Connemara and Bulliet came to us from a military family who had a nervous neighbor that kept complaining because they are Dobermans. Here’s how the owner described the situation prior to their surrender to us:
“We are a family in a bind. We have two beautiful Dobermans that need homes. Our hearts are broken right now, as this is not by choice; these pups are very loved. We are in the military and live on base in a house that shares a wall with another person who doesn‘t like Dobermans. She reported us, saying that the Dobermans scare her children. This accusation, with no proof, was enough for the military to order us to get rid of the Dobermans or face negative housing and career consequences. We only have this weekend to re-home the pups, and our hearts are breaking. They have to be gone before the pet inspection on Monday morning. It really is just a neighbor who is ignorant of the breed and thinks all Dobermans are bad.”
On the point troublesome neighbors, I recently responded to a fire call for illegal burning. Two of us rolled in Engine 1, several miles out into the country, to a farm that looks like it belongs on a calendar - neat, clean, everything properly stowed - a real showplace. There was no burn, nothing illegal, no smoke or flame showing - nothing other than the owner, a retired veteran, having a small fire in a stove in a building - nothing approaching illegal.
In talking with him, he recounted how a neighbor calls authorities on him regularly, including calling the DEP out there three times in the past couple of months, among other things. Clearly this is a nuisance neighbor and nothing to be done for it. I suspect if he didn’t have such a well-established, beautiful farm, he’d be tempted to sell and move just to be done with the nuisance. It seems to me that at some point, the neighbor ought to be held accountable for false reports. It appears these dogs and their family are the victims of such a neighbor. Wretched and wrong.
In any case, Bulliet does a great ‘I’m a fearsome Doberman‘ act behind a fence. No matter, put a lead on him and take him out, and he’s putty in your hands. Their former owner says that “Both dogs walk very well on leash and know a lot of commands, including sit, place, room, kennel, bed, down, up, in, outside, come, stay, lay down, load up, unload, back up, gentle, kisses, no kisses, love (comes to put head down on you for pets), leave it, shh, and no. They both like squeaky toys and Kongs with treats. Bulliet is the strong, silent type, and she is the goofy Scooby-Doo type.”
One more thing, somehow in all the upheaval, Bulliet has contracted heart worms - dangerous-but-essential to treat (the alternative is a slow death), and very expensive. If you’d like a part in literally saving a Doberman’s life, please donate in his name to help see that the worms are eradicated and his life is saved.
Observations from our volunteers:
“Bulliet is a really good-looking, red, male Doberman. It is important to note that he has a little split personality. On one hand, he is undoubtedly a strong barker to anyone he doesn‘t recognize who approaches the gate to his field. Very protective of his space. On the other hand, after he is introduced to you by someone he trusts, he will literally give you kisses on command! So, he is quick to trust, and an absolutely amazing Dobe when you earn that trust. We even discussed it as if he has a "switch" that turns off on proper introduction.”
‘Nuff said; you know the drill - approved application, appointment, meet, take him home! |
