Her name is Marly, and she's Lab & Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, 2 yrs old, 45lbs.
I already have 6 Yellow Labs and had no intention of getting another dog but I can't help myself when there are adoption events at the local petshop. I always have to stop and visit the dogs even though I can't help them all or even one most the time, but in the least giving them a little of my time, some extra love, a good rub down, etc, helps me to feel better than just ignoring them.
Anyway, when I saw Marly, she was so beautiful, I had to visit her. Keeping to the rear of the cage, very timid and scared, I noticed several injuries on her head and hind quarters that looked like cigarette burns at first, thankfully not, but just as bad. Much of her life I learned was being keep in a metal cage for 14+ hrs a day, ignored, rarely fed and beaten when let out I was told....le sigh The injures were pressure marks from rubbing on the cage for attention and attempting to escape. {thankfully the hair is beginning to grow back ever so slowly, but it'll take months}
Per usual and as heartbreaking as it is, after attempting to play with her for about an hour in the nearby grass, apparently she was never played with because she would barely move or do anything in fear of being punished, I had to go. This was not a concern, having a 7th dog was, but its not that I couldn't afford her, just thinking did I really need another one. Reluctantly I let the her go back to the cage and proceeded inside the store to get snacks for my other 6 dogs.
When I came back out, I decided to visit her and say goodbye. Thats when I overheard another couple talking about her, that they had a nice house and would be keeping her locked in a cage at night and up to 8+ hrs a day while at work. Good grief these people, after what she's been through already. I interrupted them and said I'd adopt her...."she would never see the inside of a cage again, have total freedom of my entire house and yard at all hrs and a pack of 6 companions to play with!, I'm not going to let you lock her away and do that to her again"
This is Marly! My 7th woggie doggie and she's having a blast with my pack!
She has never been on a couch before, so I was told, thus I made sure she experienced that immediately, and she certainly loved it! {took me 20min trying to get her on there and to stay}
A week later and she's one with the pack, resting together after a good romp around the yard!