Well, exactly one week after he arrived, on Friday afternoon, Sunny came out of hiding. Alayne walked into the dog room and found him lying on a bed in the sun. He looked at her, got a worried look on his face, glanced nervously over at his crate as if he was going to make a run for it ... but stayed on the bed. Alayne didn't approach him but went about cleaning and tidying things up in the room. Holly, Cap and Bugsy were all swirling about her.
And then, as if he was taking his cue from the other dogs -- which he was, in fact -- he got up and walked towards her. Tentatively, shyly, but nevertheless wiggling his little tail. She bent down to love him up.
That was that.
He's been out ever since. By Saturday afternoon he'd made it down the hallway to the living room. That's when I took these photos. He's a cute fellow, not as chunky as he first appeared when hunched in his crate all the time.
He's definitely more comfortable with Alayne than me, but all I have to do to get him to come to me is get down on the floor with a couple of other dogs and start making all over them. He can't stand it, and heads on over for his own share.
At one point on Saturday, Alayne even saw him happily rolling around on his back in the sun in the dog room. (That solarium is wonderful on sunny winter days!)
Here he is meeting Wilbur, with Holly behind them:
(Looks like someone's diaper has slipped down.)
We joke to Holly that Sunny looks like her long lost son she left behind in Shreveport. She's not amused.
Here's the problem with his leg -- the lower part is bent, as if there's no ankle, and the foot is split in two sections:
Another view, showing how that long singular section folds under the rest of the foot:
When he does try to use that leg, he ends up walking on the edge of the turned over foot. Much of the time he is hopping around, holding the leg up in the air. When he tries to walk on it, he kind of throws the foot down on the ground. It's a very awkward gait. It looks like a cross between a hop and a shuffle.
I'll take Sunny to see our surgeon, Dr. Kurt Schulz, and our internist, Dr. Marielle Goossens, for an evaluation. I'll wait until Sunny's a bit more comfortable with his new world, though -- we don't want to overwhelm him. He's still not too sure of things, and doesn't have any confidence ... despite his venturing out, we'd still describe him as fearful. But what a change from a week earlier!
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2014 Shelter Challenge Underway
The first round of the Shelter Challenge for 2014 is underway and runs until March 30th. You can vote every day here. To search for us, type in our name, Rolling Dog Farm, and Lancaster, NH 03584. We've won thousands of dollars in the previous contests, so your daily votes do bring in serious money for our disabled animals!
Please note that I cannot help with technical or voting problems. I also do not have an "inside track" to anyone at the Shelter Challenge, and I don't know any more about the contest than anyone else does. So if you find yourself having issues, please consult their FAQ page here and their Rules page, which is a pop-up you can find linked on this page.
Thanks for your votes!
So happy right now! I've been so worried about him and have forgotten to check the blog. I knew he would come around, but wasn't sure when he would. Thank you for being patient with him!
Posted by: Holli | April 08, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Hurray! I got teary eyed when I opened the blog and saw Sunny standing there! So happy he is warming up to you all. Its going to be a much happier life for this boy!
Posted by: Kate & Luke | March 16, 2014 at 09:45 PM
The best teachers for dogs really are other dogs sometimes. Hopefully he'll continue to come out of his shell.
(Breedwise, maybe a pug mix of some type? Whatever he is, it's CUTE!)
Posted by: Rebecca | March 13, 2014 at 05:55 PM
AND HE'S A CUTIE DESPITE A SOMEWHAT CLUB FOOT.
Posted by: FELICIA | March 12, 2014 at 10:08 AM
Oh, I'm SO glad Sunny is warming up to you guys! You have such a way of bringing those little damaged souls out of their shells. Looking forward to following his progress in the days & weeks to come! :-)
Posted by: Cassie Betz | March 12, 2014 at 01:03 AM
WONDERFUL...WONDERFUL...WONDERFUL
!!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | March 12, 2014 at 12:47 AM
The difference in his little face between the first picture and today's picture is like night and day.
Posted by: Nancy Yarmac | March 11, 2014 at 09:01 PM
What an amazing twist to this story...glad the little guy felt comfortable to venture out a bit. This will be a great story to watch unfold I'm sure. Thanks for sharing. Made my day yesterday...
Posted by: Lisa | March 11, 2014 at 04:50 PM
So very heartwarming! There you go, making my eyes leak again!
Posted by: Leila - Allyn, WA | March 11, 2014 at 02:09 PM
WELCOME HOME SUNNY WELCOME HOME
I told you it was a safe place
Posted by: Eric | March 11, 2014 at 01:36 PM
Sunny Indeed! That's great news, and sure to get better!
Posted by: Linda | March 11, 2014 at 01:04 PM
So wonderful to hear this! Made me smile!
Posted by: Dawn | March 11, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Hurray!!! Sunny knows a good deal when he sees it:-)
Posted by: Colleen V | March 11, 2014 at 10:20 AM
He will be in your bed in no time! lol
Posted by: Gayle | March 11, 2014 at 09:09 AM
A big serving of happiness all around! Yay!!!! And only a week to offset that beginning. Love makes miracles an everyday thing.
Posted by: Connie | March 11, 2014 at 07:26 AM
Love conquers all. Sunny decided he wanted his fair share. So glad the little guy is out and about.
Posted by: Peggy S. | March 11, 2014 at 06:49 AM
That is an outstanding improvement. Nothing like a little time, kindness and peer pressure.
Posted by: Ev | March 11, 2014 at 02:36 AM
I *knew* it wouldn't be long before Sunny would come out from hiding! One day at a time...this handsome guy will be part of the pack in no time!
Posted by: Ann | March 11, 2014 at 12:00 AM
What wonderful, wonderful news! With all that love in your home and all those new friends to meet & enjoy, it was just simply a matter of time before Sunny walked out into his new life.
Posted by: Kathy Hertzel | March 10, 2014 at 07:35 PM
He looks so much happier this week. I knew he'd come out of his shell pretty fast, especially with all the other dogs to show him how good life is at his new home. He does bear a striking resemblance to Holly. I think there's something she's not telling you....
Posted by: Tonya Allen | March 10, 2014 at 06:48 PM
Hot diggity dog, it moves and it has a tail that wiggles! That made me teary. Welcome to the Farm and a whole lotta love little dude!
Posted by: Miranda | March 10, 2014 at 04:48 PM
Nothing is better than RDF Magic!
Posted by: Mary H. | March 10, 2014 at 03:34 PM
Just proves that you can't rush things..... welcome, Sunny! You are at a really good place! Time for another roll in the sun!
Posted by: Penny | March 10, 2014 at 03:20 PM
Oh!!! So wonderful, and I'd even say magical, but KNOW it's your patience and kindness that wins every time.
Congratulations yet again! It will be so wonderful to learn Sunny's true self :)
Posted by: Margaret | March 10, 2014 at 12:14 PM
Great news. Hopefully, thanks to your patience he will become even more confident. Sunny does look like Holly. Welcome home, Sunny.
Posted by: Mary Ann | March 10, 2014 at 11:03 AM
Fantastic!!!
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmt | March 10, 2014 at 11:02 AM