Hope's Journey of Healing and Resilience Continues - Part 4
- Camille
- Mar 13
- 7 min read
Hope’s story has been one of steady progress. In this fourth part of her journey, we'll show how she is getting better each day, overcoming challenges, and building a stronger foundation for her future.
Finding Strength in Small Steps
Healing is seldom an immediate occurrence. For Hope, progress has been achieved through small, consistent steps. Each day, her skin and health show improvement, and she has gradually learned to trust. She has come to trust me and would likely stay by my side all day if possible. She is still in the process of trusting Brian. Indoors, she runs and cowers from him, but outside in the large yard, she allows him to pet and play with her.
Hope met Dodger a couple of nights ago, and the encounter went well. Although he's much smaller than she is, she was initially scared of him. At first, she was completely submissive, allowing Dodger to sniff her, and then Dodger simply walked away, so I don't think we'll have a problem there..
She met Magnum yesterday, and it didn't go well. Magnum joined us as a small puppy, and at that time, we had large dogs who accepted him, and he always respected them and their space. We introduced him to Dodger when Dodger was still a puppy, and Magnum was great with him. However, Magnum has never had to accept another dog his size, and he wasn't pleased to see another big dog. I think he perceived her as a threat, and she saw him as a threat too. So, we kept them both on leashes and took them into the goat field, which is neutral territory for both. Hope remained fairly calm during the introduction, except when Magnum lunged at her; then she would bare her teeth and likely would have defended herself. I had to control Magnum and force him into a submissive position until he relaxed. This took quite a while, with me holding him down, but eventually, he calmed down and stopped challenging Hope, so we walked them back to the house, each on a leash. Magnum was no longer lunging, and we were actually able to walk them fairly close to each other. We will need to introduce them gradually, hoping they can come to respect each other.
Hope has met Dallas a few times, but only through a fence, and they seem to be fine with each other, play bowing and acting like they want to play. We'll give them a chance to play soon; I just didn't want to overwhelm her.
I also introduced Hope to Spirit, our charming three-legged goat, whose unique personality and resilience have made her a beloved member of our little farm. I was eager for him to meet Hope. Alongside Spirit, I also brought out three of our most gentle and shy female goats, each with their own distinct personalities. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of curiosity and caution as these goats are known for their timid nature, especially when encountering new individuals.
As Hope approached, Spirit immediately exhibited a sense of trust that was heartwarming to witness. Despite his physical challenge, Spirit has a remarkable spirit and seems to sense kindness in others. He walked right up to Hope, nose to nose, which encouraged a sense of calm and connection between them. However, the other female goats were not as quick to warm up to Hope. Their instincts kicked in, and they displayed their natural shyness by darting away whenever Hope moved a bit too swiftly for their comfort.
Rather than chasing after them, which could have heightened their anxiety, Hope chose to take a different approach. She instinctively understood the importance of patience in building trust with these timid creatures. In a delightful display of playfulness, she began to bow to them, lowering her upper body in a non-threatening manner. This gesture seemed to leave the female goats in a state of uncertainty, as they paused to observe her movements. They were intrigued yet cautious, unsure of how to respond to this unexpected invitation to engage.
We were only in the goat pen for about 30 minutes and with each passing moment, the air was filled with a sense of hope and possibility, as the shy goats slowly learned that not all movements were threats, and that kindness could take many forms. This interaction not only highlighted the unique personalities of each goat but also showcased Hope's ability to connect with them in a way that fostered a nurturing environment.
Hope continued to take her medication, but she has become quite adept at evading my various attempts to administer her pills. It's been a challenge, as she has learned to spit out the pills from nearly all the methods I've tried. Initially, I resorted to hiding the medication in wet dog food, hoping that the strong aroma and taste would mask the unpleasantness of the pills. However, Hope quickly caught on to this tactic and began to pick out the pills with remarkable precision, leaving them untouched while devouring the rest of her meal.
