Almost Home Dogs- Episode 1: Bermuda, the Shy Chihuahua!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to a new feature of our blog!

Every Saturday, our Mama volunteers as a dog handler with Almost Home Foundation, the organization that rescued Trixie from the high-kill shelter where she was about to be euthanized. Every week, we're going to interview one of the special dogs Mama knows, who needs a home. The good thing about Almost Home Foundation is that all of these dogs are safe! They are in foster homes, where they will get trained and practice living with a family. They will never be put to sleep, unless they become so ill that it is the only humane choice... What we mean is, they will never be euthanized just because they don't have homes. They are safe! But they still need loving "forever homes" where they can live for the rest of their lives!

Usually Mama works with one particular dog, a chihuahua named Bermuda who has been with AHF since August. Bermuda, who is almost 4 years old, lives in a great foster home, but she has been having a hard time finding  a forever home... partly because she's so shy! She loves our Mama, and she loves her foster dad, and she loves anyone who spends twenty minutes getting to know her and letting her warm up to them. But she just doesn't feel too safe when strangers try to touch her.

We decided Bermuda will be the first dog to be interviewed in this blog. So, here it goes. Introducing, Bermuda, the shy chihuahua!

TLS(us): So, Bermuda. Our Mama tells us that you're a chihuahua!

B(Bermuda): Yes, thats right, I am!

TLS: Did you know that Lily is one quarter chihuahua also?

B: Yay! Chihuahua power!

TLS: Can you tell us a little bit about your life?

B: I don't remember too much about the first three years of my life. All I really know is, for a while I was a stray dog. I got picked up by the pound. Then I was in a kennel for a while. One day a man named Dino came to get me. He's my foster dad now, and I live with him in a house with two other dogs and one cat. I'm really happy now. I don't really want to remember what happened before I met him. I think maybe someone hurt me. I remember feeling scared and unsafe. I still feel that way a lot, around new people or places.

TLS: When you met Dino, did you run up to him and jump into his lap, the way our Mama said her old dog Chopper did when she adopted her from the shelter?

B: No, not at all. I'm embarrassed to say that I growled and barked at him and even tried to bite him!

TLS: What? Why did you do that?

B: I didn't know him! I didn't want to go anywhere with him! Maybe he was going to hurt me. I didn't know. I'm very small. Growling, barking and biting were the only ways I knew how to try to keep myself safe.

TLS: So you were afraid of Dino when you met him. But are you afraid of him now?

B: No, of course not! I love him! When I see him, I jump up on my hind legs and bark with joy! He picks me up and I lick him all over.  He's the best! I know I won't live with him forever, though. Once I find my real forever home, Dino will be able to take care of another dog who needs a place to stay.

TLS: When you met our Mama, did you try to bite her?

B: No, I don't think I did. Dino gave your Mama my leash and she just sat down and gave me some space for a while. Pretty soon, I knew she was not going to hurt me. I even sat in her lap! It took me about twenty or thirty minutes to warm up to her. And now, she is one of my bestest friends!

TLS: But you sometimes growl and snap at people when they see you at the adoption shows, right?

B: Yes. I am sorry for that. But I am so nervous about new people! They might hurt me! Your Mama has everyone give me a treat when they want to pet me, and that helps a little. But it is still hard for me. I am just not the kind of dog who is excited about being touched by people I don't know.

TLS: We understand. Lily is the same way. What would help you warm up to someone who wanted to adopt you?

B: If they took me for a little walk, and then maybe sat by me and gave me some space and let me warm up to them for a little while, maybe even half an hour. And treats would really help. I am a sucker for treats! If you give me some really special, super-delicious treats, I would warm up to you really fast!

TLS: Do you think you would be a good dog for someone who has little kids?

B: Hmm, maybe not if they are really little. Little kids can be unpredictable. They might pet me too hard, or pull my tail, or try to pick me up when i do not want to be held, or drop me, or poke me. I try to be patient with little kids at the adoption shows, and your Mama is really proud of me for that. But I cannot promise that I would never snap at a little kid! Older kids would be okay, if their parents help me get to know them.

TLS: Some people think chihuahuas are really yappy, high-strung dogs. For instance, Lily here is pretty yappy and high strung sometimes! Are you?

B: No, I am actually pretty mellow. I don't bark much. At home I am laid-back and easy to please... but I can also be playful, when humans are in the mood to play!

TLS: Do you like other dogs? Or cats?

B: Well, I live with two dogs and a cat, and we are friends. Sometimes I growl at other dogs at the adoption shows if they get up in my face too quickly. I think, just like how I would need time to get to know humans, I would need time to get to know other animals. But once I got to know them, things would be fine!

TLS: If you could imagine the perfect home for you, what would it be?

B: I would like to live with someone who is patient and will let me get to know them, someone who is gentle and would never hurt me. I would love it if someone could stay home with me during the day. But if not, I would be okay by myself. I'd like it if they had no small children, but older kids would be okay.The most important thing would be for them to really want me, and love me, and never send me away again.

TLS: One more question. This is awkward, but... are you housetrained?

B: Oh, yes, of course! LOL!

TLS: Sorry, we had to ask. That's all the questions we have for now, Bermuda. Thanks for talking to us! Good luck with finding a home!

B: Thank you!

If you would like to meet Bermuda, or learn more about her, you can call (224) 715-252, or email c22036@email.mot.com

We're going to include this in the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. If you want to participate, just add your blog address at the end, and then start visiting some other bloggers on the list. Make sure you visit the first three bloggers on the list, because they are the hosts! You can also find more details, and the button for the Saturday Blog Hop, on their blogs.

Have a great weekend!