogs learn so much from other dogs.

We're meeting a potential adopter tomorrow (with several other MHI fosters), and have a few more things in the works for Snickers, if she's not the right fit for the family tomorrow. More to come.