Lily's story... for NoahFL

quote="NoahFL"]Rachael - This might need a new thread, but as I've said, Lily is one of my favorite Chi's on the board and I may have missed it, but could you tell the story of when you got her? I really admire everything you do for her and it's obvious she's so grateful for it too.[/quote]

Well, everybody here knows how much I hate to talk about Lily but I’ll make an exception for you. :wink:

Lily came from a puppy mill in Missouri to a foster mom in Massachusetts. I don’t know the details of that cross country move but I will be eternally grateful that it happened. I was told she was born in 2000 but every vet who’s examined her has suggested she might be older. There’s no way to know for sure so I go with the 2000 date (like puppy mills would ever keep accurate records, right?). I also have no way of knowing how many litters she was forced to produce or what kind of conditions she endured but I don’t let myself think too much about it. I think it would break my heart if I knew the truth.

Anyway, when I adopted Lily she was scared of everything, every noise, every sight, every person. At first, if I tried to pet her she would flinch and even bolt. For months I would say, “Lily, can I pet you?” before reaching for her. That let her know what to expect so it wouldn’t catch her off guard. I also had to let her see me put one hand behind my back because she couldn’t tolerate having both hands reach for her at once. But once I started petting her, I could tell she loved it. She just soaked up the affection like nothing I’ve ever seen. She loved to be loved and she so wanted to trust.

For about 5 months I left her home alone because I had no other choice. I was looking for a daycare situation but I couldn’t find one outside of Boston. I finally came across one in a nearby town and I was praying it would work out. The first day I left her there I cried all the way to work. I knew it was the best thing for her but I thought she’d feel abandoned. Every night when I’d pick her up she’d cling to me and hide her face in my neck. I was so afraid she hated the place I was forcing her to spend her days. I talked to the daycare owner and she assured me Lily was doing fine. She was still very shy and would spend entire days just watching the other dogs play, never joining in. I don’t think she knew how to play, which is perhaps the saddest thing of all.

Eventually, either she learned by watching or else some nearly lost instinct kicked in and she started to play with the other dogs. Every day the daycare people would relate some new detail to me. “She wagged her tail today” or “She sniffed Buddy’s butt today” or some other perfectly normal canine behavior, but unheard of for Lily. Everyone fell in love with her and the kids who work at the daycare would fight over whose turn it was to carry her around in their sweater or jacket on chilly days. Daycare is her second home and I’m so happy that she has so many 4-legged and 2-legged friends.

Lily still has her share of fears - mostly certain kinds of noises - but she is the most loving and affectionate dog I’ve ever known. And now when I hold out both hands she turns her back, but only to make it easier for me to pick her up. No more fear of hands. How lucky I am to have such a sweet girl in my life.