Soli was the dog that almost wasn't my dog. In the run-up to the move, I'd started looking for a red young-to-middle-aged dobe bitch to join my two, and I found Soli listed as a private rehoming on Dogpages. I kept an eye on her thread, and no offers were made; then Fletcher made his appearance and reluctantly, I had to abandon the idea.
Once Fletcher had his new home, though, I checked her thread again and there were still no offers - by now she'd been on the site for 5 months. So I contacted her owner. A few days later I drove across the country to visit this dog that was "ok with other dogs", "probably ok with cats but barks at them" and fine with people. Perfect.
What I was greeted with was a seriously nervous, aggressive, stressed-out dog: petrified of other dogs, with a bite history. Soli was what I call a serious dog: a dog that without just the right home and rehabilitation, is a PTS case. She remains the only dog I've had who with that level of aggression towards people. She became the most loving, wonderful dog, with whom I have had the strongest bond of any, past or present, and losing her in 2011 to a heart attack tore me apart. Everyone who met her adored her. I still feel that loss every day but I would not change the time I had with her for the world. She taught me so, so much about working with and living with an aggressive dog.
Once Fletcher had his new home, though, I checked her thread again and there were still no offers - by now she'd been on the site for 5 months. So I contacted her owner. A few days later I drove across the country to visit this dog that was "ok with other dogs", "probably ok with cats but barks at them" and fine with people. Perfect.
What I was greeted with was a seriously nervous, aggressive, stressed-out dog: petrified of other dogs, with a bite history. Soli was what I call a serious dog: a dog that without just the right home and rehabilitation, is a PTS case. She remains the only dog I've had who with that level of aggression towards people. She became the most loving, wonderful dog, with whom I have had the strongest bond of any, past or present, and losing her in 2011 to a heart attack tore me apart. Everyone who met her adored her. I still feel that loss every day but I would not change the time I had with her for the world. She taught me so, so much about working with and living with an aggressive dog.