Furry_Friends
Mama Doe
Buster is a 3 year old American Bulldog looking for a home.
He was found straying and 3 police officers felt if necessary to chase him around with pole catchers to contain him. This was not necessary.
In the pound he was very frightened and spent the whole time curled up in his bed and was very fearful.
We offered on him the day before he was due to be put to sleep as other rescues had no space to take him.
Buster has got a beautiful nature, but regardless of that he has had many moves in a short amount of time.
He started off as a family pet and was there for 3 years. he became unwanted when the family no longer had time for him anymore. He was advertised on the free ads and someone came along and took him. Within a week he had been returned to his original home but had dropped all his weight and was very skinny. He went back on the free ads and someone else came along, but the owner told the person that if he could not keep him, then she could not take him back. About a week later he was dumped by this person and the police were called to catch him. By this stage he was incredibly scared and cowered in front of people.
The original owner was then advised that he was in the pound with only 7 days to live and made the decision to leave him there.
Buster has two problems.
Firstly he has to have a diet of a certain type of dry food only. Here he has managed to eat Royal Canine, James Wellbeloved and Burns. Any other sort of food makes him sick. He cannot stomach any sort of wet food or fresh meat.
For treats he can eat the James Wellbeloved Crackerjacks.
His second problem is separation anxiety. When he first arrived he found it very difficult to be left on his own. This problem has stemmed from his various moves in such a short amount of time (highlighted above). It is very clear that Buster has had severe beatings for this problem from one or more of the homes he was in. This is something that cannot happen again and if you are not experienced and confident with dogs who have separation anxiety, please do not apply to adopt. He is managing to sleep downstairs here all night without a peep and can manage about 20 minutes during the day being alone.
We know that he has been beaten up for doing this as the first day he was here, he was barking and as I walked in the room he threw himself onto his back, started whimpering pitifully and was desperately offering me his paw to appease me. I would never raise a hand to any animal, but he was petrified as soon as the door opened.
This would need to be worked on with great patience and lengthen the times slowly and with as little stress as possible.
When he first arrived he felt the need to be leaning on us or having some sort of physical contact with us at all times. We have discouraged that so that he has some distance from us all and only gets hugs on our terms. This will help him build confidence away from his handler.
By smacking, punching or kicking a dog with separation anxiety you instill fear and that means stress. They associate being on their own with stress and it makes the problem worse and worse.
The way we deal with it is to walk into the room and straight past them even though they will be going frantic to say hello. Over time they associate people walking into the room as exciting as being in the room on their own - it isn't exciting at all!
Therefore we are looking for someone who will at home for the majority of the day and who is able to work with this boy over time.
Buster is extremely sociable with dogs of all sizes and both males and females. He is not a fighter in any way and is actually a bit slow in understanding when dogs are trying to tell him to back off. He looks at all of them as great friends and a snarl is a smile to him and makes him love them all the more!
Buster has no aggression with people in any way and can and has lived with young children without any issues.
Buster has a lovely recall and he meets other dogs out on walks with beautiful manners.
He is not aggressive with cats or small animals, but is very clumsy and may hurt them unintentionally. Therefore he needs a home without cats/small animals.
Buster has been castrated, vaccinated and microchipped.
A homecheck will be carried out and a minimum adoption fee of £150 applies.
Furry Friends Animal Rescue (Surrey)
Tel: 02084071080/07973569371
Email: Adrs@aol.com
Website: Furryfriendsrescue.co.uk
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I really hope you can find poor Buster the very special home he needs.
