NiBan is totally dependent up on Alex. When Alex got cancer in 1999 one thing I had to consider was to provide her a friend in case Alex lost his battle.
I picked up Shasta on January 5th, 2000.
The 'scale-model' Golden Retriever might have been purebred, though she was
small. Alas, the other dogs didn't like her as much as I did. In fact, they hated
her. NiBan exiled herself to the outside world. Alex just
ignored her.
Over
the next three months things went from bad to worse. The other dogs
continued to reject Shasta. Meanwhile, she chewed laundry, decorative lighting, dug
holes, leapt on people... Eventually, as her strength grew, she began
leaping fences. Even with exhaustive attempts to control her behavioral
problems, nothing would make the other dogs accept her. I eventually had
to take her away where she might be adopted.
I have recently heard she has been (re)trained and adopted into a good home.
Farewell, Shasta...
Updated: 04 Sep 2001 15:52 L