The Happy Tails of Two“Long Termers”

GYPSY

Two dogs that served long “sentences” at the LCHS shelter are now in their forever homes, due to hours of dedicated staff and volunteer training. Gypsy and Giselle are living testimonials to the creative persistence of LCHS trainers and to the ability of dogs to adapt and learn despite difficult backgrounds and a long-term stay in the less-than-ideal kennel environment.

Gypsy lived at the shelter from July 2010, when she was turned in as a one-year-old stray, until her adoption in December 2011. People often walked by the kennel of this generic black lab-cross without a second glance. Perhaps they saw her as “just another black dog” (a common misperception at many shelters).  Those who did consider Gypsy were put off by her excitement and the natural exuberance of a young. untrained dog.

Giselle was the LCHS’s resident Olympic contender. This three-year-old shepherd-cross could (and often did) jump almost six feet straight up from a standing position, nearly clearing the walls of her kennel. Despite several Pawsibility tries, her high energy and an unrelenting interest in chasing cats made adoption a challenge. She was at the LCHS shelter – a turn-in because of cat chasing – from September 2010 until April 2012.

It became apparent that that these two loving but challenging dogs needed extra attention.

Shelter trainer Tom Kandt began individual training with both dogs, focusing on impulse control and obedience commands. As the dogs’ behavior improved, he recruited LCHS volunteers to help teach Gypsy and Giselle proper behavior and command response..

Volunteer members of the shelter’s Outreach Program introduced Gypsy and Giselle to the public by taking them to participating Helena businesses, where the dogs met and mingled with customers and got a chance to practice their newly learned manners.

Months of training and outreach efforts first paid off when Gypsy attracted the attention of a woman with a 10-year-old beagle. The woman began visiting the shelter weekly, bringing her dog to play with Gypsy. The two animals quickly formed a bond. After 17 months at the shelter, Gypsy moved to her new home just in time for Christmas 2011, and now resides happily with her person and beagle companion.

Meanwhile, a local couple perusing the LCHS website read Giselle’s story and decided they had the time, resources and location that could provide a perfect home. After spending time with Giselle at the shelter and conferring with LCHS trainers, they took Giselle on the two-week trial run of the Pawsibility Program.  With her newfound manners and obedience training, Giselle proved herself

an adaptable companion. She now spends her time in a cat-free home, with people happy to provide the daily exercise this dog so obviously craved.

GISELLE AND  FORMER KENNELMATE ACE