Fear is an emotion that almost all animals feel and it’s something that can be both a good thing and a bad thing.
For the most part, it can be useful because it warns us of an impending danger, but it’s bad when we can’t control our response to it.
Some dogs, on the other hand, feel fear to such an extreme level that their only response is to completely freeze in place. This is usually caused by prolonged abuse and neglect, so much so that it creates this response
Even when things look this horrible for a dog and it seems like he will never snap out of it, there is still hope.
This husky looked like a lost cause when she was saved, but an amazing animal rescuer will show just how much we can accomplish if we just try and be there for them.
A Slow And Steady Progress
When Rocky Kanaka, a rescuer from Texas, first found out about this husky, he knew that some people thought she was a ‘lost cause’ and would never recover.
However, he wanted to give her a chance to see that not all humans are bad so that she would overcome this fear.
He started by entering her room in the shelter and he would just sit next to her. Poor husky was so terrified that she immediately just turned away and faced the wall.
Kanaka just sat and talked. He wanted to establish that he was not a threat to her and there was no reason for her to worry.
After he spent some time just talking, he decided to try out something. He brought out a treat and placed it close to her. He knew that she was in no condition to accept it, but he wanted her to smell it.
He left it next to her, but it was clear that she wasn’t going to move, so he took it back. He gave her some pets, but it didn’t really do anything for her at that moment.
Princess’s Background
Kanaka asked Alexis, a staff member at this Californian shelter, about her background. She said that the husky had owners before, but they surrendered her there.
When asked about why they were calling Animal Control to take her to Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar, all they said was that they had ‘hardships’.
They didn’t elaborate much further, so there was still no way to know what happened to her. Alexis did say that her name was Princess, so that was something at least.
Kanaka wanted to try and push this a little further, so he got really close to her and started petting her. He knew it would cause her stress, but it was necessary.
He placed a leash on Princess and tried to help her get up, but she would just not budge. So, he placed a blanket on himself and took her in his arms.
There Is Still A Lot Of Hope
Kanaka would continue talking to her and just petting her in hopes that this would help her relax more. This time, he broke the treat into small pieces and left it next to her.
She finally ate it and Kanaka felt so great. He knew that he accomplished something and was going in the right direction.
In the end, she would eat the entire treat and Kanaka felt that this was probably the first healthy food she ate in days.
He knew this would be helpful because it would give her more energy and that would improve her mood. Kanaka continued petting this dog and just trying to help her relax more in any way he could and it worked.
Now that she somewhat feels safer in the hands of her rescuers, Kanaka asked one of the dog trainers, Glenn Massie, to help work with her.
They are going to go through this step by step and hopefully, Princess will be more relaxed and less fearful by the end of their training.
While we don’t know what happens in this husky’s story next, she is in safe hands with these amazing people and I am confident that they will help her recover and find a forever home soon.