b'In more than 15 years of fostering Barney. She told them STRSE could not takingBarneyinwouldbe,Lisadogs, Karrie had never brought a foster takeBarney,ashewouldbea wondered whether or not he was fixablehome and allowed them sleep in the bed, liabilitytotherescue.Sheencouraged or even manageable. If not, she knew shebuttheretheywere.Eachmorning, themtocontinueworkingwithhim, was putting herself in a terrible positionMagicsbehaviorprovidedKarriewith convinced that the current situation was that no one in rescue ever wants to signan update which set the tone for the day. the best. A retired couple, home most of the up for.Another good night of sleep gave Magic day, fenced in backyard, no kids.Someonequestionedherdecision,the confidence to let go just a little more. Anytimewecankeepadogwith asking, Why would you go get a dogMore important, at the start of another thefamily,wellhelpthemandoffer from the shelter knowing that you mayday,MagicchallengedKarrietomove training tips, Lisa said. But, suddenly all havetoputthatdogdownyourself?intentionally; to talk less and just be.communication stopped. LisawasupallnightseekinganMagics days became routine, filled answer. Maybe it was the little girl in herwith fun, games, learning, and structure. who was connecting with this dogs ownProper outlets for a foster dogs energy, trauma on a certain level. As a little girl,while also providing their own personal Sherecalledhowshehadwishedshespacelikecratestosettle,helpsto could always feel safe; hoping, that nosetthemupforsuccess.Byhavinga matter what, she could always go home.routine, dogs know whats coming next Lisarealizedpasttraumasandexperi-and thats the key to building confidence ences shape who we are now.and cooperation. After bringing Barney home, everyI hope Magics story will reach just singletimeshetookhimoutsidetoone person, and open their eyes to puppy potty, he would run straight to the gatemills,saidKarrie.Itdoesntmatter and look out, perhaps thinking that hehow good a website looks or how nice was going home. His foot up, communi-someonesoundsonthephone.Puppy cating uncertainty.millsdontdohealthtests. Theydont Barney spent his first night with Lisascreen potential buyers to see whether or in the familys basement inside a crate,notthebreedwillbeagoodfitwith partially covered with a blanket. Lisa feltsomeones lifestyle. They offer multiple he needed quiet alone time to start thebreeds.Thosearejustsomeofthe healing process and decompression. Hisredflagstoalertyouthatyouremost body language was pitiful.likely dealing with a puppy mill.Barney, soon after being pulled from the The following morning, still strug-shelter by Scottish Terrier Rescue gling for an answer to the question thatBarney: From Fear to Forever of the Southeast. Notice his raised front paw. had been asked of her, Lisa read her dailyBarneywaspurchasedbyacouple devotional.ItwasabouttheGoodwho had just lost their lifelong beloved Then Lisa received a phone call from Shepherd caring for his sheep in bothScottish Terrier. By their own standards, Spartanburg Humane Society, letting her justice and mercy; balancing truth withtheir first Scottie was the perfect dog, know that a Scottie had just been owner- compassion.Wedonthavetochooseand they had hoped Barney would live surrendered.LisaknewitwasBarney. one over the other. up to that.The shelter director told Lisa she could She wrote the following note: It isBut Barney was not at all like their pickhimupbefore3p.m.thatday possible to stand firm and show mercy atpreviousdog.Barneywaseasilyover- or wait to pick him up the following day thesametime.Tobetruthfulandwhelmed. Taking him for walks in the between 10 a.m. and noon. The restricted compassionateatthesametime. Theycouples busy chaotic neighborhood was timeframewasduetoinclement are not opposites but part of the samedisastrous. Like trying to put a square weather.Asnowstormwasquicklywhole. For now, thats what Ill do forpeg into a round hole, Barney was being heading their way. Barney, nurture that coexistence of theseforced by his caretakers to be a dog that Lisa dropped everything and left for feelings.Trueleadershipisntabouthe was not. And, when that didnt work, the shelter. She knew that the stress of being soft or harsh. It just comes fromthey opted to use a shock collar to correct sheltersmells,thenoiseandresulting beingabletobekindanddowhatishim. He became a fear biter.anxietyandconfusionwouldnotbe right even when its uncomfortable.This is not how I thought I would good for a dog with Barneys issues.BarneywasnotoneofSTRSEsbespendingmyretirementyears, It is a definite setup for someone to rescue dogs before he ended up in theexclaimedthewifetoLisa,whowas get badly hurt, thought Lisa. She had shelter.Hehadbeenpurchasedasatrying to work with them in an effort to experiencewithherownScottish puppybytheretiredcouplefromankeep the family together. She had spent Terrier,Jagger, whohadissuessimilar unethical breeder in Alabama. Lisa wascountless hours with the couple, trying to Barneys. determinedtogiveBarneyanothertoimplementamanagementplanfor Not knowing what the outcome of chance. It would not be easy. Continued g34 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'