Happy Christmas everyone! I finally got some real pictures of Nova I wanted to share. She is doing really good all things considered. She learned to put a paw on my leg to get a treat, and although she is still pretty fast about it she will come take a treat from me. If it is something of high value I make her touch me for it. My husband, being the amazing person he is, has been coming downstairs at about 5am to change her pee pad and also curls up in her pen to sleep for a few hours. It does seem to be helping her get used to us because it is very low stress, she can sleep in her crate attached to the pen or if she gets brave can come out and sniff him. I can pet her butt if everything is calm and we are sitting on the couch but still no real contact is being allowed. She is very social with the other dogs though, obviously she is much more comfortable with them than with us.

Here they are enjoying the "chihuahua palace" I made. It is her safe place and where she spends 90% of her time. I leave the door open to the pen more and more and she appreciates the freedom to a point.


She really loves a crinkly martha stewart brand toy that was in her Christmas stocking and is cuddling with it in this picture. It is strange cause it crinkles loud and you would think she would be afraid of it (she is petrified of squeakers in toys) but she loves it. There is really no way of telling what is going to cause her to freak out and what she will love. hubbie thinks that if she was getting food from trash she would be used to playing with crinkly things and that's why she likes it, that very well could be the case


Here she is taking a chew that came in her stocking from me-


And cuddling with Kerrigan-


Sometimes I look at her and just want to cry, she is still so scared! But then I see her all cuddled up on the couch and I am just so happy she is finally on the road to a happy life. We are working at things very carefully and taking it very slowly but so far she is on track to being a normal dog one of these days.

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I am not sure of the history here but our border collie Green was terrified of everything when we rescued him. He would not even eat and had to be.carried outside to go to the bathroom. Patience and love were what he needed most. It took a lot of work but he has come so far. He still does not like to leave our yard and that makes me sad for him sometimes but he is happy in our home and in our yard. After three years we still can't get him in the car but we continue to work on that. He is a wonderful boy and I am so happy he is my boy. Your little one will come along also. It sounds like you are doing everything right. If you ever need someone to chat with I am a message away.


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Thank you for the encouragement, it is a long road rehabbing a dog like her and I may take you up on that chatting! And yes, she was completely feral, as far as we know she didn't ever live inside before and has never had contact with people like a house pet would. We foster troubled dogs so this is not our first rodeo so to speak, but she is certainly the biggest project we have had, that is why we are keeping her not just fostering. The thing is she does not have the fear response that abused neglected dogs usually have. It is more of a extreme caution that is probably what kept her alive on the streets for so long but is not helping her to become a relaxed and loved pet. On the other hand I think once she adapts she is going to be an extremely smart and sturdy little dog, it is just going to take a lot of time. Years I am sure.

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It is good to her she is responding...every little bit counts....she soon will understand that there is only love for her in your home.....Thank you and your husband for taking her and giving her what she deserves...peace and safety....

She is absolutely beautiful, the pic of her with Kerri is priceless.

Its making me well up to think of her on the streets and fighting to stay alive every day. I'm so glad shes got not just a home, but a forever home. xx

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We are just happy she made her way to our house! If AC had picked her up she would have failed a temperament test for sure and been put down. I am so grateful that the rescue I work with cared enough to contact me about her.
I am glad to. I just can't imagine her living out on the streets, she is so small! When she came to us she was very skinny so she was barely making it, she gave birth to two puppies behind a tire store before we got her and they both died. I can't even imagine what it was like for her to go through that. I can't even think about it, I just start to cry.

Her and Kerri are quite the pair. They really have taken to each other and Kerri is helping her a lot to be brave. I just love that picture of them cuddling.

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Lovely coloring. I'm jealous of your doggie area.

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Annie, I think you are very similar to me in a couple of ways, you worry too
much and you over think things. Look at all of the improvements Nova made,
and how much her behavior already changed. This is a GREAT sign! Sign of
hope. She is getting better very quickly, this is thanks to you & hubby. It
is very impressive how far she's come, all of these tiny little things matter,
they are stepping stones in the right direction. Keep doing what you are
doing, it's obviously working. I bet in a few months you will look back in
disbelief at how far she came. I look at Bella this way, I expected changes
to occur much slower, but man oh man these little ones are so resilient and
strong. There is no guarantee you will end up with the "perfect dog" so to
speak, she's been through a lot in her life and may carry some of it with her
for years to come, but I promise you, she will be imperfectly perfect for you.
Because once you rescue a dog, they know, and they will share a bond with
you that nothing could break. It's a very special feeling that not enough people
get to experience. And it is worth all of the sweat, blood and tears we put in.

Keep up the great work my friend, I can tell by the picture of her sniffing the
treat, she wants to give you a chance, she's just not ready to fully trust yet.

All in good time.

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