At a shelter situation, dogs (sadly) come in – and then they leave with a new family – much to our delight. But there are always some dogs that arrive in such a poor physical or mental condition that we know that they will be with us for a long time, perhaps permanently.
Kikas was one of these dogs. She had been tied up on a chain in a disused building, completely on her own. Dogs are naturally pack animals, and they do not deal well with loneliness. She had been fed daily, but she was so distressed that she constantly ‘self-harmed’ by growling viciously and then attacking and biting one of her own back legs. She usually continued until she drew blood. All our volunteers sensed that she was not a vicious dog and so she was regularly put on a lead, taken for walks and given cuddles. But her behaviour continued. She was not happy. So it was decided to consult a specialist in Portimão, who diagnosed sciatica. This meant administering medication three times a day.
Kikas showed a significant improvement with the medication, sedatives and calming pills. She then only bit her leg when she got overexcited by visitors or volunteers – and also in anticipation of attention and walks.
In the meantime, I wrote an article in this magazine about our need for foster homes at Cadela Carlota. We often have dogs for whom a foster home is their only chance of experiencing a normal life.
Enter Matt and Gill. An English couple who had always owned dogs – but when the last one died, their business had become so successful that they were constantly travelling and staying in hotels. And they knew that dogs need stability and routine. They read my article, which made them think it might be possible to enjoy the company of a dog again, albeit only in short periods. After all, they usually spent several months in Portugal. A phone call was made, and a visit to the shelter was arranged.
They looked at all our dogs that needed a foster home. Kikas growled when she saw them. They looked at all the dogs for a second time and decided to take Kikas for a walk. She behaved perfectly and turned on her winning smile, as if to say “please take me”. That smile did the trick. It was explained that Cadela Carlota would pay for Kikas’ food and medication during the foster period, so their minds were made up to at least give Kikas a home trial.
Matt and Gill’s previous experience with dogs came into play. Within two days, they discovered that the growling and barking were merely attention-seeking. Basically, Kikas was bored, feared being alone and she craved company. Within two weeks, Kika’s behaviour had completely changed. Matt and Gill watched her constantly and they soon realised that at some point in her life she had lived in a home. She never made a mess, and, with several beds in various parts of the house, she was completely content. She was not alone anymore.
And then another miracle happened. Kikas was not biting herself at all. Cadela Carlota arranged for a visit by the vet who had diagnosed sciatica. He believed Kikas had improved and decided to lower her medication to twice a day. The improvement continued and medication was lowered once more.
Kikas has now been formally adopted by Matt and Gill, who simply adore her. They have made adjustments to their own life so that they can keep her. She has the sweetest personality and is very protective of them both. And guess what? She is no longer on any medication. Love really does conquer all.
Main photo: Matt, Gil and Kikas
