Posted over 10 years ago
If ever a dog can break your heart in two, it's Sampson. Sampson came into rescue from a hoarding situation. He was so emotionally shutdown and fearful that he was stiff as a board when touched. After a few days in his foster home, it was apparent that poor little Sampson could not see. He barely moves from wherever you set him down. He doesn't really know how to use his other senses, but he's learning.
Through all this, Sampson has shown absolutely zero fear aggression. He will allow anyone to pick him up to cuddle him and he has slowly started to relax in his foster home. He is beginning to get up and use the pee pads instead of relieving himself where he lies. He beginning to look for the source of someone saying his name. His foster family is trying to teach him cues such as 'touch' when he's going to be touched so it doesn't startle him; 'up' when he's getting picked up; 'down' when he's getting put down. Sampson's foster home has other dogs, kids, cats and a rabbit but he hasn't really got to know them since he won't interact. He has been known to cuddle with anyone who is calmly lying near him though. ;)
Sampson is a special needs boy and needs a very special, calm home. Someone who will give him the time he needs to adjust to life as a normal dog and love him enough to just let him be who he is. Sampson is one of the best snugglers' his foster mom has ever known!