Rhodesian Ridgeback
🐾 MEG — THE GIRL WHO LEARNT IT WAS SAFE TO LOVE AGAIN ❤️ Some dogs come into rescue needing a new home. And then there are dogs like Meg, whose story makes you wish you could somehow explain to them that they will never have to wonder where they belong again. Meg was once called Peggy. Her exact birthday was unknown, so when her mum was told she was approximately three years old, she gave her something every girl deserves — a birthday of her very own: 10 May 2022. 🎂❤️ But before Meg became Meg, life had already asked far too much of this sweet girl. Her previous owner passed away, and Meg was left behind at the property. Alone. She remained there until the property was eventually cleared and someone found her. From there she was taken in, first by an older couple who simply couldn’t manage a large dog, and then into another home. Unfortunately, the resident dog wouldn’t accept her. So once again, Meg needed somewhere to go. And then, around twelve months ago, someone chose her. She arrived as Peggy — quiet, shut down and unsure of what this new chapter might bring. She became Meg. ❤️ And slowly, beautifully, this sweet girl began to unfold. She learnt that people could be safe. That hands could mean kindness. That food would keep coming. That training could be fun. That other dogs could be friends. And most importantly, she learnt how very, very good it feels to belong. Unfortunately, through absolutely no fault of Meg’s, life has changed again. Her mum suffered a serious accident several months ago and is now facing back surgery and a knee replacement. She can no longer physically give Meg the walking and care she deserves. Having to let her go is devastating. So this isn’t a story about someone giving up on their dog. It’s about someone loving her enough to ask for help when they can no longer give her the life they want for her. ❤️ 🌸 WHO IS MEG NOW? Meg is an incredibly sweet, gentle and clever girl. She adores people and loves other dogs. Given her history, another suitable dog may be a wonderful source of companionship for her. She’s also been brilliant around cats. She can be a little unsure of them, but rather than chasing or confronting them, she has shown herself to be respectful and tolerant. And children? ❤️ Meg is wonderful with children, and has shown an especially beautiful, gentle side around children on the autism spectrum. There’s something rather special about watching a sensitive dog recognise when a little human needs softness. She’s beautifully trained, walks wonderfully on lead, knows heel and responds to voice commands. She loves learning — although we’ll admit that her enthusiasm for education may have something to do with the fact that food is involved. 😂 Because Meg LOVES food. She’s even clever enough to make choices between treats: offer her options in different hands and she’ll touch the hand containing the one she’s chosen. Apparently this girl has opinions. 😂❤️ 🧸 And toys? Well… nobody ever taught Meg what they were for. She doesn’t really play with them. There’s something both heartbreaking and endearing about that — while other dogs learnt to chase balls and destroy squeakers, Meg seems to have missed that lesson somewhere along the way. Perhaps her next family might get the privilege of teaching her that toys can be fun. Or perhaps she’ll look at a $30 toy, look at you, and decide she’d rather have the snack. She is a Ridgeback, after all. 😂 ❤️ THE PART OF MEG THAT STILL NEEDS A LITTLE HELP For all the incredible progress she’s made, some pieces of Meg’s past still travel with her. Being left alone is hard for her. Meg experiences separation anxiety, and when you know her history, it’s not difficult to understand why. She has already been left behind once. So when her person disappears, she doesn’t yet completely understand that they’re always coming back. She needs a home that understands this isn’t naughtiness or stubbornness. She needs patience, reassurance and a family willing to continue gently building her confidence around being alone. She’s also nervous about having her nails done and can shake with fear, but she isn’t reactive. The same goes for the vet. She worries. She shakes. She’d undoubtedly prefer to be literally anywhere else — but she copes. Underneath it all is simply a sensitive girl trying very hard to be brave. And she has already come such a long way. She is healthy, loving, intelligent, food-motivated, beautifully trained, wonderful with people, children and other dogs, and has shown herself to be lovely around cats. She doesn’t need someone to “fix” her. She needs someone who understands that trust took time to build — and is worth protecting. Meg has already survived being left behind. She’s already learnt to trust again. She’s already discovered what it means to have a person of her own. And despite everything life has thrown at her, somehow this beautiful girl has remained soft, gentle and incredibly sweet. Now we want the next person who chooses Meg to be the one who gets to say: “You’re home, sweetheart. You don’t have to keep starting over anymore.”🐕🐾♥️
SA
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