Vinci

Hello Everyone,

It’s Vinci here - you all have not heard from me since April/May!

I have to share my story because everyone says it is pretty special. Up until four years ago, I lived in a puppy mill type of operation in CA and was used as a stud dog for years. A nice family from FL drove all the way to CA to come and adopt me.

I was really scared and had no confidence in the outside world at all. I can’t speak, but it was surmised that I lived in a crate and did not get to run and play. I had several sores on my body.

When I got to FL, I had never been in a house before or had a backyard - I was nervous all the time. When this nice family had me for only a week, while on a walk, I slipped out of my collar and was gone for 8 days. Because I cannot talk, I couldn’t tell them what had happened to me, but I became even more afraid they said I had PTSD.

Going outside was particularly scary, and every little noise petrified me. I found my safe place in a closet on the main floor. For the next four years, that is where I stayed. My family had to put me on a leash to get me to come out and go outside. Even though I was a pretty scared guy, I was very sweet.

This family had 4 kids and there was a lot of activity - this made me nervous too. I started having accidents in my closet and this family, even though they loved me, felt I needed a quieter home with someone who was experienced to help me come out of my shell.

TBVC Rescue found the perfect home with a man from Elmira, NY. Unfortunately, he was going on a 3-month meditation retreat. My family was committed to me having the perfect home, so I continued to stay with them for the next three months.

Elmira, NY was quite a way away, but my family drove me about half-way, where a really nice lady named Trish met them, and she brought me to meet my new dad, Kevin, in Washington, DC. I felt safe with him from the start and walked right up to him.

.When we got to my new home, my new dad took me on a tour of the whole house, and he slept on the couch to be near me. During the night, I got on the couch and slept with my new dad. Next night I slept on a bed with him and even felt comfortable to snuggle with him.

Every day has been easier for me inside; I like to lay in the sun on a dog bed in the breakfast area. After spending 4 years in a closet, I am experiencing sunshine for the first time and I love it! I am still very scared to be outside, but I am sure with patience and guidance from my new dad, it will get easier for me.

So, this is the big news - I AM ADOPTED!!!! My new dad loved me from the day we met (only 3 days ago) and I am not going anywhere - I am HOME! Sorry for the long story, but I wanted to let you know about my journey and how wonderful TBVC Rescue is to have helped me get here. Special thank you to Sue Towne, Zone 1 Rescue Coordinator, Nicole Dussault, Trish, from Arlington, VA who helped to bring me to my dad, my former family for their selfless decision to let me have a new chapter in my life and to my new dad, Kevin for loving me and wanting me to live the rest of my life with him.

Love Vinci