We’ve all come across tales of rescue dogs who have spent years wandering the streets, fearful of any human interaction.
But how often do we hear about a stray dog that actively resists rescue, so accustomed to outdoor life that homes frighten him?
This is an unusual story. Here, we discuss a dog from a California puppy mill that simply didn’t want rescuing and showed a strong aversion to being indoors.
The Dog Refuses To Move
Upon learning about a pup from a puppy mill living on the streets, Lauren and Elli-Ana felt a wave of compassion and set out to rescue him.
What they didn’t foresee was the significant challenge of rescuing this gentle Great Pyrenees, despite his non-aggressive demeanor and the fact that he wasn’t fleeing from them.
He simply refused to budge. Regardless of their attempts to coax him, he remained lying on the ground, completely shutting down to their affectionate gestures.
Determined, his rescuers devised a plan to transport him. They wrapped him in a blanket and carried him to their vehicle.
Once at the shelter in San Diego, his behavior remained unchanged. They still needed to lift him to make any progress.
A Slow And Steady Progress
His rescuers decided that the best option for this dog, named Olaf, was to enter foster care, where someone could assist him in confronting his indoor fears.
Anneliese, his foster mother, was understanding and allowed him to choose where he felt comfortable. She set up his bed just outside the door in the yard.
She shared with The Dodo: Initially, he would retreat to the farthest corner of the yard, observing me from a distance of 10 to 15 feet.
To help him adjust to the idea of being indoors, Anneliese would place treats on the porch and leave the doors ajar.
At times, he would peek inside but would promptly retreat outdoors. Nevertheless, these moments increased in frequency, indicating that Olaf was making significant strides.
Even though he still felt uneasy around his new foster mom, he showed a keen interest in the other dogs in the house.
Anneliese remarked: Despite his fears of me, he was very curious about my dogs.
Olaf Puts His Faith In His Foster Mom
They began playing frequently, and one of their favorite games was chase. Olaf enjoyed chasing the dogs, but whenever they dashed inside the house, he would halt.
The other dogs noticed this and paused, puzzled by his reluctance to continue the chase, yet he remained apprehensive about being indoors.
However, everything changed for Olaf during the Fourth of July celebration, when the overwhelming sound of fireworks sent him into a panic.
For the first time, he ventured fully inside the house, signifying a leap in his trust of Anneliese.
She proclaimed: He’s no longer frightened of being indoors. I finally got him to accept a treat from my hand.
After all he has endured, Olaf is gradually emerging from his shell and displaying affection towards his foster mom.
She takes immense pride in the progress he has achieved and feels honored that Olaf has come to trust and love her.
