Learning to Trust Again

by Syd Sullins

One of the moments I find most fulfilling at The Ranch is when we have a dog that we fear might be broken, that might not be a candidate for adoption, and then we work our magic and see that dog's true spirit. It’s happened often, but most recently it was with our Manuela.

In September, we had agreed to take in three small terriers that had been abandoned. I wasn’t at The Ranch the day they arrived, but the next day when I walked through, I went to there run and asked “where’s the third dog?” Jen, our Operations Manager pointed her out. She was at the very back of the run, huddling near the fence, obviously terrified. I went in to greet her and she promptly ran away from me. Whenever I managed to get near her, I was rewarded with a growl and a snap.

So The Ranch volunteers focused on the two friendly dogs in her run. We spent time with them each day and let them crawl on us and lick us and sit on our laps. And we pretty much allowed Manuela to be. But slowly and sure, Manuela would come to the front of the run to greet us. When we entered the run, she’d make a quick retreat - but this was progress.

The past few weeks Manuela has stayed in the front and we progressed from quick pats to loving caresses. Before I knew it I’d find little Manuela in my lap with the two other happy terriers. Obviously Manuela was mistreated in her past, but she learned how to trust again. Now she’s ready to be a loving companion. She weighs around ten pounds and is about two- to three-years old. We just know her perfect person is out there!