by Phyllis Twombly

Created on: June 08, 2009   Last Updated: June 12, 2009

Mistreated or abused dogs often require special treatment. The nature of that treatment depends on the kind of abuse or neglect the dog went through. It may also depend on the temperament of the dog's breed. Individual dogs vary in their personalities. Some are more forgiving and willing to trust humans again, while others are not.

My current dog was an SPCA rescue, part of a litter of puppies abandoned in a farmer's field. They were on their own for about four months, a significant amount of time in any puppy's life. My puppy was one of the smallest ones.

In spite of assurances that my chosen pup was in perfect health, a different picture emerged once I got her home. As soon as she held still long enough for me to get a good look at her I was stunned. Her ribs were sticking out. No animal gets that way overnight.

Feeding her was a bit tricky. She wasn't willing to eat from a bowl, even if it was placed directly in front of her. I offered her a kibble in my hand. She ate it. She ate each piece I offered. I was glad she was eating but I didn't have the time to feed her entirely by hand. By this time she had hidden in the doghouse and I had to reach in just to offer her food. Perhaps the kibbles had helped to calm her fear since she offered no resistance to being pulled out of the doghouse.

I placed her in front of the bowl of dog food and held her by her shoulders. As soon as she saw there was no other option she wolfed down the entire bowl. For months she wouldn't eat unless I was holding her shoulders. Drinking water didn't seem to present similar problems.

The correct amount of food was definitely in question. She was about six months old from what could be determined but how much food is the right amount for a dog that's been starved? I kept adding another cup to her bowl for each feeding. It was up to six cups before she left some, sat down, looked at me, and licked her mouth as if to say thanks. She ate less and less as she adapted to being fed on a regular basis. At forty pounds she eats two cups of dog food a day with a few treats. Since she was badly malnourished I had to switch to a higher brand of dog food that provided enough vitamins and minerals.

She also didn't poop for several days, which I correctly guessed was due to her empty system. I was almost about to take her to the vet when things starting moving on their own. She was terrified. For months she'd look at me with fear every time she did her business. One can only guess what might

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