[jrsygal37]

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures of Gianna and I wanted to update all her friends. Gianna, went from rags to riches. From sitting on the side of the road after some thoughtless sob hit her and left her there to die, to a wonderful stranger picking her up and caring enough to take her to a hospital and now with us in her forever home. Yep, I'm a failed foster. Most of you already know this, but hubby fell head over and she with him so Gianna is now the newest to our crew. I guess we can now just call ourselves "Eight Is Enough" like the old television show.

She is thriving. From an emaciated 7 lbs to a now healthy 9.30. Her hair is coming in, and the dryness disappearing. The constant thirst she had where she would just drink and drink, has now disappeared. She knows there will always be food and water accessible to her and she no longer has to drink as much as she can afraid she won't get any again.

Her growling, and lunging at the others has stopped. Wasn't so much guarding like I thought, but more fear. Although, the vet did not believe she had been bred, I have to disagree with that. She showed many signs of being in the hands of a bad breeder. The pacing, and circling, scabs on her that appeared to have possibly been from nips from other dogs. One still is healing after almost eight weeks. And, the emaciated state she was in along with her protection over our one tiny Yorkie. Mimi is only 3 lbs. full grown and has the look of a tiny puppy. From the get go "G" has let her do whatever she wants to her and has watched over her when any of the others went to play. I do believe she had pups at one time and that she must have been a good mommy. Her actions with Mimi tell that story. No more of that life for her anymore. She was spayed and had her dental done this past Tuesday and came through with flying colors.

Her fearfulness / attacking of our other Yorkies has stopped. She now will mingle and run with them in the yard, although still cautious of our two larger Yorkies. She eats with them, no longer having to eat on her own. She prefers to sit and share her eating space with our small Yorkies, rather then our two larger. Possibly because she had to fight for her food? Whatever the reason, our two larger Yorkies eat in one space and our little guys along with G all eat together.

She has no also accepted the others sitting on my lap at night along side her while we watch television. Early on, this was a no no. G had to have the lap to herself. She's finding that sharing can be fun.

We are enjoying watching her rummage through the toy box finding toys she likes to play with, something that was obvious from the begininng that she never had, along with watching her have her first bone. Boy oh boy can she chew. My others can chew the bone for hours, but G is done in a half hour flat and looking to steal another off one of the unsuspecting kids that are silly enough to leave it for a minute.

She has learned that men are not all bad. Has gone from being fearful of hubby to being his shadow. Walks beside us to the car and jumps right in to go with us. Paces actually when she thinks we are leaving her. She wants to be with us all the time. It's funny, because seeing her behavior it's evident that this dog would not have run off. Sadly, someone had to have had to dump her. She just never leaves you. Walks right by you without a leash and stops when you do.

She's become our protector, growls at strangers that approach us, letting them know she won't let anyone hurt us. We are workiing with trust issues with her, showing her that no one will ever hurt her again. She does well with new people in our home, but not so well when she is outside our home. Loves our two teenage boys, not too sure of children but we have no small children around so that's no an issue.

Oh what else. So much I can say about this little girl, but will just leave it with how much we love her and feel blessed to have had her enter our lives. Whoever did have her and treated her as they did, God forgive me but I hope they get theres one day.

I'd also like to publicly thank Beamer's mom (Sylvia) and Buster Brown (Carolyn) for their kindness and generousity in donating to Gianna's care. As I said to you privately, that was so very nice of you and certainly never expected and I thank you both from the bottom of my heart.

I will keep updating everyone.
Elaine