In February or March, a homeless dog came to live with me. She was abused, and hungry, and surely near death, and was smelly, and overhairy, and had her nails growing into her pads, and it was just awful.

I've mentioned her in passing (maybe?), but never posted pictures b/c I thought we were going to give her away after we nursed her back to health.

For the first 3 days, she slept in her cage, would eat, and wouldn't play with the other dogs. She stared at us dumbly if we said the word "treat". She didn't know what the word meant, although the other two dogs scramble and gambol madly when that word is uttered.

We had her groomed, bathed, clipped, and defumigated, with the idea of getting her to a chow rescue mission/shelter.

However, she has become a part of the family, the other dogs love her, and she plays now. She "dances" on her paws when we say "treat," she shoves her head into your knees when she wants to be petted. She never barks, unless the other dogs are playign with her. When she wants to "talk" to us, she gives long chuffs of air through her mouth, with a little bit of grunting.

I've been told that chows are among the most vicious dogs bred, but this sweetheart is full-blood, and she is so gentle and sweet. Then again, she was abused horribly, so that plays into her demeanor.

So...( Here's MistyCollapse )