SAMSON

SAMSON was a very frightened boy when he was found and was initially fostered in Ireland. He crawled everywhere on his belly and was terrified of adults. The only time he behaved normally was around children whom he, instinctively, trusted and loved. It was the express wish of his Irish fosterers that he should be rehomed with a family having children.

The initial assessment from Ireland was:- "He is only a young chap, no more than 1 year but so frightened of people :((  He is, in no way, nervous aggressive but rather cowering nervous :((  When he is approached he cowers on the floor and avoids all eye contact, same response to a lead.  He is, however, far more at ease with children as they, obviously, are not the ones that have hurt him in the past.  He needs a fosterer ideally with only one or two dogs so he's not too overwhelmed and older children would be a bonus for him.  He needs somebody with a lot of patience who will be able to help him overcome his fears and build his confidence. A calm confident dog is a must to help him with this as they usually will follow the other dog's lead."  
 
When Pauline and Jan met him from the transport he, again, crawled along the floor, in total terror. He then had a couple of days with Pauline's dogs, who helped him tremendously to gain in confidence, as did the course of flower essences and healing that he was also given.
 
Then Maggie and Ray looked after him for a few days whilst they were camping nearby, in readiness for the Reunion. Needless to say, they, and their IRR rescue girl, Daisy, fell totally in love with Sammy but they knew that he really would do best with a family, as he adored all the children that he met on Reunion Day.

Sammy went home from the Reunion with Jan and, again, her dogs have also helped greatly with his rehabilitation. He has now gone off happily to his forever home in Kent.

?2006 Irish Retriever Rescue UK