Meet Major

   Major, as in major pain, arrived at the shelter with his brother, Maloney, from the St. Louis Co. AC.  They were red min pin mixes.  Neither were very happy.  As in trying to bite anything that moved.  They were scared and traumatized to the point of being inconsolable.  I put them in the front room since it was quieter and also because if they got loose it the main shelter it wouldn't be pretty. 
   This is my favorite kind of dog to get out of the pound.  I'm not kidding. They are usually just really scared and it doesn't take long for them to come around.  At the pound you usually have to noose them out of the cage with a lead.  They fight, bite, scream and do the alligator spiral.  A few times I haven't been able to get the noose on them and it is either have the AC guys get them with the catch pole or leave them.  I leave when they have to do that.  Dogs hate catch poles.  Sometimes when they get outside with you and realize they aren't going for "that walk" they look around and you can see them realize they are OK. Some even get very happy and ride in your lap home.   Not Major.
   It was really a trick to get their crate cleaned.  Major would charge you as you tried to clean.  Mahoney was a little better and was calming down. Before long I could pick him up.  Not Major.  It took 3 weeks for him to let me touch him.  That was a new record. First it was a little scratch on the head.  At least he wasn't trying to go for my throat when I cleaned his cage.  I was beginning to wonder if he would come around.  Slowly but surely he did.  Then I was his new best friend.  He graduated into the main shelter.
   Major didn't like many people.  He liked Leah, me and Barb.  That was about it.  He would try to bite others that came into the shelter.  Especially guys.  And he was fierce about it. When he was alone in the shelter while I cleaned he was very happy.  He loved to be held and became very possessive. 
   What were we going to do with him.  He was at the shelter for at least 5 months.  He failed Petsmart miserably.  I took him up with me one day to adoptions.  That was a mistake.  His brother got adopted-which is another whole story.  When I was going on vacation I asked Barb to take him home so he wouldn't be so awful at the shelter while I was gone.  He loved Barb and she had been thinking about fostering him.  OK, you know I had ulterior motives.
   It was a little iffy at first.  Slowly but surely he got comfortable.  He loved to sleep in the bed under the covers-on his back. What a goof ball.  Then Barb asked if she could keep him.  Hmmm, let me think about this-OK.  Major got his life back.  It's lucky we are patient around here but just goes to show you what a little TLC will do.  Check out the picts.   

Probably smiling? Doubt it.

Super Major