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Mylo's story, and my rescue


MylosPika

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This is a little story about how a sixteen pound shih-tzu mix saved my life.

On June 27th of 2013, I had overslept... like I always tend to do on Saturday mornings, when I heard a knock on my door. Pounding was more like it. Half asleep, I went to the door and opened it. Standing there was my Stepfather, and in walked a little mass of fluff who came in like it had been in my room it's entire life. It hopped up on my bed and looked at me from beneath the fur on it's face, one snaggletooth hanging out of his mouth. I looked back at my stepfather and sleepily asked "Who's dog are we fostering?". I had thrown the idea of fostering a dog at my parents months before since I was struggling with anxiety, depression and was dreadfully lonely. I knew animals were the only things that seemed to help. "Nobody's" my stepfather answered me "He's ours, this is Mylo".
I was sort of in a state of shock, I had given up completely on adopting/owning a dog of any sort, I hadn't owned a dog in years and right before this very day was even considering adopting a rabbit... and there was this little unkept mass of fluff who was supposedly mine.

Over time, bits and pieces of his past came to us. We were Mylo's third home. As a very small puppy he belonged to an elderly lady who was possibly too old to take him outside and properly socialize him, his name was Gizmo back then. He was then given to his second owner, where he lived with her, her children, a few grandchildren, and an anxious mess of a terrier cross who was four years old. He was supposedly potty pad trained and rarely, if ever, went outside when we got him. That owner moved and claimed she couldn't take both of her dogs with her and had to get rid of one. My stepfather is a friend of Mylo's old owner and offered to take him months before that day in June, but was then told he had gotten hit by a car and she couldn't give the dog to him quite yet. Honestly, I think she was attached and didn't want to give him up. My stepfather told me that when Mylo was given to us by his old owner's daughter, he came with supplies from the Humane Society... so it's possible he could have spent some time there as well. When he showed up he had basically no socialization, no shots, training and was in tact. He was also "table food trained" as his old owner put it, whatever she was eating, he ate too, dog food didn't exist before he came to us.

In time... he changed. After neutering him, he calmed down, when we brought him toys at first, he didn't know what to do. He was afraid of squeakers and had no idea what to do with a tennis ball. Now he loves toys and every time I come home from shopping there HAS to be something for him, he's sure of it!

We gave him all of his shots, his tags, a bed... toys... all the things he came without. He still begs for our food but he's gotten used to eating wet and dry food now.

Let me tell you something, this dog and I have gone through the wringer together, he's a fearful dog, and used to bark at strangers when we went on walks. With a lot of training that is basically a thing of the past. He still spooks easily at times but I've sort of developed methods to relieve his stress. My stepfather claims the dog is his but... in all honesty all of the training and care has sort of fallen on me, not that I mind at all. This little mass of fur has turned into the most loving, intelligent dog I know, he takes to obedience in a flash, never had an accident in the house and took to going outside the very first day we got him. He loves the people he knows and new people once he gets used to them (he's still very timid when people approach, but now he's to the point where he'll very shyly sniff their extended hand). He's great with my grandmother, very gentle and loving, and with my Uncle, who's in a wheelchair because of Cerebral Palsy. I look at him now, a year later, and realize how far he's come considering where he started.

I've realized... when I'm with him, my anxiety goes away. It was because of Mylo that I decided to go and get help for myself, because I didn't want "one nervous wreck to train another" as I put it. When I'm going through a bad day, he will follow and nudge me until I allow him into my arms, and won't move until the tears stop. A lot of people tend to thank me for taking a rescue into my life, but I actually have a lot more to thank him for. Just by being there, by walking through my door that June day, he saved my life.

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Mylo on the very first day we got him, at ten months old

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Mylo now, at two years old

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Sophie's Haven

Your a team.......you have helped each other. Your story was very touching and so glad for you that Mylo came into your life. You were the right person for Mylo, look how he has grown in such a short period of time. Happy for the both of you!!!!

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PipsMom

God gave you to him and him to you because you needed each other, a need so profound you live for each other and make each other happy! And that's what the world is all about isn't it?

So you got some powerful shih tzu healing going on, embraced it.

We have a photo bucket link now to post some pictures. I invite you to post some of Mylo.

Someone out there is going through the same thing as you are Angel...pass the love through your pictures so someone else can feel the love and comfort you have felt.

http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/seethelove1/profile/

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The story is so touching! Sometimes we know when it's "meant to be" and you meeting and caring for Mylo is one of those moments. I can relate to that bonding you have with him, don't we all? We love them and they make our days happier, they give us reason to keep trying to be better, one supports the other and we live a life where we simply can't imagine being without them! :D

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Thank you for sharing your story! I have to agree with everyone above, you were made for each other and we thank God for that. :)

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That's such a wonderful story and it's so great that the two of you have found eachother!

Vicki

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I just love happy endings. And he is a great dog for sure. My first shihtzu was with me through thick and thin and I will never forget her. Her name was Precious who passed away several years ago. I have another one I named after her who is just as sweet and loving. They are great companion dogs.

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Missysmom

Oh my gosh this just tears at my heartstrings. Thank you so much for posting your wonderful rescue story! You are so blessed to have each other in your lives and we are equally so to have you to pass this on to us and be a part of this forum.

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