MASON

Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 7:11 PM
Subject: [PMRescue] Mason's little steps this month

I couldn't sleep last night and so I made a list of all the things Mason has learned in the past month. Each one is a little step but oh how they add up. Last night this wonderful little guy went to his dad to be picked up. He has never done that before. He laid his head on Jim's leg and relaxed. He went to sleep. He feels safe almost all of the time now. Tomorrow Mason will be here exactly one month. Thank you so much for trusting us with this wonderful, wonderful angel.

Pat

Little steps Mason has learned in the past month:
Mason understands he will be fed twice a day, every day
Mason understands to go to his spot and wait just a few seconds
Mason knows he does not need to eat his fur sibling's food
Mason knows he does not need to hoard his food, there will be more

Mason knows that he has his own food dish
Mason knows he will not be hungry again
Mason knows how to go up and down steps
Mason knows how to go through a door with a human

Mason now knows that I love him
Mason now knows that he loves me

Mason knows there are fresh bowls of water in the kitchen, dining room, sun room, bedroom, deck and gazebo
Mason knows he will never be thirsty again
Mason knows what a toy is
Mason knows what it is to play with his brothers Prince and Tucker and his sister Sweetie
Mason knows what fun is, he knows how to run through the house at full speed to chase his brother

Mason knows that a human can say the word no and not hurt him
Mason knows that all men and women are not mean
Mason knows what kindness is
Mason understands the word gentle

Mason knows what it means not to be itchy and scratchy
Mason knows what it feels like to not have pain in his ears
Mason knows what it feels like to be clean

Mason now knows that his dad loves him
Mason now knows that he loves his dad

Mason knows what pup corn is
Mason knows what a carrot is
Mason knows how to ask for a treat
Mason knows how to smile

Mason knows he can bark when he is happy or mad or excited or when he wants something
Mason knows mom and dad will figure out what he is trying to tell us
Mason knows how to ask for his ears to be rubbed
Mason knows that he can not do anything that will cause a voice to be raised

Mason knows that he can be friends with other dogs
Mason knows that he does not have to fight with other dogs to survive
Mason knows what grass and flowers are
Mason knows about chasing chipmonks and squirrels and his fur siblings
Mason knows what it is to run and play in his very own yard

Mason knows what a gazebo is
Mason knows the pleasure of lounging on the love seat with his sister
Mason knows about being lazy and he knows about barking at people who come to the door
Mason knows this is his home

Each little step this precious angel has taken has been leading him to the big step:
Mason knows what it means to be free
and to be loved
and he knows what it is to love

My precious little guy knows . . .

Hello everyone, my name is Mason and I am a 6.6 lb, 4 1/2 yr. old male, Maltese. I just came into rescue and I am still a very frightened little guy. I went to the dogster and had my teeth cleaned (boy were they a mess!) and I got my shots and something called neutered - all I will say about that is Ouch! I had to get shaved because I had fleas and a skin condition and my ears were really, really dirty. I have a little bit of an ear infection, but my foster mom is putting drops in my ears and she said they will be just fine. I have something called luxatating patella's but the dogster said they are not too bad, she thinks it is probably because of something called "poor breeding." I was tested for heartworm and it was negative. The dogster said I am very lucky because 50% of puppy mill dogs have those yucky heartworms. I am feeling pretty good, I still itch a bit, but the dogster thinks that might be because of the old flea bites and other yucky things and she said it should get better and I won't itch anymore.

I get scared a lot and sometimes I run and hide under the bed where no one can see me. I have three fur siblings and I like them all a lot, but I am not too sure about these humans. I watch my fur siblings and they seem to like the humans here, so I am waiting to see if they are okay. I have been in my foster home for a few days now and my foster mom said I am a very smart pupster. I am a watcher - I sit away from everyone and watch what is going on. I play a little bit with my fur brother but he is younger than me and sometimes he does not know when to stop so I growl at him. That seems to work 'cause he will leave me alone for a while.

I have learned a lot of things since I came here. I can walk up and down steps now, and I don't try to jump off them anymore. Sometimes I forget what to do when I am on a step and one of my fur siblings will walk up or down to show me. I was afraid to go through a door when I first came, but I can do it sometimes by myself now. Sometimes foster mom has to call all of my fur siblings back in so I can walk out with them in a group. If foster mom or dad need to pick me up, they must coax me with something called a treat. I am learning about treats - I just LOVE Pup Corn, it is my favorite treat in the whole world. Anyway, when the humans hold me, I shake for several minutes but I am noticing everyone here talks in soft voices and they have very gentle hands. Foster mom talks to me all the time and tells me that no one will ever hurt me again. Once I stop being afraid, I do love it when I am petted and spoken to softly. I don't really know my name yet, but if you speak to me very, very gently, I sometimes will come see you - just please don't touch me. I so want to believe foster mom when she says no one will hurt me again, but I am afraid to hope.

Just in case she is telling the truth, I have started following the foster mom around. But if she bends down to pick me up or pet me, I run like the dickens. I mark everywhere outside - this yard is mine! I also mark in the dining room near my favorite spot so the other dogsters know this is my domain. Foster mom said she is buying stock in something called vinegar. Today I found the sun room and think laying in a sunbeam is quite nice. Oh yeah, I forgot, foster mom said I am now something called an official "Spoiled Royal", I am not exactly sure what all that entails, but so far it sure seems like a good thing.

Well, foster mom said she wants to tell you a little bit about me and foster dad is in the room with the Pup Corn - I also know how to beg - gotta go.

Mason

Mason is a wonderful little guy. He is very frightened and needs to learn that humans are not all bad. He has been here for three days and still backs up or dances away if I reach out to pet him or pick him up. He is a very gentle soul, and clearly wants to love someone. He just does not seem to know how yet. This is something he will learn, it will just take a lot of patience to let him see he can trust us. He has started following me around and sometimes will walk up to me and stay as long as I only speak to him and do not try to touch. At night he follows us into the bedroom and puts his little paws on the side of the bed like he wants up, but when I try to lift him he dances away. We will continue to try every night, one day, he will join us. He gets along with all of the other furkids here and seems to watch what they do and how they interact with the humans in the house. He is not food aggressive but he is food motivated. We use his much loved Pup Corn to entice him into new places or situations and reward him for every little step he makes. He rarely ever is totally relaxed - the exception is sometimes he will go curl up beside one of our other fur kids. When he is curled in the safety of Tucker' body, Mason's little ears are relaxed and he rests without opening his eyes every few minutes. Even as frightened as he is, he is an absolute love.
Pat and the Spoiled Royals in Columbus:
Forgotten 4 Paws - Tucker
Orphaned - Sweetie
PMR - Prince Charming
PMR Foster Mom to Mason

The next time you walk by a pet store, stop and listen.

If you try, you will be able to imagine the suffering and pain it took to put that puppy in that window. The broken jawed mother as she struggles to eat so she has enough strength to go on another day.

The tiny puppy with the lower part of its leg missing because it was torn off while trying to free itself from the holes in the wires of the cage it calls home or was eaten by another dog because it was starving to death. The whimpering of the animals as they beg for the tender touch of a humane hand. The cries for help as they slowly die from neglect and starvation.

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