Here is the history of Sam:
Sam was owned by a man that lived behind the retail store I'd worked for three years ago. He was chained to a tree on a five foot chain that was padlocked to his collar. I'd visit him everyday (as did all the employees) through the chain link fence. We all brought food and treats for him because the owner didn't feed him daily and when he did it was chicken and rib bones.
The employees and I called animal control on him several times - one time because his collar was so tight his neck was bloody and raw. (He most likely will always have the scar) Animal control just loosened the collar and said they couldn't seize the dog because it had water (sometimes) and shelter. (what a freaking bunch of BS) Sam lived in dirt when the weather was dry and mud when it rained. He was not a typical young dog he was downtrodden, unresponsive and lethargic and very thin especially in summer when the temps would reach 99 degrees. This man would beat Sam when he turned over his water bowl and hed get mad and threaten to burn our building down if we kept bothering his dog. This man also had a female GS that had puppies - he had kept one - also chained, and the puppy hung itself trying to climb the fence. We don't know what happened to the female GS.
I used to leave work crying and ticked off - I didn't know what else to do. Anyway, I started working full time for the same company but working at the corporate office and not the store. I kept up with Sam through the employees.
Last year my sister started working at the same retail store -same story - she'd come home crying and ticked too - we even plotted stealing the dog.
Last month one of our employees called me and said the man had a stroke and his wife put him in a home (I was elated I hoped he would die a slow painful death and rot in hell) Anyway the next day my sis and two other employees approached his wife and asked if she was willing to give the dog up. She said no, and stop feeding and petting him. I told them to back off and give her time I knew she didnt want the dog. It paid off.
Three weeks ago I got a call from one of the employees and she told me she had Sam! The woman said shed give up the dog for one hundred dollars she was probably low on booze and cigarettes
Sam has been at my house for three weeks now and he is totally transformed! My sister spends a lot of time with him because she works at home Here are our observations:
1. When I posted he doesnt really like cats his first encounter with the cat was growling but now it has escalated to lunging at the back glass door Im sure he would kill her. So, no cats please.
2. He is great with my female chocolate lab Riley (my other rescue, aka Daisy in another post) Riley is six months old, full of energy and pesters the hell out of him he has growled a couple of times but has never attacked her or put her in her place like my cocker does. He just lets her jump all over him and hes very patient with her.
My cocker-mix is also a female, but Mollie does not like any dog pestering her she has growled and snapped at him, but he didnt respond to her.
My sisters dog is a neutered male we were leery about that at first but Sam shows no signs of aggression towards him either, but we also dont leave him alone with Sam because Murray is 16 years old and very frail. (Sam is only interested in marking everywhere the other dogs do) Hes scheduled to be neutered next Tuesday so hopefully this will subside a little. All three of our dogs are medium sized dogs.
3. Chickens My chickens stay in the coop and run When we first got him, he would lunge at the run (but only when we were at the coop) and yep, Im sure hed kill them, but has never tried to break into the coop.
4. Strangers yes he does bark at strangers and anyone that comes up to the fence. Some of my neighbors have come over to see him and he was fine with adults and children and he loves my mom
Also, on his very first visit to my vet he did try to bite and they had to muzzle him my vet said it was due to two things: he was out of his element and scared, and an inexperienced tech that had him in a headlock. He was fine on the second visit.
5. Sam does not come in the house due to the cat and he is not neutered yet I want him to go to a home that will want him inside, (I dont believe in outside dogs only) and the new owner must be willing to train him. He is very affectionate and will lay at your feet for a belly rub. If you sit on the floor he climbs in your lap and demands to be loved on.
Sam is a purebred shepherd, but is the result of poor breeding.
If you or someone you know would be willing to put their heart and soul into this dog, I KNOW he will return the love tenfold. Sam will need to go to someone that is willing to put him in obedience training, be patient and loving. He will also need a fenced yard and not EVER is he to be put on a chain or tie-out again.
Wed really like Sam to go to someone that is close enough (4 to 6 hours drive) to us that we can interview in person and visit the home.
Thanks for reading.
Here are more pics.
