Bosco

I went to the Mill Dog Rescue Kennel and asked which dog needed the most help. The lady said Bosco, so off with Bosco I went. He had been at the kennel for approximately 4 months. I put him in a crate for the car ride home but within 1 minute he was screaming to get out. I pulled over and let him out of the crate, and he hung his head out the window the whole way home. Bosco absolutely adores Brody, my black lab. Brody has shown Bosco that humans can be kind. Bosco is approximately 7 years old and was used for breeding. Here are some of the things I experienced during my first few weeks with Bosco.

1-Wouldn’t get off the deck as he had never been on grass
2- Once Bosco did set foot on grass he walked very very slowly as this was very strange for him.
3-The sky was too overwhelming for him (too big of a world) so he hid in a corner on the side of my house
4-Wanted to stay in his crate all the time (I made him get out after about a week)
5- Bosco cowered all the time and I couldn’t get anywhere near him to pick him up (he’s twice as tall as I thought he was since he now stands straight and proud)
6- Hand movements freak him out (still to this day)
7- Bosco would stare at Brody like he is absolutely nuts to let me pet him (Bosco later found out that this petting stuff can be a really nice thing)
8- Didn’t know what a leash was and wouldn’t walk with me on the trail
9- I found numbers tattooed in both of Bosco’s ears

I have no idea what Bosco went through, but I know it was horrific. He has come such a long way. Here are many of the changes that I have seen in Bosco. I can now pick him up, and he makes eye contact now, he begs for treats, eats from my hand, barks, wiggles on his back to scratch and growls, plays with one squeaky toy, and climbs the doggy stairs to retire for the evening in bed. Every morning when Bosco gets up he stretches and does a happy dance for me wiggling his tail like crazy. Most evenings Bosco goes for a walk on the neighborhood trail. I open the front door and he runs to my car and waits for me to open the door for the car ride to the trail head. I open the car door and he jumps in. Bosco never leaves my side and can walk with or without a leash. He’s come so far…..he has a spark and love in his eyes now that wasn’t there before. If he could talk he would say “thank you so much Mill Dog Rescue for what you did for me”. He is truly inspiring…