Main fundraiser photo

Let Iris Bloom

As many know, Iris was a (possibly) feral dog picked up by Fulton County Animal Control in Atlanta, GA. She spent the next several days pancaked into the corner of her kennel run, completely shut down. She did not eat, drink, or move the entire time. She had to be sedated to be brought to me, her foster, where she woke up in her new safe place.
Iris has come a long way since then! She can make eye contact and won't shove her head into a corner unless something new terrifies her. As a former veterinary technician, I know a good bit about the medical side of rehabilitating a dog, but I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything about dog behavior or psychology, especially in such severe cases as Iris'. 

These funds are to work with a trainer who will come to our home and help me help Iris. I've screened about 15 Atlanta area trainers and have found a local group who has someone who has worked with severe fear cases before. The first set of 8 sessions costs about $600, then they offer a monthly plan of $140/mo that includes a session every other week and all the phone, email, and virtual support I could ask for. 
I have several goals that I want to bring in a trainer to help me with:

1) Work with Iris learning not to be so intensely terrified of men. My husband can barely walk by the room without her hiding in her corner. I know she won't come out of her room with him around until she learns that men aren't scary. 

2) Collars/harnesses and leashes aren't scary. Right now she can expertly bite through a nylon leash in about 10 seconds, so even if she wanted to go outside I couldn't take her. I would love for her to be able to wear a leash and collar or harness without fear. 

3) Go outside! I live in an apartment building; I don't have a big fenced in yard for her to roam free in. She can't go outside unless she can be on a leash reliably. I would love to be able to take her out to potty and enjoy the sunshine (even just on my enclosed back deck!) without fear of losing her.

I thank every person for their support: even the small encouraging comments mean the world to me. It is mentally and emotionally exhausting to work with Iris, and at the same time, I've never felt more fulfilled in my existence and with such purpose as when I have a tiny breakthrough with Iris. 

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Donations 

  • Sonna Hosta
    • $20 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Lin Zarcone
Organizer
Peachtree Corners, GA

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