The Village found Monk
I have a like/dislike feeling about Facebook. Last week, though, it was GREAT. I have a feral dog who came to me with his brother when they were puppies in 2008. They had been found near East Prairie after some flooding that year - they were alone in a field, most probably born there. The couple who found them could not keep them long but brought them to Silverwalk. Chip went to a dog rescue in MN where a foster specialized in feral dogs. We were quite sure they had never been socialized...Chip's brother Monk stayed here. Monk was the less outgoing of the two. Chip would do better in a new situation, allowing me to see Monk on his own since the two hung out together here. He adapted well to the pack and Silverwalk; just how well I was to find out this past month.
Monk tried going to Charleston in the Boothealers Puppies on Parole program, which on his part was way too much of a change and on his handler's part a lack of appreciation for the very minute steps needed for a dog like this. I don't so much fault the handler because you need a LOT of experience to really know how to manage very fearful or shy dogs. Monk came home to Silverwalk. A very good foster, dog handler offered to foster him in a home situation, more like to which he was accustomed. Poor Monk - wouldn't stay in the house and then, left the yard on that Sunday night during the storms. He is not storm-phobic; I think he wanted to come home. A friend this week reminded me that I had to try for Monk who, like all animals, deserves his own home; we just now know where that home is.
My early week last week was consumed with recovering Monk because I knew he would come to no one else, his collar was found at his foster's and he had no microchip. As you know, I am a fan of micro-chipping though I confess, in Monk's situation. it was moot 'cause no one was coming near him to check him out; this I knew.
Chip, Shiloh and Monk in the first year
Monk's rescue was truly a village effort. On Facebook, he had been cross-posted all over. Friends had told me where to post him and then had cross-posted his photo and need where they could. He was spotted Mon, Tues and Wed. last week. I had gone to the area near Foeste Nursery after 2230 on Tuesday, left food but didn't see him. Heather, a friend of the young woman who fostered Todd, Whitney, got the news from Whitney just as she was driving around the area Wednesday afternoon. She went behind the Senior Center and there was Monk in the grass - she was astonished - she called "Monk!" and he looked up; then they called me and I hustled over there. The weird God thing is I had felt the need to go about 3 PM (they started calling about 3:15!) but decided to nap; would I have seen him had I gone when I heard that very still voice? Heather showed me where she had seen him. We knew he was hanging out in Foeste Nursery. Mrs. Foeste had Monk's flyer and was happy to help if she could. Heather didn't want to trespass - I told her they knew about him. I put a crate out with food (to him, crates are good things) and started walking through the back lot of Foeste. As I came around a path, I noticed it was more muddy. I looked down and saw paw prints - OMGoodness. They were headed behind where I was going so I turned around and followed them into the grass and wild grass; no more paw prints but saw deer prints and the drainage canal - thought, he has water at least - I looked up toward the bridge over Lombardo and there was Monk. I called him, walked very slowly above the bridge and over Lombardo 'cause he had headed under the bridge. When I got to the other side, I looked down and then up - there he was, moving slowly, looking at me. He had an open field in which to run away. He stopped. I turned my side to him, called him, moved a very short bit and squatted with my arms open - Monk RAN to me, putting his head in my arms and then offering me his belly. I bawled. I sat there, cradled him in my arms, cried and thanked God. Put the leash on - he didn't want to walk so I carried him back to the Senior Center and the car, got the other stuff and headed home. He now won't come like that but looks me in the eye and wags his tail. He is not going anywhere else.
Some dogs find their own homes. How many of you have gone to adopt a particular type of pet only to come home with someone almost completely different yet your heart is filled knowing THIS was your pet, not the one in your mind. I do want people to research and be aware of the different breeds, breed-types and their needs but we so often find ourselves being adopted, not doing the adopting per se :). Monk has clearly adopted Silverwalk. Silverwalk is a sanctuary. He is home for life. He is not my dog. He is a dog of Silverwalk.
Thank you, my friends in life and on Facebook, for the efforts and cheering for Monk, who now has an amended name - "Brother Monk." I think St. Francis approves.
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