Coal is a 9-month-old black lab with huge feet and soulful eyes. When he came to Animal Care and Control six weeks ago he had been so abused he stayed curled up in a ball. He would not look at anyone, would not walk on a leash and went to the bathroom on himself. He tried to hide under his bed, blanket, bowls, bones, anything he thought he could get under. He was terrified.
When we spoke to him he would cower and put his face in the corner of the kennel. The dog seemed to be in a constant state of fearful shaking. For the first few days he wouldn’t eat or take treats; didn’t even look at them. He was basically non-responsive. And he didn’t want to be touched.
We started out putting treats in his kennel. He’d wait until we left to eat the treats. We watched him sneak over to get them. We’d just sit quietly in the kennel with him so he could get use to us. After a time he’d take a treat from our hand. He still wouldn’t make eye contact.
During the second week I sat in the kennel talking to him, looking straight ahead but watching him out of the corner of my eye. For the first time he was looking at me and he wasn’t shaking and he let me pet him. From that point on things improved quickly. Our trainer got him out of the kennel and walking on a leash. He started to seek attention and even gave us tentative licks. He got play time in the fenced in area with Spuds, the office dog.
Soon he was wagging his tail and jumping up on the gate when he saw us. He loves to play ball and runs himself ragged in the yard. He’s learning to walk on a leash. Saving Coal was a team effort by the staff at Animal Care and Control.
Coal still needed some work to be adopted so when an opening came in the FIDO Shelter Dog Prison Program he went to prison. His inmate handlers are gently working with him and letting him learn to trust again. He’s still afraid of loud noises and shy around crowds of people he doesn’t know but it is getting better every day. He is going to make someone a wonderful companion.
Coal is a special dog who deserves a wonderful life. He will be available for adoption in another month. If you want to meet Coal and consider giving him that home please contact me. His pictures will be on petfinder.com under the Animal Protection League if you want to see this beautiful boy.
We have lots of wonderful animals at Animal Care and Control who need homes. Please come see them. Save a life. Adopt a shelter animal.
Maleah Stringer, director of Anderson Animal Care and Control, is also president of the Animal Protection League. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.
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