Monty – a dog without a chance in Cyprus – has found happiness in Germany

In April Minta’s big brother came by plane from Cyprus to Germany. Minta was also a dog without a chance in Cyprus. Minta had found happiness in Germany and so the time had come for Monty to do the same.

Monty was allowed to move into the same foster home as Minta.

Both dogs were born in 2009 in Cyprus. The mother and two other siblings quickly found homes. Only Minta, Monty and another brother had to stay in the shelter. We assumed for the rest of their lives.

 

The dogs were sick (a fur problem) and so-called “shadow dogs”. They were never allowed to experience a social environment or everyday things. Their fear was so great in any new environment that they had to stay at the shelter with no chance of rehoming.

The helpers in the shelters felt all powerless to help find theses dogs a normal home. Of course, the dogs were well taken care of, but knowing that this would be their forever home made them feel sad..

I want to try to explain to you how a dog taken into a foster home may feel.

 

Imagine you would caught a wild animal and tried to tame it. Some people can not believe that our house dogs can react like they do, but just imagine you been kept in a basement by someone for many years.  You would feel very strange when you suddenly found freedom.

Although the dreary everyday life has a first end, you are very happy of living in freedom to be and to discover new things but irgenwann makes the brain no longer crashes and collapses. It was the same with Minta and Monty.

Now ask yourself whether it was a good idea to get the dogs out of there. Even I wonder, but then I see photos and videos that convince me the lives of the dogs have evolved. There is almost nothing left to see of their fear. On the contrary, they are fun-loving dogs that are blossoming in their lives, full of energy and the will to live, full of power.

It is worthwhile to save these dogs to have their own little world!  These dogs will be grateful to you for all of their lives. Maybe now look some with their dogs and know what I mean.

Now the destiny of one special case has been fulfilled and I want to share it with you.

About a month ago I got a message from Minta’s mum and she told me that Minta had met someone!

Minta & Co often go to the same place to walk, but this time it was different …

Minta went to a lady who was sitting there alone in the dunes. She looked thoughtful. Minta ran to the stranger and kissed her and slurped as if she had a mission to fulfill!

The lady was so touched that she started talking to her.

A few months ago her dog died and they had often walked here.

And she was so touched by Minta. Then, after some chat, Monty’s name was mentioned.

Actually, yes the lady was looking a dog but …. “here you have my number!” she told Minta’s mum.

I was given the number and I immediately called so see if this lady was seriously interested in Monty.

In that first week I was sure that Minta had started a chain reaction.

The first meeting was terrific. When the lady got out of the car Monty immediately sat in front of her, wagging his tail and laughing at her.  I was completely knocked off my feet. Monty has never done this before!

At the end of the walk we said goodbye. Monty got to the car door, jumped in, made himself comfortable, head to the back, as if to say: “Let’s go, home and give her a chance to think 🙂

I was stunned and spent days walking through the area. I knew there was more to come …

There were some more walk, the home check, a fraternal reunion and many, many, many conversations.

How quickly should a new dog go to a new home…

For Monty, everything was already in the bag, for us it was only about planning. And of course Monty and his new owner needed time to get ready.

‘I remembered back to the beginning of Monty’s time with me. Monty conquered my sofa in no time. He decided it was a free zone. Everything that a dog does he was doing on my bed and I knew from experience that change had to come slowly and naturally.  I made provision in my living room and transformed it into a film palace!  It takes a lot of work, concentration, patience, endurance, timing, experience and empathy to prepare such dogs for normal, everyday life.

How do you get a dog who is not used to human commands or gestures that he must good and be in his place; where he should eat and drink; how to let you know he needs to go outside  And how will that work if one of evil can not even distinguish good?  Why would the dog know that I only mean to be good to him and teach him? He had spent his young life without people, so he had so much to get used to and learn.

 

Sometimes the magic word is: curiosity. Natural curiosity teaches and strengthens the habits.Sometimes we can use animals of the same species to teach a new one the right way to behave.

 

Initially, it is most important to build trust.  Everything else is absolutely meaningless unless you have trust.

You always have to think a step at a time and to minimize stress when the dog does not understand what you want. You need to practice new things little but often to help the dog understand what you want so that he or she can get it right.

For me it is important that a dog, regardless of whether anxious, aggressive, etc. or not, should be comfortable in everyday situations and poses no threat for society. He gets to know these situations with me (in the context of the time period and what is possible) and therefore you can rely on him. In return he gets my confidence, which also plays a role for dogs. Do you trust your dog he feel this and the dog will test the people of a lifetime.

So the important thing is to build trust. And not just one-sided but for both the dog and the owner.

All this can of course take months. Always expect that sometimes you will get two steps forward and one back.

The moments when he or she decides to get something right (if you let him) are the most beautiful gifts this work with the dogs brings. You will want to run and jump and cry for joy, but the dog teaches you to enjoy this, to appreciate his feelings and feel the moment exactly. This is so great!

The progress steps makes all the annoyance of the backwards steps fade away into the background.

So now maybe you can understand why I started this work. The dogs give you what many people have forgotten:

gratitude, trust, sincerity and they can tell us themselves, without words, how much they like us and will follow us to the end of their lives.

I would like to give these dogs a new start in life.

And Monty is now in his new home. He even lives in the same street as his sister Minta. Isn’t that incredible and heart-warming?

It is always amazing what fate gives out.

Monty and his new mistress are great together. You look at them together and they seem made for each other.

A unit, a team, just like peas and carrots, they go together 🙂

Goodbye, little Montana Mo. I know that you’ll be fine there!

You are doing great;)

Well what will happen to the last brother Magic !? This is what I am always asked.

I can tell you only this: I wanted to get Magic out of the shelter first but unfortunately his disease is bad.

But perhaps that happened for a reason,otherwise I probably would not have had Minta and Monty with me.mLet’s hope that sometime soon Magic is doing so well that he can leave.

Will we see the 3 M’s sometime together? In freedom?

 

Your foster mom Diana