Who said that the only things a dog does are eat, laze around, and sleep? Meet seven-year-old Brownie, who has the same approach to life as a puppy does. He plans his days meticulously to find the most mischievous things to do and has greater energy than all the younger dogs combined at the sanctuary. He loves to play tug of war with any rope that he finds around the campus, and destroying old water bottles or mats has become his favourite pastime. One can spot him running around the whole place with a toy in his mouth, tempting any and every dog to play with him.
But would you believe that such a dog was a victim of cruelty for most of his life?
Brownie’s Past Living Conditions and Struggles
Ever since he was adopted as a puppy by a family, he had ended up being chained 24*7 under a staircase on a very short leash ALL HIS LIFE. His bed was just a couple of stone slabs thrown together, surrounded by four huge walls. He hadn’t seen the outside world EVER and was made to sit, sleep, and relieve himself in the same spot. He would pull on the leash in excitement, desperate to go out, but that never happened. Instead, HE LOST HIS VOICE because of the pulling and non-stop barking.
A kind lady rescued Brownie from his miserable life, but when she tried getting him adopted, no one stepped up, citing his behaviour issues. Considering he was chained for so long, it’s remarkable that he is a sweet, gentle, playful dog, but was severely misunderstood. Since he deserved to experience a normal life, he was accepted and introduced to the VOSD family last year under our ‘100 dogs free surrender program’.
Initial Care and Treatment at VOSD
When he came in, Brownie was initially untrusting of people and struggled to get along with other dogs; he was not used to being left free either. He was quite snappy towards anybody who tried to enter his space, as all the pent-up anger, frustration, and helplessness finally got an outlet here. He had weak hind legs with a limp in one of them because of getting absolutely no exercise all his life, and basically couldn’t stand, whimper, or bark anymore.
To help him break free from his past trauma and come out of his shell, we slowly introduced him to treats and toys, and treated him just like a puppy because everything was new and alien to him. We exposed him to a normal dog’s world and were determined to show him a life outside the four walls and chains of his home.
His treatment started off with giving him VOSD’s Joint Care Supplement and digestive supplements twice a day, along with 24-hour supervision in the hospital. Later on, he was moved to the ladies’ residence quarters within the VOSD Sanctuary, where he could run free, mingle with other dogs, and remain under the watchful eyes of his caregivers.
A Transformation of Character and Evolution of Behaviour
Over time, he started socialising with other humans and befriending anyone who offered him a treat! Gradually, he warmed up to other dogs also, and he turned out to be exceptionally gentle and playful with younger dogs around the sanctuary as only they could even attempt to match up to his energy level.
After six years of imprisonment, he finally got the life he deserved at VOSD and is enjoying his newfound freedom. He is spending each day living to his fullest by playing, eating, barking, and socialising to his very best of his abilities. That’s the magic of VOSD!
We rely on your donations to rescue dogs like Brownie from their harsh living conditions. Each year, hundreds of dogs become permanent residents of our sanctuary. Help us help dogs by donating today towards their better future.
How You Can Make a Difference
Your contributions can make a world of difference in the lives of dogs like Kinza. We rescue dogs from all over the country, so if you pitch in, it could help us save and transport a deserving dog to VOSD. We drive, fly, or bring by train nearly 200-250 dogs each year from over 30 cities across India to live with us for life. These animals have no home and no hope, but you can help us be their light at the end of the tunnel.