Toby - from adoption to now - a picture transformation

**BrooklynMom** · 10th January 2013, 08:24 AM

I thought you might all like to see my rescue Toby's transformation

we adopted him 6 months ago (surrender pic on left) and look at him now (recent pic on right)!! What a difference.

His coat and eyes shine, he went from nearly 11kg to 8.8kg, he plays with toys, he is bright, and even though struggles a lot with his baggage and emotional issues, he has come a long way behaviorally too...all with the help of a great diet, proper supplements for his issues, a Delta certified positive reinforcement trainer and lots of love!
Sure, he will probably never be a lover of dog parks or other dogs (except Brooky!) in general...but he is happy for human love despite his horrible past and he can retire on my couch forever as far as I'm concerned

**Nix105** · 10th January 2013, 09:06 AM

What a truly handsome boy! It's a real testament to your hard work to rehabilitate Toby. I often take a look at rescue websites and wish I had more time to take on a rescue dog - it breaks my heart to see how ill treated some dogs have been.

You should be very proud!

**BrooklynMom** · 10th January 2013, 10:15 AM

Thank you for your kind words! But also good on you, because you have a heart that wants to help, but you consider the time and effort required to take on a rescue and sometimes knowing you can't right now is actually a good decision. I work in a shelter, and while most people have big hearts and great intentions...they don't think about the fact that a rescue is something to take seriously. It can go in so many directions from easy to very hard - but a rescue always has a past (some completely loving and normal, some horrific) but they are not a decision to be taken lightly, like any dog or puppy. No matter how much someone's heart aches to help and save, one always has to make sure they are ready....and for me, thank goodness I had the time, love, education and finances to help him. I see too often in the shelter dogs that just get adopted and brought back over and over - because it was not the rescue fairy tail a person hoped it would be...and I'll tell you, even with Toby, it was SO hard the first three months (still is some days). He still struggles with the outside world, but we are learning how to guide him and let him know "we've got this". And we'll, I love his soul, it is so open.

I always tell people who want to help rescues this: adopt, if you can't adopt - foster, if you can't foster - volunteer, if you can't volunteer - donate, and if you can't donate - use your voice to help give rescues a voice and to help all the new puppies coming into this world to be born ethically for all of us to enjoy

**Margaret C** · 10th January 2013, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by BrooklynMom

Thank you for your kind words! But also good on you, because you have a heart that wants to help, but you consider the time and effort required to take on a rescue and sometimes knowing you can't right now is actually a good decision. I work in a shelter, and while most people have big hearts and great intentions...they don't think about the fact that a rescue is something to take seriously. It can go in so many directions from easy to very hard - but a rescue always has a past (some completely loving and normal, some horrific) but they are not a decision to be taken lightly, like any dog or puppy. No matter how much someone's heart aches to help and save, one always has to make sure they are ready....and for me, thank goodness I had the time, love, education and finances to help him. I see too often in the shelter dogs that just get adopted and brought back over and over - because it was not the rescue fairy tail a person hoped it would be...and I'll tell you, even with Toby, it was SO hard the first three months (still is some days). He still struggles with the outside world, but we are learning how to guide him and let him know "we've got this". And we'll, I love his soul, it is so open.

I always tell people who want to help rescues this: adopt, if you can't adopt - foster, if you can't foster - volunteer, if you can't volunteer - donate, and if you can't donate - use your voice to help give rescues a voice and to help all the new puppies coming into this world to be born ethically for all of us to enjoy

Great post. Such wise words.

Toby looks a different dog. How lucky he is to have found you.

**Karlin** · 10th January 2013, 11:59 AM

Lovely~! What a wonderful thread to start the morning with!

**Sydneys Mom** · 10th January 2013, 02:33 PM

Hi Kelsey,

I echo what the others say. Toby is a really handsome boy and lucky he has you looking after him.

**MomObvious** · 10th January 2013, 03:10 PM

He was a good looking guy before but man its a whole new dog now. I LOVED fostering beagles! It was really rewarding....especially since I ended up with a lot of mistreated hunting beagles who had never been inside a house before. Trying to remember oh even the microwave beeping or the sound of running water could freak a newbie out, learned that the hard way a time or two. But I have a big yard and more time at home then. So maybe I could foster cavaliers someday.