I tried hiding the medication in hotdogs, thinking it would trick her, but Hope cleverly chewed through and spat out the pills. Peanut butter seemed promising due to its sticky texture and taste, but she licked it off, leaving the pills behind. Cream cheese was another attempt; I spread it on a cracker with the pills hidden, but Hope skillfully separated them, showing her intelligence once more.
I ended up trying a new tactic: wrapping the pills in a handful of melted cheese while it's still soft and pliable. This method worked perfectly, as the tempting aroma of the cheese distracted her enough to forget about the pills. Hope didn't catch on and even looked forward to her gooey cheese ball. This approach marked a breakthrough in her medication routine, and she finally finished her last pills yesterday. I'll keep this trick handy for the future. Although she might miss her melted cheese balls, I'm relieved we're past that stage of her recovery.
Hope's fur is regrowing beautifully, and to my delight, she has even developed eyelashes now, which adds a charming touch to her already expressive face. It's wonderful to see her transformation as her coat becomes thicker and healthier, a clear sign that she is recovering well. When she's in the yard, her joy is palpable; she runs with unrestrained enthusiasm, spins in circles with sheer delight, and rolls around in the grass, thoroughly enjoying the warmth of the sun and the freedom of the open space. Just yesterday, when I called her to come back inside, she completely ignored my calls, fully engrossed in her playtime and clearly not ready to return to the confines of the house just yet. I had to go fetch her, and if dogs had the ability to pout, I'm quite certain that she would have been giving me the most dramatic expression of discontent as I interrupted her fun.
Hope had an appointment with Dr. Wiley today and we were told that she is healing better than expected. Dr Wiley said that Hope's fur should continue to fill in and is feeling optimistic about her progress. Hope received her final vaccinations today and she is now ready for the spaying procedure. This appointment was very important as it not only marks a significant step in her recovery but also represents a milestone in her journey toward a healthier and happier life.
Today, the weather was beautiful, and Hope spent most of the day outside, which she prefers. While she was outside, my sister visited, and Hope was unsure about her at first, staying back a bit. However, within about 10 minutes, she was standing right next to all of us. Although Hope is cautious around new people and situations, she never reacts aggressively or inappropriately, just with avoidance. As I work with her, I hope to help her overcome this.
Based on Hope's distinct personality traits and the condition she was in at the time we rescued her, it is evident that she likely endured a challenging and perhaps even traumatic life prior to her arrival in our care. Her demeanor suggests a history filled with uncertainty and possibly neglect, as she exhibits signs of anxiety and caution that are often indicative of past hardships.
We have observed that she tends to be wary of new environments and can be hesitant to engage with people, which further supports our belief that her previous experiences may not have been positive. It is heartbreaking to consider the circumstances that may have led to her current state, but we are committed to providing her with the love and support she needs to begin healing.
Our primary hope is that, with time and patience, Hope can gradually put her past behind her. We are dedicated to creating a nurturing and secure environment where she can feel safe and begin to trust again. We believe that by offering her consistent care, positive reinforcement, and gentle encouragement, she will slowly come to understand that she is now in a safe place, one where she will not be harmed and where her well-being is a priority.
As she begins to adjust to her new surroundings, we will continue to monitor her progress closely. We are optimistic that with each passing day, she will start to shed the weight of her past and embrace the opportunities for happiness and companionship that lie ahead. Our goal is to help her realize that she is deserving of love and that her future can be filled with joy and stability, far removed from the struggles she once faced.
To read the first 3 chapters of Hope's story CLICK HERE
To donate to Hope's medical costs CLICK HERE
So far we received about $475 in donations that have been applied to the $1,950 total cost of her care, medications and vaccinations. Her spay will be next and we have not gotten a cost yet. I will be researching the options and potential costs next week. The McMinn county animal shelter has a program that we hope we can take advantage of. I'll let you know in my next blog.
Thank you for reading and feel free to subscribe to my website.
Camille
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