Wee Waggin Rescue, Inc.
26831 South Bay Drive
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
fax: 239.495.6084

In Memory of Diane Minahan

Diane Minahan passed away March 26, 2009.  She was a true animal lover and adopted her dog, Armani from Wee Waggin Rescue in October of 2008.  As you read Diane's letters below, you will learn Armani required great patience and love.  She and her husband Jay taught Armani to trust people again.

During Diane's illness Armani never left her side.  Armani became a best friend and devoted companion. 

At the request of her husband Jay, donations can be made to Wee Waggin Rescue in memory of Diane. 


  • Emails from Diane
    On Oct 21, 2008, at 9:38 PM,
    Armani is still very timid and skittish. He seems happy to be petted but just as happy not to be. I think his short life was worse than we know. He will know where we are and let us pat him and then when we appear again he looks so afraid. We walked him and walked him and not even a drop but tonight he had a full fledged tinkle. Nothing else. He was enjoying sniffing the grass. He is drinking but not eating - just a couple of nuggets. His throat might be sore. I had a very hard time getting the pill down. He wanted to eat off the cheese but then didn't even really like that so I had to resort to old tried and true measures of down the throat and it was really hard - I think his throat is swollen from the tonsils. I am great at getting pills down easily although that is one big pill!
    He is comfortable resting in the den as I type this. He keeps giving the sofa glances but it is loaded with pillows. He was also eyeing the bed. We have his "house" all set up in the bedroom and he was in it while we were at our neighbor's house for dinner. He went in fairly well and was watching us as we came in. Rushed him right out but nary a drop again. He heard a leaf blow and practically flew into the air. Good thing he doesn't weigh 70 pounds! Hoping tomorrow will be better - he's so beautiful and we so want him to be happy. I am hoping he will be best buddies with Jay. He loved to drive around with our Rory and Rory loved it. I think Armani will be fine in the car. Just nervous getting in and out. He just seems so placid when he is not afraid that it is hard to figure out just what he is thinking.
    Best regards,
    Diane
    On Oct 21, 2008, at 11:16 PM,
    Thank you. We do realize how much Armani must have gone through and it is just like adopting a child from another country - you don't have a clue what went on. Our neighbor saw him as we drove in today and said that he looked just like her Russian grandchild did when he came here. All eyes taking everything in but not saying much or giving much. But he's a great kid now. We have lots of hope so don't worry about us. I will have Jay follow your suggestions. Armani will be home with Jay when I am off on my many clubs etc so they should bond then if Jay gives him enough atten-tion. Lots of walks always helped too. Right now Armani would let anyone do anything to him where most dogs would just walk away.
    Armani has been relaxing and having the best nap on a rug in our den. He doesn't seem the
    least bit stressed.
    He's got his eyes tightly closed and he is resting his nose across one of his front legs and he looks adorable. Now if I can only get him to tinkle before bed ...... stay tuned.
    Thanks again!
    D

    Diane Minahan

For more information on how you can help homeless dogs find their forever homes, contact Wee Waggin Rescue.

 


(continued)

Where to begin? 
Armani continues to love to be petted and snuggled with. His housbreaking is coming along quite well.  We have walked and walked and walked and he seems to be getting the idea. He is loving riding in the car with Jay and they have already had quite a few nice rides around town.  We think Armani was hit by a man perhaps.  He is terrified of getting his leash on but once it is on, he walks quite well. He lets me brush him without any problem.  He doesn't act inter-ested.  I think that it is basically he doesn't act interested in anything.  He still looks away with his eyes.  He has made no eye contact yet. He has played with his toy a couple of times late at night - I think he is a late owl.  He pounces on a ball occasionally also.  So, I think he is having fun but hard to tell.  He has let me scratch his tummy a couple of times.  Last night he was sleeping in the bathroom off of the bedroom and I didn't want to put him into his crate so I left him there and he never moved all night!  We were pleased.
We are reading all sorts of books trying to figure out what our next move should be.  Training with a puppy group, training with one on one trainer or continue to wait a bit.  We want him to be socialized with other dogs as well as other people.  Don't think there was much playing for him while living in a crate.
He will be fine with us at one moment and the next moment act nervous like he has not seen us before.  We are aware that if he spent all those months in a crate, he would not have seen faces that closely - just legs approaching.  We think someone may have dragged him out of the crate to clean it and yelled at him.  He is still more comfortable with  me although Jay is trying very hard.  We have not had to chastise him for any reason.
It is funny because if one of us is out and then comes back, he will stay in the room where he was and just kind of raise his eyebrows to acknowledge he sees us.  In a way it is better than being knocked over every time you come home.
How long do you think it will take to get the fear out of his eyes?  He is totally comfortable sitting anywhere in the condo and likes to sit outside on the lanai if we are out there. 
He has all sorts of interesting times sniffing while we are out walking.  Not that he associates it with anything special, he's just enjoying it.
He met the biggest golden doodle last week.  He did not growl, did not cower but merely looked away which I know is submissive behavior.  We might want to put him in a dog day care facility for playing for a couple of hours once or twice a week.  There is one just down the street. 
He is just a little love but I wish he knew he was being loved and able to enjoy it.  All things in time I guess.
Diane





 

 

 

 

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Wee Waggin Rescue, Inc.
26831 South Bay Drive
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
fax: 239.495.6084