Adopted abused/neglected from shut down mill, now what?
 

We have pondered for about 30 days bringing this baby girl home. A breeder rescued about 80 dogs from a mill. Apparently 16 of them were missing eyes due to the kennels they were kept in.
Our "Grace" is one eyed Yorkie, she's got about half of her teeth. She's terrified of me and my 11 year old daughter. She seems to be warming up to David. We think she's about 5 years old.
We are being very careful and only approaching her on her "good eye" side so we don't scare her worse. It's just so pitiful. We're speaking to her quietly and being very gentle. It's hard to leave her alone, we're doing our best to let her come around on her own.
The other two Yorkshire Terrorists are fine with her. We got her 3 days ago, so I know I can't expect too much.
Still, I'd love to hear from somebody who has experience with these kinds of baby's. Some do's and don't's would be great.
Thanks so much!
Kristi

Hi Kristi..

No experience here, but I did want to tell you that you have a huge heart for taking home your little girl. She is very blessed to have you. Give her lots of love everyday and I am sure she will becme comfortable very soon.

Good luck!
~Kathy:animal-pa

How blessed Grace is that you rescued her. I can't even imagine the life she had. I have no suggestions but am sending prayers your way.

I have three rescues. One came from a good home, the people were moving to the UK and didn't want to take her; one came from the SPCA and, while quite a handful at first (aggressive and hyper), she settled down. The third (and fourth, who has since gone to doggie heaven) were from an abusive situation, and terrified of everything that moved (the male had to have surgery 2 days after we got him and have all but 7 of his teeth removed due to sepsis). He was afraid to bark, huddled if you picked up anything that could be used to hit him, and howled piteously when we left the house...from the time we left until the time we got back.

Today he is a happy, healthy senior dog...still afraid of things that could be used to hit him, like news papers, but willing now to stand his ground and see if it's ok. He runs around the garden and barks to his heart's delight, is happy and tail waggy all the time.

Here's how we did it: first you find out what the dog likes and let her have it. Treats, soft blanket, a crate to sleep in...whatever makes her comfortable. She's bewildered right now and needs to feel safe. Lavish her with praise for the smallest accomplishments...if she takes a treat from your hand, tell her what a good dog she is...and use a high-pitched tone of voice for praise.

Encourage her association with the other dogs. When we have added to our doggie family, the new dogs look to the others for cues. Whatever is scary to your dogs will be scary to her...and whatever is ok will eventually be ok with her. We got one very timid dog that took a year to be willing to play with us. Eventually she stopped expecting to be abused and actually came up and initiated play.

It is important to give the dog space and time to get accustomed to your household, but it is also important that you don't allow her to isolate herself. TIme and kindness are the greatest healers.

But start with tasty treats...lots of them...so she associates you with good things. Don't worry about giving "too many" because right now, anything you can do to encourage her to see you and other family members as the suppliers of good stuff is exactly what she needs. If she will allow it, pick her up and cuddle her (a soft blanket might be welcome) and hand feed-her little bits of treats (tiny, tiny pieces so you can give her lots) while you hold her. If her teeth are bad, give her soft treats you have cut into smaller pieces. Build good associations with you.

Good for you in taking her in, and good luck with her. Our rescues have been absolutely wonderful additions to our family!

God bless you for taking this poor little girl in!!!

From my experience with 3 rescues it's going to take at least several weeks if not months until those poor things find new trust into mankind. Maggie discovered her tail about 4 weeks after we got her and is still (after one year) jumpy when she is on the couch and one of us moves. We think she was kicked off the couch before...

Minnie showed us her first tail wag after about 6 weeks. Just be patient and calm and let her get used to a life she never knew. It's good that you have more 'Terrorists' (I love that!!!) they can help her a lot.

Sweet Violet,
Thank you so much for your input! I really appreciate it so much!
She's really not eating at all right now. I know that she ate a tiny piece of cheese that I gave her, but she waited until she thought I wasn't looking. I think I'll take the whole bag of shredded chedder and give her a "shred" at a time.
I kennel the other 2 monsters when leaving the house, so she's got her own kennel too. She hangs out in there a lot. Maybe too much? She also hides in a cubby in the coffee table. I like that better, at least she's in the room with us. I put a soft blankie in the cubby for her. She seems to like that.
I'll try the cheese for a while and see how it goes.
Thanks again, Sweet Violet, you ROCK!
Kristi

Maybe you can try sitting on the floor quietly with a treat a few feet away from you. See if she takes it. Tell her quietly shes a good girl. Then try moving it closer and closer to you until she feels comfortable being by you. It's just a suggestion I don't know if it will work. She's been through hell, and I think it will take some time for her to come around. If she's warming up to your hubby let her do that. If she can find her way to trust one person it might be easier for her to trust more people.

