The Lucy Chronicle

I came home from work one day, my neighbor asked me if I saw the neighbors puppy. I said yes, they are all chihuahuas. My neighbor said 'no, the little black puppy'. I spun around and saw her. She was so incredibly tiny and all black. She was definitely a lab mixed with something. She was very wobbly on her feet, she kinda had a 'what the heck' look on her face. I immediately went over to meet her. I just fell for her so hard right then and there.

I asked the kids at the house about her. I was highly suspicious of her age. She didnt look 2 months at all. They lied and told me she was. I found out the truth after having her almost a year.

The Truth

Lucy was taken away from her mom and littermates at 3 weeks of age. That she even survived is a miracle. Many would die at that age if taken away, it is just too young. Which is why there are laws stating that if you take pups away from the mother or littermates prior to 2 months, you will be heavily fined.

The pups last part of development is the socialization area at 6-8 weeks. They learn to properly play with their litter-mates and to learn how to properly meet and greet other dogs.

Every time she was outside, I would make a point to see her. Play with her. Be with her. I even took her into my house one day when she escaped from their backyard. We played for a few hours.

One day, she escaped the backyard they just left her in. I called for her to come to me. She came running up the hill full blast. I stretched out my arms to pick her up and snuggle with her. When she saw I had my arms stretch out and started to move them towards her, she cowered away from me. I realized, they were abusing her.

The family that took her decided the best way to train her as a puppy was to slap, hit and throw her. And everyone had open season on her. At one time, we counted about 19 people living in that 3 bedroom townhouse. From infant to the mother of the main family in her 40's.

The family was out of control and they were not the most outstanding people either. Basically with the exception of the 3 children under the age of 10, everyone had arrest records. The police would be there daily during the summer and several times during the week when school was in session.

I did everything by law to help her. Animal control said they would not get involved unless she was limping or bleeding. I actually started to plan on dognapping her, get her out of the area. I loved her, I wanted her to be free of that family.

From 3 to 8 weeks she was with them. When the teenager who was considered her 'owner' became pregnant again at age 17, the mom of the family decided to clean house. She had 2 parent Chihuahuas that had a little of 4, and they were breeding again. A pit bull that showed signs of abuse also.

Then my neighbor talked to that mom, said I was thinking of going to the shelter and get a dog, why not just adopt the pup? The mom of the family agreed, I immediately went to the bank and got cash, I wanted the teenager to have no time in thinking it over more. I wanted that teen to see cold hard cash.

Lucy was then mine. Lucy knew I was coming for her, when I picked her up she lead me right back to my house. She finally had her first night of rest in her entire life in my house. Peace at last for Lucy. She slept all through that night and every night for awhile.

First I had a neighbor's daughter look after her. It took her and I two weeks to get Lucy to play with any toy. She was too terrified to do so. Afraid of being hit.

There was also something off about her, I then realized it a few weeks later. She never ever made a noise. Not one noise at all. Finally, 3 weeks later, she did. She yawned and made a little noise while doing it. I was playing with her and smiled and gave her a kiss. As soon as she realized she made a noise, she froze. I had to calm her down and bit and played with her some more. She knew now she was not going to get in trouble for it.

I tried crate training her, that was too traumatic for her. I would have a very very stressed out puppy on my hands. She must have been kept in the crate for hours, or teased, or most likely thrown in the crate.

A month after adopting her, she needed eye surgery for skin that was growing into her eye. I couldnt leave her at home by herself. Afraid she would pull the stitches out after she got her cone of shame off.

I enrolled her in daycamp to be watched over and also she needed to be properly socialized with other dogs.She was snapping at any dog that came near her. It helped tremendously.

They started seeing the behaviors of the abuse first. They came out one day to ask me about Lucy and what our history was as a family. I found out years later, they were wondering if I was the one that abused her.

If someone she didnt know tried to touch her face, she would snap at their hand. She didnt like moving or swinging arms on people she didnt know either. Loud nosies, any type, would scare her. Too many people would over stimulate her, she would be very anxious and nervous, as if waiting for someone to hit her.

She was an independent dog, if one dog tried to be dominate, she would inform him to get away from her. That is her personality and style, I never had a problem with that. She has that right to tell another dog to get off of her. If dogs were getting in a fight at the daycamp, she would run and hide.

For me, if taking her for walks, she would lunged at any car, bike, scooter, runner, jogger passing by. She wanted to stop it, protect herself and me from getting hurt in her mind.

As the first year passed, the aggression became more and more severe.

She was becoming aggressive towards humans. She was having issues with other dogs. I had to be very careful with her and who she was around. I consulted a trainer, I did all the training consistently. But it was to no avail, she had so much anger and rage in her, she couldn't hear me give the commands anymore.'

It was getting out of hand and one night, I almost lost her. She followed a deer into the freezing river one night. I had Cole at the time, he tried to rush down and get her. The water had carried her out into the main river area. She was going down the river, fast. I started to hear her panic cry, one single bark. Cole and I ran as fast as we could to the boat landing area. I started to go into the river, but it was too high. It was up to my hips in 2 steps. I screamed and cried for her. I called for help to no avail. Then I didnt hear her anymore and I couldnt see her. I just started sobbing. Cole was beside himself also. Then we heard a 'shake shake shake' noise. Lucy was standing on top of the boat landing hill!! Apparently by entering the water, she was alerted as to where to swim. I rushed up and grabbed her and ran her to the car. She was shaking uncontrollably.

I called the vet to ask what to do. The vet had me look at her gums, still pink. He said that was a good sign. Warm towels up in the dryer and switch them out when they get wet. Keep drying her off and try warming her up but not too fast. Small offering of food, warmed up, was to be given.

I called my friend and psychic, Noemia. I told her what happened. I said I do not think Im the right person for Lucy. She told me she would call me the next night. We were going to go through some healing with Lucy.

My friend Noemia discovered an emotional healing work which basically removes the emotional blocks connected to the behavior. Noemia called and we went through everything. She had so many blocks from the abuse. All of her behaviors stemmed from the abuse. Blocks like horror, terror, anger, hatred, humiliation, were removed. The next day, we went to the river again. This time when a deer crossed right in front of us, Lucy had no reaction. I couldnt believe it.

We continued this healing on Lucy and started Cole on it. This healed her and stopped the behaviors. I followed through with the training, it was working. My baby girl was free from all that rage and anger.

Then I learned to do healing last year, which I still do for her and my Cole. Because she is constantly subjected to people and dogs, some of the behaviors, very few I should say, have come back time to time.

One thing I have learned, her instincts are right on. The saying "if your dog doesnt like someone, neither should you" absolutely applies to her. She can smell out a person who does not have a good intent towards us. She can sense an aggressive person a mile away.

Remember, you dont hit your dog if you are happy. There was one person at daycamp Lucy never ever liked, I met her one day. I understood immediately, you could tell this person had a very aggressive personality.

Even though she is free from many of the behaviors she once exhibited, I still watch her and her behaviors. I want to make sure everything is in line with her. Every once in awhile she will jump up and give someone a kiss...but I am there to correct her.

This behavioral healing literally save her from a life of aggression. She is now a very happy and healty girl, full of love and silliness. Like it should be.