The Diary of Rosebud

Rosebud is what I thought of when I was looking him over with his delicate little blush colored nose and pink lips.  He was pulled from a shelter this week and I'm concerned about him and his ability to move into a pet home. He is not an adoptable dog - not now anyway.  He seems shy, too shy, too un-socialized.  It's sad, really sad to see this dog and see his general distrust of people.  I've unfortunately seen this before in other dogs that haven't made it.  There is a little bit of hope that he can come around and adjust and learn to actually like people.  I just don't know. He's a mature dog that came from a cruelty investigation. Living on a chain his whole life and probably has met very few people outside of a neglectful and potentially abusive owner.  He is easy to handle, doesn't offer any aggression. Allows himself to be manipulated and evaluated but it is clear he does not enjoy it and would like the touching to stop.   He accepted his first bath, grooming, vet inspection and even allowed me to give him a dental today to clean the tartar from his teeth.  He has a long time to go before he can be considered adoptable and I wonder if he can make it to be a pet.  Everything is new, leashes, cars, crates, bowls, stairs, doorways everything is a new and painful experience to him.  He seems to struggle with the basic concepts.  Only time can tell if he will improve.  A sneeze during his meal sent him reeling about three feet before he recovered.  He would still rather not eat unless I am several feet away from his bowl.

I don't know what will become of him and how I can reconcile this if he doesn't make it. I know that I can't put down another unstable dog.  Kiki broke my heart and I just can't bring myself to take part in it again.  I would rather walk away than do it again but this time the choice is not up to me. He is here now for better or for worse and how we will manage is something I don't yet know.