It is good that she likes her kennel and the coffee table cubby... dogs like to have a "safe" haven that they feel safe in. Keep up the good work..... sounds like it won't be long and she will warm up to you. There are some great liver flavor training treats out there... you may want to try something like that, too.
Good-Luck. and keep us posted with your progress!

awww, bless you. Try PMing llcornell, she had little Ella, who lost an eye and was a rescue. It's is quite a touching story with a happy ending.

That is great she is safe with you now. I have no experience but sounds like it will just take time.

Thank you for rescuing this baby. What a great person you are.

Be patient she may have not had a lot of human contact and trust takes time to build.

Ella didnt like us at all in the beginning and she came around very quickly however we have another rescue Daisy who also was abused and she is taking quite a bit longer. Just dont push it. Its best to ignore them and let them come to you.

Also have you tried moist food? Her teeth might be bad?

Feel free to PM me with any questions but there are alot of people here with more experience than I. I will PM some that helped me to reply also.

hello, i just want to wish you good luck with your baby.

i think it will take some time for the doggie to come out of her shell.

and just want to say that dont give too much cheese, might give her the runs. but otherwise i think you can let her have treats and whatever she likes like the others suggested.

good luck to you and your new baby.

(it's so funny you called your puppies yorkshire terrorists! lol)

:) I just sent you a PM. Glad to have you hear and we will be more than willing to help you through getting her adjusted to her new home and life.

KristiJoTexan I just sent you a pm~:rolleyes:

I adopted a 7 yr old 5lb female yorkie from a backyard breeder and one of the very first thing I did was to get her to a vet. My yorkie also had rotten teeth and was in a lot of pain. She had been neglected and her hair and teeth were just horrible. I did that the first few days after getting her.

Once I knew she was okay physically, I than began to work on her emotionally.. Other than her teeth (only 4 teeth left) and worms, she was in suprisingly good shape. I did most of the things every one has already suggested. But make sure you get her to the vet if you haven't already. I knew once she was not in any physical discomfort, it would be much easier to bring her out of shell.
We still have a long way to go. She still will not let anyone pick her but me and she is still suspious of others but she has come a long way.

Good advice here already. A Little over three years ago we adopted an ex mill yorkie. He had been free for about three weeks when we got him. He had no socialization skills at all but that was expected. My two other babies helped alot with him. He would watch them and what they did. I remember just how scared he was when we got him home. He would not let himself fall asleep. He leaned up against the sofa and would try so hard not to sleep. He was just so scared. It's going to take TIME, PATIENCE,and LOVE. I never thought I'd get kisses from him but I do now. It'll work out just fine if you remember those three things. Bless you for adopting her. If I can help in any way you can PM me.:animal-pa

Definitely get the vet care first. Then patience...persistance...and plenty of love. Try to get down to her level and see if she'll come to investigate you...if so, let her explore with sniffing, touching and licking. Talk to her gently just to let her know you're there. I'll hope and pray she comes around...please keep us updated...

Just checking for an update on little Grace. God bless you for rescuing her ... she will come around! :thumbup::thumbup: [I am PMing you.]

What a wonderful thing you have done for this little baby. It is amazing what a little love can do.

You are going to find a lot of support on here!

Where in Texas was the puppy mill?

Good for you for saving this baby. About the food you may want to take some organic chicken broth about a teaspoon put on kibble and add some organic baked chicken and then dillute and put in micro for 20 seconds to soften it up as my demi lost 27 teeth and does not like soft food and loves it this way. I use ice cube tray and poor the broth in it and freeze then put in baggies so not to waste it. I got the organic chicken broth at whole foods.

Bless you for having a good heart to adopt. I hope she will come around soon.

Likewise. Give her time and she will soon understand that everything is going to be just great.:)

there should be more people in this world like you and your family. thank you
for saving this baby... god bless you

Your doing everything you can do and only time, as you already know,
will bring this little one out of her shell. One can only imagine what
she has gone through and what she is feeling now. Still fear, I'm sure.
Bless you and your family for giving this little girl a chance in life.
One day she will trust you and be your forever campanion.
Your special people to help this baby,

I wish I had advice but I just want to say you are her angel and she will come around in due time! How sweet of you to rescue her and give her a good home!

What a wonderful loving family you have. Gracie is now going to have a chance. To just think that everything good that is going to happen to her now will be the first, and all because of you. Be so very patient with this little girl as she no nothing but bad things. You have a very hard job ahead of you here, but the first time she responds positively everything you all have gone through for her will be worth it.