Suddenly all the hours of work were worth it. After 3½ years at Turtle Gardens, Chipmunk had a home. A special needs dog had found her place in the world.  She was wanted as a companion for a special needs child.

          Chipmunk is a medium sized mixed breed, brown with black flecking; her most noticeable feature is her big, soft, brown eyes.  A very gentle dog, her reaction to anything which scared her was to run and hide. People scared her.

          It was after about six months of volunteering at Turtle Gardens that I first became aware of Chippie.  Yvette, who runs the no-kill shelter was impressed with how the dogs were learning with clicker training.  Very basic behaviours like sitting and walking quietly on leash with a halter were making the dogs more adoptable. The number of adults being adopted had risen by 70% over the previous year.  The clicker training video was finished and being sold to fund the spay/neuter programme.  It was time to start working on the difficult to adopt dogs.  Chippie was  the most  challenging to work with.

         With clicker an animal learns it’s behaviour can earn it rewards, sitting or coming on command may bring food, toys, petting etc. All Chippie wanted was to be left alone. If she could not run from a stranger, she withdrew.  What do you do with a dog which lies on the floor and doesn’t react to anything?

         We tried Tellington Ttouch.

        A method of bodywork, Ttouch works with the nervous system.  Using circles, lifts and ground exercises, it helps the nervous system of the animal make new connections and experience the environment in new ways.  In the process of becoming a Ttouch practionner, I had seen it used with success with dogs who were aggressive, fearful and over-exuberant; but I had never personally encountered a dog as shy as Chipmunk.

        The first four sessions of Ttouch work didn’t seem to accomplish anything, Chippie lay inert.  I could handle and touch her anywhere on her body, but there was no reaction. Head down, ears not moving, she didn’t even twitch. If I tried to get her to stand, she collapsed. I wasn’t connecting with her.  Session five was a breakthrough.  She stood!  It was a half crouch and she was trembling allover but she stood.  Session six, she lifted her head and looked at me as I worked on her tail. There was hope!  By the tenth session she would, slowly and tentatively take food from my hand. And her breakthrough!! Now everything became easier. We found she loved food, loved going for walks. She was introduced to clicker training and learned to sit on command.  She would approach strangers quietly seeking attention. She was ready for a home, but it had to be a special place.  She was still timid, needing a quiet, structured environment with people who would appreciate her gentleness.

           Weeks went by, other dogs came and went, then Kathy contacted Yvette.  She was nervous around dogs, her young son was terrified of them.  She wanted to adopt a dog so her son would get over his fear, but it had to be a non-threatening dog. Chipmunk came to mind.

         The first meeting was a success, Steven liked her name. He laughed when he heard it. He laughed when Chip nuzzled his hand, although he had screamed at the same behaviour from a small puppy.  Emboldened by this success they took her for a walk, liked her gentle ways and went home to think about it.

          The next day they were back with a new collar, matching leash and Chipmunk was adopted.  A follow-up call two weeks later revealed that every one was happy. Chip was daily becoming more outgoing, loved to chase squirrels in the fenced yard and go for long walks. Now Steven has a friend and Chipmunk has her “Happy Ending” at last.