EFFIE ISNT SCARY AT ALL......

EFFIE IS SO SMART!

 

HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT EFFIE LOVES

Effie loves to watch me play Toca Boka.

Effie especially loves going for a ride in the car every day. At first she was afraid to get into the car. I think she thought we were going to bring her back to the Humane Society, Now she jumps in and usually sits in my booster seat. 

The back yard is both good and bad for Effie. She loves to walk the perimeter of the yard and smell everything. But she freaks out with all the things she sees on the other side of the fence. Rudy lives next door. He is still a puppy and he tries so hard to make friends with Effie. He even dug under the fence to say hi. Effie just barks and barks and acts like she wants to attack him. Rudy is ten times bigger the Effie. 

FEARS AND PHOBIAS

Effie and I have a lot in common. We both have phobias.

I am afraid of dots, holes, and bumps. I'm also terrified of spiders and deep water.

That is a lot to be afraid of....but my dog Effie is even worse.

Effie is afraid of

1. other dogs

2. people she doesn't know

3. deer in the neighborhood

4. birds (can you believe that?)

5. woodchucks

6. chipmunks

7. squirrels

8. being alone

9. random leaves falling from trees

What can I do to help Effie get over her fears? Do you have any advice?

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

When we got home, Effie started exploring. She ran into the kitchen and back room. She sat down on her bed and I gave her some treats. Over the next two weeks Effie tasted steak (that I cooked for her), chicken, tuna, cheese, and salmon. The only food she didn't like was peanut butter.

Then I took her outside for a walk. She was pretty good on the leash.....most of the time.

ADOPT OR NOT?

A few days later we went to the Humane Society of Tinton Falls to meet the dog. I had already decided to name her Effie after the good witch in one of my favorite books The Witches of Brooklyn. 

Oh no! She was afraid of everyone and everything!  She had had five puppies about two months before and now was ready to be adopted, but my grandma wasn't too sure we should adopt such a nervous little girl. Then Effie's foster mom suggested we foster her for two weeks to see if she was a good fit in our family. 

And just like that...it was decided. We would pick up Effie on Friday for a two week trial adoption.

SEARCHING AND FINDING

We decided to adopt a rescue this time. My Uncle Pete was looking at the adoptable dogs on the NJ HUMANE Society website and he saw a dog that looked like his grandma's dog from his childhood. Her name was Mitzi. When Uncle Pete showed me the picture, I thought she was ADORABLE!  What do you think?

IS THIS REAL LIFE?

One day this summer I asked my grandma if we could get a dog.

She said, YES!!

I HAD A SECRET WEAPON

But I wasn't just asking my parents for a dog.

I was also asking my grandma. She used to have a dog named Io. He was the sweetest dog ever. He was the dog of my babyhood, but sadly when he was 11 years old he died. That was three years ago. 

IT HAS BEEN A LONG WAIT!

I have always wanted a dog. 

For the past 8 years I have been asking my parents for a dog. 

My parents refused: a dog is too much work, we are too busy foir a dog, when you grow up and buy your own house, you can get as many pets as you want. 

Those are just a few of the excuses my parents gave me when I asked for a dog.