This article is an excerpt from a book Time magazine did in 2018 - How Dogs Think-Inside The Canine Mind. At that time they spoke to Ethan Gurney who was a dog handler and veterinary technician with Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit working to end the killing of dogs and cats in our United States shelters by 2025. I, myself, have volunteered for Best Friends and have been following them since my advocacy for animals started in 2009. Along with the Bullhead Animal Resource Center (B.A.R.C. formerly known as the BHC animal shelter), Positive Paws BHC and others have joined the Best Friends Network partners. Together we are finding ways to change and save lives. Always learning.
What are the most common types of dogs you see? Strays? Fighting dogs?
The dogs that come to Best Friends come from all sorts of situations. We get dogs who need more help before they are ready to be adopted, whether it is behavioral issues or medical issues. If they don’t get adopted, they have a home for life at Best Friends.
What are the first steps in drawing out a traumatized dog?
Go slow and take cues from what the dog’s behavior is telling you. Do they let us touch them, or do we just need to just sit with them and talk to them? In some cases, we know exactly how they were traumatized. But sometimes, while we can clearly see their shut down or offering to bite because they appear frightened, we may not actually know what caused the trauma. They don’t come with a file full of records.
Once you’ve earned the dog’s trust, what comes next? How long does an entire rehab protocol take?
After they are used to us, we start gradually introducing them to real-life situations like riding in the car, learning to walk on a leash and learning to rely on their handler when a stranger approaches. We get them used to going to the vet’s office, to the sound of a doorbell or a vacuum cleaner. All dogs move at their own pace.
Are there any dogs that you can tell are simply beyond being re-socialized? If so, what happens to them?
There are some dogs who never completely get over whatever happened to them. But that in no way means they can’t have quality of life or that they can’t be adopted. We make sure the dogs in our care get plenty of enrichment and long walks, learning new skills, etc. Still, there are a few for whom the best answer is a sanctuary setting. Ultimately you have to think about protecting the dog and protecting people too.
People often think of pit bulls as especially problematic. Is there any breed you do see more than others?
No. We accept dogs of all breeds and mixes. We look to the behavior and personality to better understand them as individuals, and our care plan for each dog is tailored to that particular dog’s needs and challenges. That’s not breed-specific.
My hope is this article has given you some insight on how one of the largest sanctuaries in the country goes about rehabilitating dogs that have been through trauma. If you can, get the book. It is really good reading for those with dogs in their world in any capacity. It’s always good to keep learning about our canine friends. Thank you.
Gail Moscato
Founder
Positive Paws BHC
3-28-24