I can’t imagine what it is like to be imprisoned and terrified for an entire lifetime and how I would behave once set free. Watching Marshall recover I’d say that dogs also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Can you remember the last time you were completely terrified of something? The adrenalin rush, the hyperventilating, the pounding heart? Now imagine living with that feeling for ten solid years.
Marshall does a lot of sleeping. At first I found this curious. I would have thought that after so many years being kept in a 2 x 2 wire pen that he’d want to run all the time. True, when he’s outside he rarely just sits. But he doesn’t seem overly anxious to go out of doors.
Then I began to imagine what it was like, in horrendously filthy conditions, with the noise of nearly 200 other dogs non-stop, afraid to truly try to rest for fear of what may happen to you if caught unawares. This poor dog probably never had a moment’s peace. You can be certain he never had a moment of silence. Sleep was probably something difficult to come by.
So for now I’ve decided not to worry so much about his activity level, and let him try to recover from ten years of hell.
Read or make comments for this article