Preparing for Ke-ola's Homecoming

Ke-ola Photo by Kianah Pen

It's been a long road but Ke-ola and our family are finally ready to take the next step in his doggy rehabilitation...integration into our pack this Monday. 

Ke-ola has been ready but we've had to get our other two dogs Sky and River ready as well. We have changed our lifestyle so that we can give each dog in our pack the physical and mental exercise they need. Each dog has a minimum of a daily treadmill session, outdoor walk, place training, state of mind training and impulse control training. We are learning a new language that transcends words. It's a language of understanding and mutual respect. 

Sky and River were also shelter dogs. They were found on the streets together and were kenneled together at the Dover Shelter in San Bernardino. They have relied on each other for their very survival since they were no more than a few months old. They have a very strong bond but as we have learned through Nick, it's not necessarily a healthy one. Nick explained that when dogs bond through such traumatic situations their bond actually becomes dysfunctional. It will feed insecurity and keep them from being open to the world outside of each other and their humans. 

We have been working with River and Sky to help them learn to be independent and self-reliant. Sky has the added challenge of not only being a fearful girl but she doesn't have any doggy social skills other than with River. Nick and Kianah will be bringing some of their pack with Ke-ola on Monday to help Sky with her social skills. 

While Ke-ola's homecoming is just one more step of many other steps we still need to take to become a united and balanced pack we are grateful for the possibility of making it a reality. We couldn't have made it this far without the guidance and support of Nick Martinez and Kianah Pen. They are not only gifted at working with dogs but equally gifted at working with people. They have an innate wisdom and integrity that promotes growth and healing for their human as well as their canine clients. 

I'll post pictures and videos of Ke-ola's homecoming on next weeks blog post.

Thank you for visiting. Wishing you and your pack Peace today and everyday.  

You can find us on Facebook:
Page https://www.facebook.com/iloveshelterdogs
Our page hopes to encourage more people to adopt not shop by sharing stories of successful shelter/rescue dog adoptions & useful info for a healthy dog.
Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1405355683042930/
This group is an open group for rescues, fosters, shelter staff, volunteers to post dogs in need of adoption, transport or rescue. Our group’s admin is not affiliated with any posts or posters nor do we have any further information about a post. We are merely offing another place online to help get dogs seen, safe and in their forever homes. 
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109405533286226395235


POI

Healing is a Pack Affair

Nick working with River on crate.
Thank you Carrie & Donna for the crate!

Nick Martinez has been working 24/7 for weeks with our boy Ke-ola. He has transformed a scared, abused, unsocialized, street dog into a balanced, well-behaved, confident pack member. Ke-ola is doing so well now that Nick even uses him to help other dogs in their healing process! 

Nick working with River on treadmill.
Thank you Donna Mason & Debbie Herber!

Nick has been working with Ke-ola and each human member of our pack individually and as a group. He has also made several home visits to help us prepare our other two dogs for Ke-ola's homecoming. He has been patient, focused and encouraging every step of the way. My family and I feel blessed to have Nick, Kiannah and his amazing rehab pack to help us. 

Ke-ola doing a pack walk with Nick and some of his special rehabilitation pack. 

These are some hardworking and beautifully balanced canines. Nice job Nick!

Ke-ola enjoying an off leash walk with Nick. The difference in our boy's state of mind and emotional balance is remarkable.

Today marks the first time that Ke-ola and his canine sisters have ever been together. It was a monumental day for all of us. We had been waiting for this day for almost two years. It is amazing what can happen with love, courage, determination and a willingness to grow and change. 

Nick and I walking my pack together for the first time ever.

Nick walking my pack and keeping them calm and balanced throughout.

River & Ke-ola bonding in the shade.

Once we were done with treadmills, individual walks and our pack walk, Nick brought River and Ke-ola into the back yard and let them vibe each other out. It was very touching to see what a gentleman Ke-ola has become. He gave River her space and even calmly let her drink from the water bowl before he did. (Prior to Ke-ola's rehab the sound of a dog drinking from a water bowl would trigger anxiety and he would react poorly) This boy has found his center and his confidence.

Sky still needed more work before socializing freely with Ke-ola. We are on it and look forward to helping Sky find her center like her bother Ke-ola. 

Thank you for visiting. Wishing you and your pack Peace today and everyday.  

You can find us on Facebook:
Page https://www.facebook.com/iloveshelterdogs
Our page hopes to encourage more people to adopt not shop by sharing stories of successful shelter/rescue dog adoptions & useful info for a healthy dog.
Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1405355683042930/
This group is an open group for rescues, fosters, shelter staff, volunteers to post dogs in need of adoption, transport or rescue. Our group’s admin is not affiliated with any posts or posters nor do we have any further information about a post. We are merely offing another place online to help get dogs seen, safe and in their forever homes. 
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109405533286226395235


POI