Home. Some pets never have one to call their own. We'd like to help change that by introducing you to an extraordinary adoptable pet every week. Today, we'd like you to meet Grateful, a young pup who has been through a lot in her short life.
Three months ago, this 1-year-old Austrailian shepherd was discovered roaming a deserted New Mexico highway with her mouth duct-taped shut.
"She was obviously taken out there and dumped," says Robin Moskowitz, vice president of operations for the Watermelon Mountain Ranch in Rio Rancho, N.M., who took the dog in. "There's a good 25 miles out there of literally nothing."
After she was rescued by animal control, staff at the ranch were tasked with removing the tape from the terrified dog. "She was scared to death, needed to be bathed – she was matted and filthy, in distress," recalls Moskowitz. "Removing the tape was not easy."
With the stress of that ordeal now behind her, Grateful is on the long road to rehabilitation. "She's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Moskowitz says. "She does not trust strangers, but if she knows you, she's like an instant puppy."
The right owner for this young dog will be someone who has had experience with dogs and has plenty of patience to help her overcome her deep fears. "We kind of let her chill for a while [after she arrived]," she says. "But now we've got her coming around. We're really careful who we let near her."
Sweet and loving Grateful has the ability to trust, but it takes a lot of treats and time, which is why the ranch recommends she be adopted by a person who is single and doesn't have any other pets. "She's just afraid," Moskowitz says. "It's going to take a while to rehabilitate her."
If you are interested in making Grateful your project, contact the Watermelon Mountain Ranch at (505) 771-0140.
Click here to meet last week's adoptable pets, Coco and Chanel.
Your Reaction
