Hawk's wanted poster picture

Meet the newly (rediscovered and) renamed Hawk. In Native American folklore, the Hawk is the messenger, and those who have met this dog believe that he has something to teach us all. This sweet dog was born at a puppy mill and spent the first five months of his life caged in a Pet Store. He was then purchased by a family who had no idea about the reality of living with a young unsocialized Border Collie. They had him for 3 months but couldn't get him used to living with people and they were never successful at house training him, so the pup was relinquished to a shelter. Like many Border Collies, he did poorly in the shelter and the poor pup just "shut down" completely, and he wouldn't eat or drink and he bucked and snapped when put on a leash, but mostly he just lay curled in a ball, totally shut down from the world. The shelter called New England Border Collie Rescue.

When Monique, a NEBCR evaluator went to see him, he was nervous, but he did pass the basic temperament test that she used to evaluate him and on Easter Sunday he was picked up from a New Hampshire shelter and brought to his new foster home in Tynsgbororo Ma. Poor Hawk, then named Harley was a nervous wreck, slipped his collar and took off. For the next 2 months, there was a HUGE effort to capture this dog who managed to stay in the area of Tyngsboro Ma. not far from where he was lost. Many people were involved in trying to capture him but they did not succeed. Many NEBCR volunteers, ACO officers, a few locals and Debbie Hall from Lost Dog Search.com a woman who makes finding lost dogs her personal mission, all gave it their best shot. But the dog was too frightened to let anyone close to him and there came a day when there were no longer sightings of Harley, and we took him down from the NEBCR web site and we all feared that he died.

Last week NEBCR got a call from the Nashua NH Humane Society, where Hawk had originally been relinquished, to let us know that the dog had been apprehended. Apparently he had been coming regularly to visit a young puppy in a local back yard. The owner of the puppy began feeding Hawk, but Hawk would not come close enough for her to catch him or even be able to touch him; so she contacted the local ACO. My friend Wendy, who had taken the bus from Bangor to Ma., and had spent 10 solid days in a row trying desperately to capture Hawk, immediately agreed to foster him.

Here is what she had to say about his vet appointment Tuesday, after being in her home since only Saturday:

Hawk definitely has a Guardian Angel watching over him. Today he went to the vet for an initial check-up and he was so good we didn't even need a muzzle. He received his vaccinations and has tested NEGATIVE for Heartworm!!! He did test positive for Lyme and will be on a 28 day course of antibiotics and receive the Lyme vaccine. His stool sample showed no intestinal diseases and no worms or eggs which is just unbelievable when you consider what he's been through. Anyway, the vet decided we should worm him just in case some eggs didn't show up on the test and then he'll be on Interceptor so that should take care of that. Hawk weighed a whopping 34 pounds and it's all solid muscle. He will be neutered on Sept. 1st and microchipped. Otherwise, he is remarkably healthy. The vet did find a few fleas but he is on advantix now so they are no concern. I attached a couple quick photos for those who haven't seen him except on his "wanted" poster. He has not had any in house accidents with the exception of once over-night (I slept in too long). He will whine when he needs to go out and goes straight to his business once he's outside. I have no clue why his family couldn't house train him. He's very quiet in his crate and goes right inside whenever he wants security. He's eating 3 - 1 cup meals of Innova Evo a day and drinks plenty of water. I've been taking him on 15 - 20 minute walks through the wooded trails on a long line hooked to his halter and my belt and he has not once tried to escape, nor does he race too far ahead or pull in sled dog fashion. He constantly checks to see where I am and if I stop to pick some berries, he settles in the tall grass and waits patiently for me. Tomorrow he will have a bath and nail trim but what a great dog he is already. I have learned the hard way that this can change very quickly but so far he is a real "keeper" and I mean that to say I'm hoping he will want to stay here permanently. His eyes fill my heart with a warmth and gentleness far beyond his experiences could show. I promise to keep everyone up to date on his progress. Thanks to all of you for your good thoughts, encouragement and tremendous support.

I admit to being a skeptic and thinking that this dog may be too feral to save, but I will happily admit when I am mistaken. Continued success Wendy, and welcome back Hawk!

Thanks Wendy for some great new photos! Keep them coming!

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