Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Everyone who has pets would agree that they are apart of your family. What kind of animal lover would I be if I neglected to introduce you all to the other members of My Asylum? We have a total of 5 dogs and a cat. There is a story behind each of these animals and how we came to adopt them. They are like children and each have to be treated differently according to their psychological disorders personlality quirks. I have always lived by the theory that things happen for a reason and I truly believe that we found them because we were mentally equipped (equally as insane) to care for them. So here is the start of a second look into My Asylum……
“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”
I’m going to start with the latest addition to My Asylum. I am starting with Bella because she was already introduced in my post A Thief. She joined the Asylum about 3 years ago and at first was thought to be the only sane member of our household. That quickly changed.
Isn’t she cute? Bella is a Jack Russel Terrior and we got her from a friend that we use to work with. She was the runt of the litter and extrememly small. She was so small, that when we first got her she could fit in the palm of my hand (awwwwwwww). Within a few hours she was attached to my hip. Within two days though, I started to get worried because something didn’t feel right. I knew she was small but she just didn’t seem to be eating or playing like I thought she should. Within a few hours of becoming alarmed she just layed there and wouldn’t move. I was a mess and of course had Mr T rush her to the emergency animal hospital (way to go Mr T). Mr T knew that I was panicked waiting at home and after some tests were run and medication was given through an IV, I received this picture on my phone~
Bella had a parasite that she had gotten before even being born and because she was the runt and was so small it became life threatening. She had to spend some time in the hospital but pulled through. She has problems with her blood sugar and controlling her own body temperature (must wear a jacket in the cold) but is otherwise doing well, except…………..the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (the Asylum’s official diagnosis).
Bella believes that she should have been an only child and reminds me of this every day. She doesn’t seem to mind the children with 2 legs but the other ones with four legs are a huge problem for her. Mr T has tried to explain to her that they were here before she was but that doesn’t seem to matter to her. About a year and a half ago we noticed that she was becoming increasingly aggresive towards the other dogs. I was getting really sick at the time and if any of the other dogs would come near me she would growl. I kept warning Mr T that there would be a problem soon but he thought it would all be okay. Then it happened. Our biggest most aggresive dog (her introduction coming soon) and my little bitty Bella got into a fight. Mr T had to rip Bella out of a set of jaws and rush her to the emergecy animal hospital, once again, because she was bleeding uncontrollably from her neck. I was a mess and was convinced my dog had just died.
Within ten minutes Mr T called to let me know that she would be okay. She had a puncture wound that went through her bottom jaw but they had given her medication to slow down the bleeding and it would slowly heal on it’s own (this dog is going to be the death of me). I was thrilled that I still had my Bella but she was never the same dog after that. She became obsessed with anything that would squeak and is now hoarding plastic sqeaker toys. The A&E network contacted her about doing a one hour special but she refused to let the camera men near her things. She continues to have aggression towards the other dogs so they have to be seperated at all times. She growls at all big brown dogs, even ones that come up on the TV (we had to parental control animal planet).
She is currently in therapy but showing little to no progress. It is believed that she is putting together a plan to have the other dogs taken out. She hired a hitman (the cat) at one point in time but the plan failed when the cats claws got stuck in the carpet and she couldn’t move (a poorly thought out plan). She releases her aggressions by attacking the others dogs (my pillows) through the bedroom window when they are in the back yard. Its quite a scene. See for yourself……..
Holy crap! I think Bella needs help
She does! We are bringing in the big guns (more squeakers, a princess blanket and some milk bones!)
You left out the part where she thinks she runs the joint and gives guilt trips whenever you’re getting ready to leave or spend too much time on the computer. Lord help us……..
Dont be jealous. She does run the joint, Bella style!
LOL! Our little gal, Sniffer, that I have blogged about before is 1/2 Jack Russell and 1/2 Chihuahua. (Yes a match made in hell.) And we love her dearly. Aggression issues are pretty common in Jack Russells. Sniffer was a crazy little handful when we rescued her as a pup. But with a lot of training she’s awesome.
She shakes things (exactly like that video) when she gets upset too. Typically her crate towel. I like her though, she’s special. She’s got more of a terrier personality than a chihuahua personality. And I like that.
I found out that Jack Russells were bred to kill rats and stuff. It’s instinct for them to shake their prey like that because its kills it. Weird, right?
Yeah They are actually really good ratters. They can dig and go down in holes and the whole deal. Some breeders still run trials with live rats in cages (so they don’t get harmed – lol) but they can still train the dogs for their traditional work.
Sniffer is a killing machine. Anything small enough for her to kill and within her reach – it’s dead. Given her allowed range of freedom here, that most often means beetles, skinks, and the occasional chipmunk. But she’ll make an attempt at anything. LOL!
LMAO! That’s hysterical! God I love that dog!!!
My neighbors had a boxer that would like to grab my sneaker while I was wearing it. She never hurt me though. I gave it to her once and she proceeded to shake the shit out of it, like Bella and that pillow! It was SO funny!
Everyone needs a character like that around.
Hey, I have a cat that chases his tail. You have a dog that barks out your window and attacks your pillows. It’s all good.
LMAO, see I knew someone would appreciate her the way I do. Mr T says she is just a spoiled brat that needs to get over herself (to be honest, he is just extremely jealous of my relationship with little Bella) You’re absolutely right…It’s all good!
I am appalled. This behavior can not go unnoticed! You must take action! Go forth and find the Dog Whisperer. His latin ways will tame her. He will listen to her like a personal therapist and woe her with a little love and tenderness. However, she might insist on changing her name to Bellita. Just go with it. It’s all part of the change!
Belllita? I could get use to that. It sounds exotic
Bella is a little cutie! Our pets have grown up to take our personalities. Whereas they were just boring little stray cats when I let them in the house, now they are fat, lazy, idiots just like the rest of us. They fit in perfectly!
Bella definitely is 100% my dog, attitude and all. Its ok though, there is nothing wrong with a strong female who knows what she wants (even if it is a pillow)
Bella was so tiny! I’m glad she survived the parasite!
Thanks! Me too. She’s a good kid, overall
Bella is one smart pooch. Hiring the cat as her hit man is genius and she will succeed!
Definitely a smart one, hiring someone else to do all the dirty work
Belle seems such a quite dog to have around. Happy she survived all horror and hopefully she will be the same old brand new Bella again. Loved this post!
OMG I love her! I just had to click and take a peak at lovely Bella! My Roxy does the same thing. I think it’s part of their DNA!
I love her dearly! It definitely has to be a gene of theirs I’m convinced. Either way, it’s adorable.