Special offer

Animals Can Have Fears Just Like Humans

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY

Animals Can Have Fears Just Like Humans

We got our dog Kyra as a rescue puppy at 10 weeks old. She and 2 of her siblings were abandoned at a feral cat colony in the middle of December of 2008. They were 6 weeks old when they were found by Last Hope Animal Rescue. At that time, the temps were in the teens. They could have frozen to death.

I started to notice how fearful Kyra is. She is scared of traffic noise and public buses. You know the sound the buses make when they stop. It's like a piston noise and that is enough to make her poop on the spot. I had figured out that the feral cat colony is located on a busy street and is a main artery for the public buses. Made sense as to why she is fearful of these two things.

I tried to work with her to help her get over these fears. We live near 2 main roads that has a lot of traffic. Little by little I would expose her to the noise by walking her near one of the roads. Trying to desensitize her. Every day we would get a little closer then when I saw her get fearful, I would turn around and we would walk the other way. At this time, it hasn't worked. She can't get passed a certain point. It's not the end of the world but it would be nice to go on long walks with her. Forcing her would only make it worse. After 1.5 years of working with her daily and nothing is changing, it's safe to say it's just the way she is. The environment she lived in for a few weeks caused her to be this way.

People have fears. People can overcome them with extensive therapy and possibly combined with medication. If they do not, these fears will prevent a person from enjoying their lives. It can cost them their job in the worst case scenario.

Animals do not have to worry about their quality of life if they have fears. Kyra is happy running around the backyard which leads me to what happened last night.

At 10 p.m. every night, I take her out back to let her do her thing. I then have her run around like a lunatic to have her release energy and of course it's good exercise for her. She knows the routine very well. She starts to dig, I tell her no, and she runs away knowing I will chase her and she keeps going. Then she takes a chunk of grass out of the lawn. I tell her no and she runs away with it in her mouth. Tosses it up in the air and catches it. This will go on for 15 minutes. Just like an only child, Kyra entertains herself very well.

Now it's time to come in the house. Usual routine. "Kyra, let's go home". She runs up the stairs, onto the deck, waits for me to open the screen door and in the house she goes. Only this time, for some reason, she didn't wait for me to open the screen door, she went through it and up the stairs she went and stayed there all night. She is now terrified of the screen door. Now I'm going to help her get over this one.

Our friends have her sister. They are like night and day. Kallie is not fearful like Kyra is. Children can be the same way. If something happens to them, they become fearful of that situation. It becomes embedded in their brain. Same with adults. Some can just chalk it off and move on. Others can't.

I sometimes get angry and sad because I know Kyra is the way she is due to being abandoned. She is terrified of bags and boxes. She heads for the hills when we come home with bags of food after grocery shopping. I start to wonder if she was ever put in a bag or box at one time or another.
Other than these fears, Kyra is happy. I think I've done all I can for her. She is who she is and what we give her, she gives back tenfold every day.

 

Comments (5)

Bill Travis
Captain Bill Realty, LLC - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner

Jackie, you're doing a great job with Kyra. It takes a lot of time and patience to get over the fears.

Jun 06, 2010 01:31 AM
David Obbee
Obbee.com - Agoura Hills, CA

Jackie: Our puggle is a rescue dog, too.  He's fine now in most respects from an anxiety standpoint, but he's still extremely fearful of traveling in the car.  Any trip more than about 20 minutes will make him throw up.  We're working on it.  Great post, thanks for sharing!

Jun 06, 2010 01:42 AM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

jackie - Kyra sounds like a wonderful dog who has found a great forever home.  She's lucky to have you and you have her.  One of my dogs is goes crazy when I towel dry her after a bath.  She doesn't mind the blow drying, but the towel frightens her.  Like you, I wonder what, if anything, was done to her to frighten her so of a towel.

Jun 06, 2010 02:35 AM
Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon
Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO
Helping people Transition at all ages!

Jackie....Kudos to you for your work with Kyra.  It is truly a tragedy that animals are abandoned and/or abused.  Sometimes the effects last forever.  However, with the love and attention you are giving her - who knows, you may find she will improve with time.  In any case, the unconditional love she show is enough!

cosmic cow

Jun 06, 2010 04:19 AM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Val, thank you. Patience and time I have. Who knows, maybe she will outgrow it so to speak.

Hi David, It's good when they get over things. The car sickness though, not sure how that can be tackled. Maybe increase the travel time little by little?

Hi Elyse, Thank you. Kyra doesn't mind the towel. The blow dryer is another thing, lol.

Hi Carra, Thank you. A tragedy is right. Maybe you are right. She could grow out of it but either way, it's the unconditional love that matters!

Jun 06, 2010 04:50 AM