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28 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, March 11, 2010 YOU AND YOUR PET By JUDITH-ANNE KOLU UCHS volunteer Curly certainly makes us all ask that question constantly...we have seldom had a more complex resident who is something of an enigma and yet looks so appealing. A dog's past makes him what he is today and a less than optimum socialization period in those crucial early months can imprint adverse reactions to situations and Curly's past must have been turbulent to say the least. Curly is undoubtedly a very handsome, neutered, seven-year-old male, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever/Golden Retriever cross, who presents as kind and gentle, and welcomed me in a laid back manner but hidden behind those trusting gentle eyes is a story that we would love to be told but can only surmise. Curly knows his basic commands and is of medium energy and calm in his kennel, and is healthy. We do know that he was found in Guelph as a stray in extremely poor condition, fearful of everything, especially men, dogs and loud noises. He was adopted out by another Society in July 2009 to a family where he settled in and seemed to accept the resident dog and cat, got on well with the kids and became housebroken quickly. However, once settled in, he accelerated his love of running to the next stage-- running away-- and would bolt out of the door knocking over anything in his path. Curly would be gone for hours, returning home to eat and sleep, but showed in no uncertain terms that he did not want to be caught. He became possessive of the children and guarded them when friends visited and so he was surrendered to us. What happened to Curly? This is NOT the dog we see at the Shelter. On arrival at UCHS Curly had to be hauled outside because he refused to leave his kennel. Once outside he would cower and race from door to door trying to get inside, and definitely was extremely upset by the appearance of a man. He refused to eliminate outside and would come in and "perform" right in his kennel. During outside breaks even with another dog as companion, he will hide in the shed and is still very afraid of rumblings of large trucks and loud noises sends him cowering for cover. Where is Curly now in our assessment of him? We have seen no aggression, he presents as a sweet boy who will come over for patting and treats when he comes out of hiding. (He greeted the writer warmly and "loves" were exchanged)...he enjoys being in the kitchen with the caregivers and seems quite normal. We feel that Curly might have started off life as a puppy mill stud which would explain why the outdoors causes him to be fearful, but once he was re-homed and was more secure he wanted to explore this new world, yet at the same time he is afraid of the hubbub and noise that goes with it. Curly HAS to be adopted by a family without children, could be happy with a resident dog or cat, or preferably as an only pet, the family would have to realize that Curly needs to live a quiet life, with kind structure and lots of love, definite- Annabelle is a sad and scared kitty By JUDITH-ANNE KOLU Upper Credit Humane Society volunteer Annabelle actually brought tears to this writer's eyes-- this very pretty black and white, young lady came in as a stray on Dec. 11, and constantly demonstrates that her one and half years of living have not been a joy, but rather bewildering and fractured. On advice from the vet she has been moved to a cage in the Recovery room because it is much quieter there. Annabelle showed her distress by licking herself so heavily that the fur was coming out leaving bald spots on her otherwise plush coat. In her new surroundings it is starting to grow back. Annabelle definitely is improving and is showing that she can enjoy affection from the caregivers she knows. However, having her adorable picture taken by an "unknown" caused Annabelle to want to hide, and when she was picked up she just froze. Cautious with the other cats, life in a cage is the optimum choice while she gains confidence and continues to learn that humans will not hurt her. An adoptive family would have to be very patient and willing to let Annabelle "thaw out completely at her own pace", with encouraging love. Annabelle comes in a small design, with a very soft coat for stroking and the progress she is making tells us that she will be a great companion in time. Annabelle does not even seem to realize that she needs a loving home very soon, but we do, and we ask that you call the Shelter, 519-833-2287 or email adoptions@uppercredit.com to meet her. Pet of the Month ly a secure, fenced yard and be willing to be vigilant and aware that he might bolt if given the chance. Curly hates the car (again a confined space if he was a puppy mill dog) and has an aversion to water, which is unusual for a retriever! Curly needs a very patient home (experience with dogs that need extra special care would be advantageous). We are looking for a family where someone is home most of the time and for people who would relish the task of guiding Curly while he learns how to deal with situations in an acceptable manner. This would be a family who would absolutely delight in helping a good boy with problems reach his potential. Curly asks someone to take a chance on him, love him and make him your own. 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