Mommy adopted me when I was only eight weeks old and we adopted LuLu when she was eight weeks old. She was very cute, but very shy. I was so excited to have a new baby sister and I wanted to play with her, but when I got close to LuLu she would run and hide. She was afraid of me and she was afraid of Mommy. I didn't understand. I never thought Mommy and I were scary people. I tried to talk to LuLu to tell her she didn't have to be afraid but she wouldn't stay close enough to hear what I had to say.
Mommy told me she was taking LuLu to the doctor for a new puppy check. When they came home, LuLu ran and hid under a chair. Mommy sat on the sofa and called me over to her. "Ethel Frances, come here Honey so I can talk to you." Mommy looked sad. "Uh oh, I said to myself, "I hope I didn't do something to make Mommy look so sad."
I went over to Mommy and she gave me a big hug. "Ethel Frances, the doctor said LuLu is very healthy. which was very good news but then he said that LuLu has a sad story. She was taken away from her dog mommy when she was only two weeks old. Taking a puppy from its mother so young doesn't give the puppy a chance to learn how to do things on its own. The doctor continued with the examination. He looked in her eyes and ears and when he looked in her mouth he said, "Oh my gosh! Now I know why poor little LuLu is so afraid. Someone knocked some of her bottom teeth out and damaged some other bottom teeth."
Mommy cried when she told me and I cried too. Why would anyone want to hurt a little, tiny puppy? Mommy said, "Ethel Frances, we have to be very patient with LuLu and very gentle. She will let us know when she feels safe. OK, honey? I sure hope you understand me." I can't talk so I wagged my tail and gave Mommy a kiss so she would know I understood.
Sure enough, after a couple of weeks of trying to help LuLu, she ran over to me and asked me to play with her. I was so happy! We ran and ran and wrestled and we even played tug of war with one of Mommy's socks. We were happy but Mommy wasn't until she realized how happy LuLu was. "Girls, I should be mad at you for ruining my sock but I am so happy LuLu is having so much fun! Ethel Frances, you are the perfect big sister for our litte LuLu."
One day Mommy's friend Frid came over. Frid and Mommy have been friends since they were young. She went with Mommy to bring LuLu home from the shelter when we adopted her. Frid held LuLu on her lap and Mommy drove the car. When Frid came over, LuLu ran right over to Frid without hiding at all. Frid sat on the sofa and LuLu tried to get in Frid's lap. Mommy and Frid and I were so happy. We all gathered around LuLu and hugged her and told her we were proud of her.
I didn't understand why LuLu wasn't afraid of Frid. Mommy didn't understand it at first either. All of a sudden, Mommy and I figured it out at the same time. Just as I was thinking, Mommy said my thoughts out loud. "Frid! You went to the shelfter with me to pick up LuLu and you held her in the car all the way home. LuLu remembers that and she remembers you so of course she would love and trust you." I jumped up and ran over to Mommy wagging my tail as fast as I could and I gave Mommy and Frid kisses.
"Ethel Frances, you do understand! You know why LuLu loves and trusts Frid, too. You are a smart and a sensitive girl! I love you and I am very proud of you."
It has been five years since we adopted LuLu and she hasn't made much progress except she doesn't have separation anxiety anymore when Mommy leaves. Separation anxiety means that LuLu thought than when Mommy went out, she would not be coming back. Once when LuLu was a few months old Mommy went to work and decided not to crate LuLu anymore because LuLu was a good girl. Not a good decision. Right after Mommy left, LuLu freaked out. I tried everything I could to get her to calm down. I promised her Mommy would be home later and asked her to please settle down.
Instead of settling down, she tore up -- the carpet! And she shredded the padding underneath. She made me very nervous. "LuLu, please stop! Please! Oh, what will Mommy do and say when she gets home. I promise you she will be home." She didn't stop until she was too tired to tear anything else and she plopped down on what was left of the carpet and went to sleep. I started pacing, wondering what in the world would happen when Mommy came through that door.
When I heard the key in the door, I told LuLu to hide, but she didn't. Mommy came in and LuLu ran to her and gave her a hug. I stood back, waiting for Mommy to see the damage. "Hi, girls! I'm home! Did you miss...oh my gosh! What in the world happened in here? Who did that?" I am happy to report that Mommy knew I would never do anything like that. I only get into food. "LuLu! What happened? Were you afraid I wouln't come back? I will always come back because I love you and I love Ethel Frances and this is our home."
Mommy picked up the phone and called our doctor. He gave Mommy pills for LuLu. Then Mommy had to act like she was leaving when she wan't really leaving. After six months LuLu didn't take the medicine again and now she knows that Mommy will always come home to us, butI think she will always be afraid when she is outside. As long as she is home with her family and sometimes Frid, she is the happiest dog in the world.
Please share LuLu's story. Maybe it will help save another puppy from being hurt. We really thought that LuLu would grow up and forget about her life before we adopted her. She never did. Actually, we all think about it every time we see LuLu get scared -- every single day.
