But we're not as quick to come to the aid of an animal that is broken on the inside. We're not as moved to throw our resources at an animal who doesn't appear starved to death, beaten, injured, or physically suffering. There is a tendency for our hearts to follow the graphic photos that turn our stomachs, cause us to question humanity, and motivate us to run to the aid of a helpless animal. And because of that, it is often the dogs without the graphic pictures that suffer the most. They rely on their rescuers to tell their story in a way that pictures cannot. They are the ones who suffer in silence behind the bars of a cage because their physical condition doesn't scream out to rescuers, adopters, and rescue supporters. And sadly, they are usually the last animals to get the help they need and the first to be euthanized.

Meet Willa; A prime example of one of those animals who has suffered in silence. To those who don't know her, Willa is a darling, 2 year old Sheperd/Shar Pei mix with the most expressive, comical ears you have ever seen and a set of goofy webbed feet to match. And to those who meet her for the first time, Willa is a submissive, loving little girl that rolls over for belly rubs and can't wait to meet new people. Other than some hair loss due to a low thyroid which is now on the mend with a very inexpensive daily medication, you wouldn't see the scars of Willa's abuse until you get to know her; and until you meet with her trainer who has helped us to unravel the mystery of Willa's horrific past.

Willa came to us when one of our volunteer members was introduced to her at a county shelter; just days before she was scheduled to be euthanized. She caught the attention of our volunteer when the shelter workers tried to take her out for a walk and Willa flattened herself to the ground, with no clue what it meant to be on the end of a leash. Willa's concerning behavior, combined with the fact that she had virtually no hair, compelled those of at Take Me Home to spare her life and get to the bottom of her needs. Medically, Willa's needs were simple; complete hair loss due to low thyroid which is 100% curable with daily medication. But psychologically, Willa's needs were still a mystery. If she had been abused (hit, beaten, inappropriately scolded), then why was she so happy to meet new people and showed no outward signs of aggression? And if she hadn't been abused, then why the strange behavior at the shelter which would randomly reoccur in the middle of our walks with her? And why did Willa always refuse to go potty on her walks no matter how many miles we walked; only to immediately urinate and defecate as soon as she returned to her dog run? Willa's behavior didn't add up. That is, not until we determined that we needed a professional to address her needs and invested in her training with Linn Boyke of Zen4K9s (www.Zen4K9s.com).

Linn is one of only three apprentices to Cesar Millan and is highly skilled at understanding dog behavior. Once Willa moved in to Linn's facility, it did not take him long to determine the cause of her strange behaviors. We now understand that Willa has what is called "Dirty Dog Syndrome". In short, prior to being turned into the county shelter, Willa likely spent the first 2 years of her life confined to a crate so small that it was impossible for her to remove herself from her own waste. Forced to lay in in her own urine and feces, Willa learned that without a choice to go potty anywhere but right underneath herself, it must be OK to lay in your own filth. This is a common syndrome of puppy mill dogs that are forced to live, breed and give birth in tiny cages; cages that are often times not even large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around; which is likely the cause of Willa's flat feet. "Dirty Dog Syndrome" is a learned behavior and it can be broken, but it is a matter of reversing months, and in Willa's case, years, of unthinkable abuse. For Willa to CHOOSE to urinate and defecate on herself, even after being given the option of doing so out on her walks, we now understand the degree to which she suffered; alone, hairless, and covered in her own urine and feces; likely with a litter or more of puppies and their waste on top of her, in a very small cage, for what we believe to be approximately 2 years.

The good news is, Willa is in the custody of an exceptional trainer who is providing her with the rehabilitation that she needs to overcome this syndrome; it CAN be overcome and it WILL be overcome. But the bad news is, no one's heart has been compelled to take mercy on this terribly abused dog because she looks so happy and healthy on the outside and doesn't tug at adopters' heartstrings. Because her photos don't show how horribly she was treated and the inhumanity that she suffered for 2 long years, adopters who are willing to take in a special needs dog feel that Willa doesn't need their care as badly as a dog with graphic photos; and they move on to what appears to be a more tragic case. But the truth is, if Willa could talk to adopters and tell her heartbreaking story, they would be in tears. Unfortunately, her pictures are so deceiving that it has cost her the opportunity to have a real home and a family to call her own.

Take Me Home is searching for someone who understands that the dogs with the greatest needs are often the dogs that appear to be perfectly healthy. We are looking for someone who will realize the blessing of adopting a dog that has received months worth of professional training, along with the opportunity to work with Willa's trainer so that she can take all the skills she has learned at her training facility into her new home. We are looking for someone who doesn't feel sorry for Willa and will just "forgive" her for accepting a life of living in her own waste; and instead will challenge her on a daily basis to demand better for herself and to not give in to the submission that comes from years of abuse. We are looking for someone who realizes that as far as special needs dogs go, Willa has a lot of positives; she's not an aggressive dog that can't be around new people, she doesn't require costly medical care, and she's still young with her whole life ahead of her at only 2 years old. We are looking for someone with a yard so that all the months of training we have invested in to teach Willa the difference between indoors and outdoors can be continually reinforced. And we are looking for someone with the time to invest in Willa that she needs in order to thrive.

Willa deserves for someone to be as quick to support her as the dog writhing in pain after being hit by a car; the litters of puppies abandoned and riddled with illness; the emaciated dog that has spent years on the end of a chain; and all the other abused and neglected animals with the graphic photos that beg for support. She deserves for someone to want to invest in her future and to consider the horrific nightmare it would be to live in a tiny cage for 2 years; a cage so small that she couldn't sleep without laying in her own waste. She deserves for someone to understand that animal abuse comes in many forms, but that it can be overcome. Just as we can put a dog back together that has broken her leg, we can put Willa back together psychologically. But we can't make the final step in her journey until an adopter steps forward; an adopter who understands her needs and cares enough to demand a better life for her. Take Me Home has made the financial commitment and will cover all of Willa's training and rehabilitation costs. But sadly, until someone steps forward and is willing to open their heart and their home to this dog who deserves only the brightest of futures, we will never be able to answer Willa's desperate plea, "Take Me Home".