Generally Lizzie was gentle and patient, but she also had a mischievous side and in this clip she decided to be a jerk.
The staffy puppy had previously been bouncing all over her so this time Lizzie chose to bounce back, albeit with an appropriate measure of restraint given the size difference.
No harm done, but it made me laugh!
About #Lizzie
Born 2012
Her scars showed severe abuse and evidence of use as bait for dog fighting
She wasn’t socialised or shown love so was scared and reactive to everything
Abandoned, left for dead in 2013
1 year in a council pound
The next 2 years in a rescue centre gave her a taste of kindness starting her road to recovery
I adopted her In 2016 age 4
Just one week before she was due to be destroyed as nobody would take a chance on her
A DNA test revealed she was a #StaffordshireBullTerrier x Rhodesian #Ridgeback
Her past meant she assumed dogs would attack her so she was wary and fearful when approached
However, over time with love patience and careful interactions with friendly dogs she let her fear go and her true self emerged
That self was a sweet, gentle, playful, patient dog exhibiting the best traits of her unusual genetics
It seems a remarkable turnaround but in reality this was who she was all along
Once she realised she was safe, she actively went looking for positive experiences to eclipse her trauma
In mid 2017 she began losing her eyesight to cataracts caused by an old injury. By early 2020 she was down to less than 10% vision. It slowed her down a bit, more careful when running around but did nothing to dampen her positive spirit. Her injuries were partial tracheal collapse from being hung by her collar (hence her coughs in some clips), broken bones in all 4 legs and scars all over her body. Her trachea healed, legs got stronger and by the start of 2020 she was fit and healthy again apart from her eyesight
Tragically after recovering from her injuries, she was struck down by a brain tumour. Leaving me in the prime of her life on Nov 11th 2020. Even an emergency operation couldn’t save her
My heart was torn apart that day
There’s no justice
An innocent subjected to hellish torture finally found peace, health and happiness and was then cruelly taken away
The 4 short years I was lucky to spend with her had a positive impact leaving wonderful memories
The clips don’t tell the full story of her amazing soul but do provide an insight into what happens when a dog is given a second chance. There’s too many out there desperate for homes, most have nowhere near the level of trauma Lizzie suffered
I hope her story proves that given love and patient training any dog is capable of becoming a loyal loving lifelong companion
I know now I didn’t rescue her, Lizzie saved me
Going through a tough time myself, the way she saw the world living in the moment, letting go of past trauma without rumination taught me so much
How could I worry about the bad things in my life when she had endured and let go of so much pain and suffering?
She was honest, authentic, playful, positive, accepted me and others unconditionally regardless of race, gender or finance. She went from being fear reactive to calm, playful, gentle and a source of comfort for children, doctors and nurses in nearby hospitals while I was volunteering during the pandemic
She got me through my tough times, showed me how to be a better human being
I wish I had more time with her and she had more time to enjoy the good life she deserved
She’s inspired me to do what I can to give back some of what our canine friends give us so #UnderdogRescue is more than just a memorial
I’ll soon qualify as an Animal Behaviourist and will use my time rehabilitating other innocent souls like Lizzie that have been given up on so they can enrich people’s lives
R.I.P. my brave, beautiful, gentle friend, I will honour your life
#underdogrescue #ASMR #rescuedog #doglovers #funnydog