Local couple rescues dog
By Linda Le Vine Special to The Acorn

LOVE HEALS- When she first joined the LeVine family, Lady showed signs of aggression to the other family pets. But consistent love and gentle discipline helped the pooch overcome her rough puppyhood and relax into family life.

"Come see this dog. We have to have this dog," my husband exclaimed as we entered the local pet store. I walked over to the cage he was staring into and saw one of the most unusual puppies I'd ever seen.

The dog appeared to be part Dachshund with just a bit of Rhodesian Ridgeback (a truly odd mix). She had a large pointed nose and big floppy ears, and when her sad brown eyes stared back at me, she captured my heart.

Amy was part of a group of dogs presented for adoption by the wonderful LIFE Animal Rescue organization on Saturdays at Petsmart in Westlake Village.

Through Emily, the head volunteer, we learned that this particular puppy had a very sad past and, because she had been previously neglected, would be extremely difficult to socialize. Any contact by either humans or animals would elicit horrific growls and aggressive behavior. In spite of some trepidation on my part, my husband and I decided to take Amy home to live with us to give her a better life.

The first couple of weeks were not easy. We have two other dogs and two cats and Amy was a bully. She needed constant supervision for the peace of mind of the other animals. She took their food and piled their toys in "her" corner of the room and stood guard. Our once peaceful home became noisy with constant barking and growling.

We reacted by giving her gentle discipline, positive feedback and lots and lots of love and attention. Gradually we saw a positive change in her behavior. After a couple of months, the growling and aggression stopped. She even began to nap peacefully and contentedly snuggled beside my big Lab. Now my three dogs spend much of their time playing together and sharing toys. When i t i s treat time, the puppy waits patiently until we say her name.

It turns out this poor little girl, who had such a difficult beginning to her life, used her aggressive behavior as a survival mechanism in a world without love.

We feel fortunate that we were able to offer Amy the security she needed to become the sweet and gentle dog that she is now. It is a wonderful feeling to rescue an animal that was not immediately attractive to most people, give her a good life and add a cherished member to our family.

By the way, her new name is Lady because she is our little lady.