Shar Pei Rescue of Tennessee

4/28/08: Lola is a very sweet, gentle girl. She loves treats and to be petted. She is a devoted mother and likes to be with other dogs, so a home with at least one other dog would be best. She works well with other outgoing dogs as she is quiet and likes to be part of the group. She loves walks, does well on a leash, and enjoys a fenced-in back yard. She is currently learning to sit. She is housebroken. She loves to give Pei kisses and to have her big, beautiful head held. She also likes being kissed on her nose and to be hugged. She is still a little thin, due to nursing, so a good diet would be important for her. We haven't had her in a crate as she needs space with her puppies, but given her personality I'd say she would adjust with no problems. She is a bit wary of men, but that should be resolved with patience and socialization. Given Lola's history, we recommend that she not be placed into a home with young kids -- probably an older couple with at least another dog (and if they had grandkids to visit, that would be great to help her get used to them).

Lola is a beautiful fawn brushcoat, approximately 2-3 years old. And last and very important, Lola is great with cats. Now is this the perfect dog or what? All she needs is the perfect home.

Lola will be spayed as soon as she weans her puppies.

6/23/08: Today was a very special day for a very special pooch. Beautiful Lola left today traveling to her new home in Royal Oak MI. We were so sad to see Lola go, but we know she will have the very best chance of learning to trust again with Sandy. Sandy recognized that Lola might be more comfortable and come around quicker if she had a friend living with her, so Sandy also adopted Rosie O'Grady. What a wonderful idea.
We can't thank Sandy enough for being willing to give Lola the time she will need to recover from a very devastating past. We don't know what it was, but we know it damaged her severely. We know Sandy can change all that for sweet Lola.

Lola, Rosie and Sandy - what a great looking family

7/4/08: Hi Cindy. Things are coming along. The best news to report is that Lola has gained 5 pounds! Do you believe it? I must admit I am spoiling her with special nutrient gravy, a few tablespoons of canned dog food and then either scambled eggs, cottage cheese or yogurt and of course hard kibble. She always eats every last bite. She a bad few days where she wouldn't come in the house no matter what I did and I finally had to make a sort of corral so she couldn't keep running around in circles and the corral leads into the house. Today she has been better and is even resting in her bed as I write this. She got spooked I think when my son came over to visit several days back. Two nights ago it rained about 11p and she finally came in and slept on the back landing.

So we are plugging along slowly with our poor Lola and she is still terrified when I pet her to where she just goes catatonic, but I am sure that will change. Well, I'l write more later but I am working this weekend and I am tired!!! Sandy

7/20/08:Hi Cindy. The trainer came out last night and was very happy about how the girls were doing.

She thought I was doing everything right with Lola!!!!! And she thought Lola was doing very well considering her past. She thought there were many positive behaviors going on, such as the fact that Lola will come in the house when I call her as I stand behind the corral barricade.. I told her I know it is because she doesn't like to be outside when I am out there but she said it doesn't matter. She wanted me to start moving toward the door out from the barricade slowly so in a few weeks (or months? ) she will be able to be near me without a barricade tho she will go by me if I am sitting in my patio chair. Of course I can't grab her from the chair either. Lola came out to see us when we went outside and that is good. She didn't get too close but she wants too and is curious.

I thought I might have been pushing her to have her come out into the living room everyday for a minute or so and she said no, that it was good to have them gradually come out of their comfort zone. I have also been giving her lots of treats when I go into the bedroom where she stays in her bed and while I pet her and that is good. I have started to use hot dogs as a reward too and she said that is what all the agility people use. Anyway it seems we are plugging along at an expected rate and I am doing the right things to gain her trust.

And finally I asked her if she had ever seen a dog like Lola come around and she said definitely, she has had a few of her own and they do agility now, and she thought Lola was doing really good, if I have the patience, which you know by now that I do. She really wants to trust and that face-------who can resist? Sandy

Sandy is Lola's angel. There's no question about that. Lola is in exactly the right place to heal and become whole again. Cindy

8/21/08:Hi Cindy
Lola continues to make baby steps. She had her first bath last week and I think she is actually the first dog I have ever had that likes a bath. There were the biggest wags while she was in the tub getting soaped and rinsed. For the last several weeks I have had to get up in the middle of the night to let her out and then she stays out for the rest of the night. But lately she is staying all night in the bedroom with me and a few times when I let her out, I woke to find her back in her bed!!! I am still taking her into the living room and blocking her off so her has to be in the midst of things and around me. I sit on the floor and most of the time she comes to me and just wants her head held and petted. She even loves for me to put her head on my chest and pet her. She has even sat down a few times. In between these times I wonder how she is ever going to put things together that I am the same person all the time, because I might be petting her in the bedroom for the longest time and I will leave and come back in and she cowers in her bed, and when she goes back outside after eating she races past me all scared.

Sometimes I get discouraged but for the most part I think things are coming along, just very slowly. Sandy