Tuesday, May 15, 2012
My Two Weeks with Monroe - Part II
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
My Two Weeks with Monroe - Part II
After we started feeding Monroe, she became a regular nightly visitor. Since she was very nervous around people and our goal was to gain her trust through food. At first, we put the food bowl at the end of our driveway and walked back to the house. Once we got to the house, Monroe would army crawl to the bowl and gobble down the food. If there was any noise she would retreat across the street. Eventually, she would come back to the bowl and eat more.
We repeated this routine each night for a week. Each day her trust of us grew and she got more and more confident going to the food bowl. We were eventually able to put the food down, take two big steps away from the bowl and sit down with her while she ate. The trust building process was definitely slow, but it was clearly working.
Our main goal in feeding Monroe was to gain trust so that we could get her off the streets and in to rescue. Our fantastic pug sitter volunteers for a local rescue group and we had already made arrangements for them to take Monroe as soon as we were able get her. It felt good that Monroe had a bright future, we just needed to put the time in to get her to trust us. The slow process almost killed me because each day we didn't get her was another night she was spending on the streets and another day she was wandering around doing who knows what until we got home from work.
In addition to feeding her, we also just hung out with her in the evenings. We would bring the pugs out and they would play. Monroe would race around the yard and the pugs would follow suit and we would do our best to keep the pugs' leashes untangled. After the pugs tired out, which was way sooner than Monroe, we would do little things around the yard. We laid some mulch, fixed a sprinkler head, watered plants. We did anything we could that was outside so that Monroe could get used to being around us.
We did everything except try to capture her. Straight attempts to capture her were always futile. We saw neighbors run after her and try to lasso her and none of it worked. Monroe was fast and way too smart to fall for any of that.
Our approach was to have her feel like she belonged and have her come to us. While our method was slow going it seemed to be working. Monroe lounged in our driveway while we tinkered in the yard. She followed us to the mailbox when we got the mail. She kept a watchful eye on us at all times, but she was so much more relaxed around us than she was before.
Our plan seemed to be working.
12 Comments
she is such a sweetie the poor babe i’m glad your there for her as i look forward to more updates hope you’ll have her soon.
Awesoem plan, seems to be working. I would be one of those people who would try to go up to her to catch her… not the best plan!!
Cannot wait to read what happens next… this is like a suspense story!!!
Good day OBP gang!!
The saga continues. It’s like reading one chapter of a good book and then you have to put it down…such suspense.
I find it fascinating and heartwarming that she chooses to come to the OBP house, not only to eat, but to hang around. I want to say “stay safe beautiful girl”, but I have a feeling she is safe.
This is killing me! I find that I think about her through out my day. I hope she is ok. ( I have a feeling that she landed in front of the right house with a little help. Thanks Sol.)
Glad to hear the puggers are playing with her. They are helping too. God Bless you Corrine. I would’ve tried to capture her like a fool!
Have a great day OBP’ers.
Pug Hugs from Bella & me
I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!! So sweet!
I am so thankful Monroe chose your house I cant wait to read more about her Corrine thank you for helping this sweet girl I also think Sol sent her to your home
The suspense is killing me, too! If this was a book, I’d probably turn to the last page!!
It’s sad and upsetting to imagine what experiences poor Monroe had to teach her to be so relentlessly wary. And today I’m imagining her watching Henry, Benjamin and Luna with longing and wishing for security and love for herself….
Yes, I’d definately be reading the last page right this minute!
No doubt she chose the right home to go to.
I think I jumped the gun on Monday saying “she is wearing a harness so she must belong to someone”.
Maybe the harness was added at end of the story?
Could it be 3 Pugs and a Monroe living at your house now?
I still think it was Solseys doing directing Monroe to your house. I echo everyone’s feeling that we would try to catch her in the beginning and really drive her away for good.
My Mother used to read stories to me just before sleeping and always stopped at the most intriguing part. Same thing Corrine. We’re waiting…..
In the last picture her repose reminds me of someone looking longingly at the candy in a candy store but having no money. Monroe seems to be looking at the pugs that way.
WOW! This “BOOK” is getting better and better. Cannot wait for the last chapter!
Corrine, Thank God for people like you! Monroe senses this and she will come to you and feel unafraid. Keeping you,the gang & Monroe in prayers. Pug hugs from the COlorado 4
Aww!
I hope your plan goes well and you can take her to the rescue soon!
Cant wait till the next part!