SO......it was 'a piece of cake' after this!! and ' everyone lived happily ever after...' didn't they? No, not as simple as that!! BUT, this was a major turning point in my attitude and therefore the way I handled the problem. Even so, although I had decided to depend on my own intuition, I was about to question further and find another layer to be dealt with!!
At this point, I welcomed a visit from a friend who had run a Refuge in Cairo in Egypt, her observation was that Nanette had learnt very early in life that if she was motionless, she was safe!! Although it was obvious when she said it, it didn't occur to me quite like that before.
At about this time, Nanette began to eat when I was present in the room and developed a great liking for yoghurt and syrup of dates!!! Since she wouldn't eat croquettes ( Very Wise Dog ), I had to be somewhat creative especially as her digestion to this day has been impaired by trauma. As soon as she began to eat cooked meat and veg without a big problem, she would accept a few croquettes for breakfast......still always IN the bed.
Following the vet's visit, I managed to get her out of the bed the following day and on to the terrace...we struggled to find agreement about this but eventually she plonked down in the corner in full sun. I went inside and got on with a few chores, then glanced outside to see her nodding off in the warmth!!! it wasn't long of course before she was awake again and motionless in the corner and seemed to be waiting to be moved.
Once again, it was a struggle and her resistance was too much for me!! I had already had too little sleep since her arrival and felt emotionally 'done in''. Also I hated what appeared to me to be such an aggressive way of handling an animal. This was too similar to the way she had been handled before!!
Again, I sat down and sought some answers for my troubled mind. That evening, I had an email from a lady who had read my 'soul searching' on a local website. She explained how she had been through exactly the same experience and knew how I felt, furthermore she encouraged me in this direction for which I am eternally grateful! This confirmed my decision to stop imposing my expectations and my anxieties on this already badly damaged animal.
After this, strangely enough...perhaps Nanette sensed a shift in the energy between us? It suddenly became easier to fit the harness on but there was no attempt on my part to force her up or out. It was at this point that she began to look me straight in the eyes!! Long searching looks....this was the moment when I knew there was something 'different' about Nanette!!
I was obliged to use the tranquillisers for her during the short time that I received two students for a piano lesson. I'm happy to say that this was not necessary for long! I also used the pills the vet gave me for assisting her kidney function....Ooh La La!! Thank goodness for the special pads to put in the bed as she was still motiionless.
Then, one evening around this time, I put the food bowl outside the bed.....the idea being to gradually move it further and further away. To my surprise, she got up and reached for the food...looking around in terror every few seconds and snatching the food as fast as possible. The point is that she had MOVED!! Now I was even more certain that this was the right way for Nanette.
It was then the middle of March and one morning, Nanette got up and went into my bedroom. I followed her and was appalled to see her drop a whole pool of water and blood!! I rang the vet who said that I must close her in the room as she was about to give birth!!!!! and needed to be left alone for that. Imagine my horror!! Babies as well as Nanette in an appartment?
More to follow....