Dynamic Dog Training Services

                                                                                                                A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

                    Well Penny, My birthday is on October 24th. On October 25th I had an appointment to meet a friend/co-rescue at a local shelter because I was given permission from my hometown’s Wonderful animal control officer (Jeff) to pull one dog that was going to be euthanized (due to no more room at the inn). I was going to transfer the dog to my town’s shelter, obedience train and then eventually our shelter would adopt out the dog because we did not have a lot of dogs at that time. This is called a shelter-to-shelter transfer.

I was thrilled because the breed of dog I had intended on pulling was a pit bull and most shelters will not transfer in pit bulls because they are extremely hard to adopt out. This ties up a kennel for quite a long time.

I have been doing rescue for many years and I specialize in obedience training “Shelter pit bulls” So I was on a mission to help out a pit bull in our state!

I walked into the shelter and immediately set my eyes on (Penny)

I met the other dogs and we took them outside to play.

But I could not stop thinking about Penny. She did not have a name at that time but her beautiful reddish fawn fur made me think of a shinny penny. She also has the most beautiful bluish tint around her muzzle and her ears. I am told she is a blue fawn dog. She is strikingly beautiful.
Hence she was named Penny Rose.

I kept watching Penny look at us through her kennel. She seemed to be saying "Hey what about me"?? She also kept jumping up on her cage and barking quietly to get my attention.

I asked my friend about the status of Penny and she said she was on the list to be euthanized the following day.

I asked if I could take her out.

She said she was not sure of her temperament; she really seemed to dislike men for some reason.
You see, Penny came from a real bad section of the state and I don't even want to imagine what she has endured in her short life. I am gathering Penny may have been highly abused from a male figure.

Penny never knew what being loved felt like.

Anyway, we took her out. She was great with me and seemed to zone in on me like I was her lifeline.

I ended up becoming her life line because while myself and my friend were outside with Penny, the Animal Control Officer came in and told my friend that she needed to get Penny out of the shelter if she was going to save her because Penny was first in line the following day to be put to sleep due to a shortage of space at the shelter.

I then decided that I wanted to save Penny Rose.
The next thing you know, Penny was in my car driving back to my town's animal shelter.

Well, my first issue with Penny is when we stopped at my husband Harry's work place to say hello, Penny seemed to be frightened and barked and then backed up and then barked again.
My husband was trying to make friends with Penny but it was way too much to soon.
I asked to just stop walking towards us and stand still. He did and Penny found her comfort zone.
I did not push Penny.

We left and went to a local park to just chill.
Our next stop The Bagel Factory for lox cream cheese and an asiago bagel.
Oh how delicious! Penny has expensive taste!! But boy did she savor every bite.
I felt so bad for her that I gave her mine. I left hungry but content.
Next stop, her new shelter.
When Penny saw Jeff, she again did the exact same behavior as she had done earlier with Harry.
Once again, we choose to not push her.
I prepared her cage with bedding and fresh food and water and put her into her new home.

She barked and wanted to come out but I ignored her giving her time to settle in.

Penny was immediately entered in our West Warwick Shelter Dog Behavioral Enhancement program that I run.

This program is extremely important in helping make sure the resident shelter animals are provided with the proper mental and physical stimulation to fit their needs along with fine-tuning their behavior to facilitate successful adoption. The shelter staff works on training shelter dogs to become good citizens. These are simple but extremely useful commands that will greatly increase the dog’s odds of being considered highly adoptable. We focus on Dog Manners 101 course: This course entails obedience instructions on: leash training, no jumping, sit, stay and getting your dog to behave in public places.

Every day, Jeff the head Animal Control Officer was wonderful with her. He would walk by her cage and throw treats to her. He would give her bites of his lunch and talk ever so kindly to her. He also always spoke friendly to her and was ever so patient with Penny Rose.

Jeff gave it his all and I truly believe that Penny has come out of her shell in the shelter because of Jeff. In all the years I have been doing rescue and training, I have to say I have never seen such a wonderful and kindhearted Animal Control Officer such as Jeff from the West Warwick Animal Shelter in Rhode Island.
He is one of a kind and truly cares about each and every animal in the shelter.

Now, Penny will take food right from his hand.
She is learning to trust men and gaining her trust shall be a long process but we know Penny will overcome her fears!

My husband Harry has been remarkable with Penny too. We go see him at his place of employment while out on our day trips and the other day, Penny ate donuts from his hand and also gave my husband her paw.
I know this does not sound like much but believe me Penny is making great strides!

Susan, & Penny Parker