Nana

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 Nana Update

            On a cold Saturday afternoon, Nov. 18^th, Nana was the victim of a hit and run before our very eyes.  We had just rescued the last of the 9 pups in the Border Collie colony from under a broken down mobile home in a sea of junk cars and trailers.  As the pup was lowered into the rescue van, a car being driven by a young man sped by.  We motioned for him to slow down as he sped up even faster and sucked the matriarch of the pack under his tires.  This was the beginning of my life with Nana.

            Today, Dec. 6^th, Nana is having the hundreds of staples removed from her well healed legs and stomach.  She is quite the survivor and will have no signs or complications from the trauma she just experienced.  Through interviews, and with the help of the CAWS seasoned vet, I have pieced together the fabric of Nana’s life.

            She is judged to be 7 or 8 years old as the beginnings of cataracts are settling onto her eyes.  Loyalty, appreciation, forgiveness, honor and protectiveness are the traits she most strongly demonstrates.  What a lovely dog she is!  Seems that Nana, who was unknowingly pregnant, was given to a man who lived in the junk yard years back.  Along with Nana came Boot, a male border collie.  With no fences or means of confinement, twice a year, each female delivered a litter of pups into the colony.  Over the years, two were poisoned by passerbys who wanted to put an end to the car chasing pack of dogs.  Three were run over, one was beaten beyond recognition and some seemingly vanished.  As the number of dogs in the pack increased, interaction with humans decreased, making the young dogs more and more distrustful and forced into a survival mode. 

            Don’t be too hard on this man, the owner who abandoned them….he really does care for the dogs.  However, as the pack grew so did his own misfortunes.  There was not enough money to feed them much less pay for spay and neuter of so many.  Over the years, the increase in the pack spiraled out of control as did their undomesticated behavior. 

            Nana was matriarch of the pack from the beginning.  She tried tirelessly to control them and did as good a job as she could.  All the members of the group respected and listened to her.  It was a responsibility Nana took very seriously.  When Nana arrived at my home, she was stapled from one end to the other and stayed in the corner trying to gain back her strength.  Because I am a CAWS foster, I have anywhere from 8 to 10 dogs at a time.  As Nana began feeling better, she tried to take her position as alpha female pack leader but ran into some trouble getting my pack to buy in.  She worked hard but finally realized this is a socialized pack and there isn’t a need for her implementation of structure. 

            Today, Nana is a happy-go-lucky girl!  Retirement from pack police is agreeing with her beautifully, and she is finally able to live the carefree lifestyle that she deserves.  Nana will soon be looking for a loving forever home.  Well wishers for her recovery and concern for her future have poured in from all over the country and Canada.  If you can give Nana the constant companionship, reassurance, respect and love she deserves, please contact  caws@paonia.com

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