Freedom

Columbus OH 43212

??????? Freedom is a petite 3-year-old black and rust Dobergirl that came to us last July with a broken femur. Orthopedic surgeons were able to repair her leg with a plate and screws, avoiding amputation. To see her run now, you would never know she had a broken leg. She is a puppy mill momma with socialization issues, so she has been in foster care while she learned to trust humans. As with many puppy mill dogs, you have to be patient and let them move at their own pace. Progress has been slow, but she has gone from freezing every time a human wants to touch her to now coming up and nudging you for a pet. Once she feels comfortable with you, she will curl up beside you and cuddle. She has good house manners and is too short to counter surf, but she will steal a piece of paper or nab the water bowl towel once in a while. She loves toys that squeak or crinkle, though at some point they will meet their demise and be left to die in a pile on the floor. Leash walking was a completely different challenge. After nine patient months post-recovery of letting her drag a leash around, then getting her to walk with the leash connected to a human - if only for a few steps - she has finally joined the daily dog walks with her foster siblings. Now she wonders why she stood in the yard barking while the other dogs enjoyed sniffing out the critters that had been in their field. Even her walking style has improved so rather than running to the end of her leash, turning in circles, then sitting and refusing to stand up again, it is a more enjoyable activity. Freedom still has some challenges ahead, but they were dependent on getting her to walk on leash. The solution to relocating her where she needs to be when she refuses to budge, has been to carry her. Fortunately, she is petite, but it's not a good long-term solution, as not everyone can lug around 50+ pounds. Activities such as going out the front door, where cars aren't far enough away, getting in the car for a ride or going down a flight of stairs are on her foster's list of things to be accomplished. She has gained a lot of confidence from her dog siblings, so she will do best in a home with a confident dog rather than as an only dog. Men are still not her favorite humans, and though she is doing better with her foster Dad, she will be more comfortable in a home where a female is the primary care giver. If yours is a home with children and lots of people coming and going, in a busy neighborhood, or you like to put your dog in a lot of social situations, she is NOT a good dog for you. She is very sweet, with a lot of sass and personality, but it has taken a lot of time, love and patience to get her where she is today. She just needs a home where she can continue to thrive. Please note, we are accepting applications in most of Ohio, southeastern Michigan, southeastern Indiana and western Pennsylvania. Interested in Freedom? Visit HMDD.org to fill out your application today. If you are already approved with us, email us at [email protected].