Submitted by the Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor.
Meet Amelia, the incredibly sweet seal-faced pup. Amelia was originally found as a young stray wandering a community college campus in the Grant county area and was transferred to the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor when she was around five months old. She wasn’t in our care long before being adopted to a local family. Unfortunately, it was not a good fit and she was returned to our shelter due to behaviors that were beyond her family’s capability to manage. Aside from difficult behaviors, Amelia’s owner had multiple surgeries and could no longer meet Amelia’s exercise needs.
Upon returning, we noticed Amelia had developed some new behaviors. She was fearful and became reactive to specific triggers but gave clear warnings when uncomfortable. It is very important that dogs are able to give warnings, like a growl, because it is their way of avoiding conflict. If we don’t listen to them when they ask us to, things can escalate due to their boundaries not being respected. We heard what Amelia was saying and immediately began trust and confidence building.
We do not currently have a behavior program at APS-FH, but have made efforts to find one with room to take Amelia. However, with rescues, shelters and sanctuaries full across the nation, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find placement for dogs who need behavior programs. We knew we needed to do more for Amelia and help her chances of adoption. We began working with her and established a routine to help her improve and learn coping skills for her fears and the stresses that come with shelter life. Her daily routine has greatly helped Amelia and she has made incredible progress. She is being trained with one-on-one and thrives with a science-based food and toy reward system. Amelia does best when she knows what to expect and is in an environment that is calm and quiet.
Despite all her continued progress with training and eagerness to learn, Amelia is having a hard time dealing with shelter life, and her morale in her kennel is heartbreaking. It has been over a year since she was returned and she is starting to regress. Getting her back into her kennel has become a constant challenge; she doesn’t want treats, she refuses to move, she doesn’t want to be there. Once again, Amelia is telling us something; she’s telling us she is unhappy. She is done with the brick and mortar walls. This is a cry for help. It is so sad because in so many ways, Amelia shines and is full of life. She loves to train, she loves to play, run and be with all her doggie friends. She loves her nose work and sniffaris and basking in the sun, but most of all, Amelia loves her people. She just wants to be with them, to lean into them and feel their love for her in return.
Amelia deserves all that love and more, so we are reaching out to the community and asking if there is anyone who can help this sweet soul. We are desperately seeking an adopter or a foster who has experience with fearful dogs and will continue with her force-free training. APS-FH is offering support and a scholarship with a certified trainer to help her transition into a new home. In order for her to be successful in a home, it is important for her to go slow, adjust to all the new changes and decompress from her long shelter stay.
If you are interested in helping Amelia with a new lease on life, please contact the shelter or visit our website for a Canine Foster or Adoption Application.
