MARLEY-Boy was saved  from a high kill shelter in Texas where dogs have just 3 dogs to be saved and transported to the rescue in Sebec, Maine  MARLEY-Boy is neutered, core vaccines, rabies, heart-worm & tick disease tested negative, de-wormed, monthly preventatives and micro-chipped. He has an estimated date of birth of 23 November 2016 and at the time of rescue in December 2019 weighed around 23 pounds. We have no way of knowing the exact breed, it is up to individuals to decide what breed they think is most likely.

MARLEY was adopted on 7 April 2020, however, was returned on 30 March 2021 because they feel he needs to be the only animal in the home as he would become overly excited and would nip and also was possessive of his humans. It also stated he had PTSD.

On looking over his medical records from his time with the family he was put on Porzac, just two months after being with the family. This was shocking and upsetting as I do not condone medications for any kind of behaviour unless it is the absolute last resort and absolutely ALL option have been tried. They can have a detrimental affect and I am sure make the dog feel strange and unsure of why they feel like they do and could quite easily add to any issues. In October he was prescribed  Fluoxetine tablets behaviour modification in January it was reported that the owner didn't feel that they was working. With each prescription of this medications, it was explained and recommended that training should be done, as the medications are not a replacement for training. The owner did say that she reached out to a behaviourist, but it was hard to do with having other pets, so nothing was done.

When Marley came back to the rescue I spent some time with him in the communal area with 4 other dogs and of course he was nervous but after a while did relax. He soon started doing his precious sweet howly talk and was wagging his tail. He has settled in with the other dogs, still confused and unsure why he is here.

I cannot say what happened when he was with the family, however, I do not believe he has PTSD, I believe like all dogs they need time and patience to adjust and figure out why they are here and who these people and other animals are. I am not a behaviourist or trainer, but my experience if a dog dictates and demands, then he thinks he is the alpha of the home and in a dogs mind being alpha means responsibility. Protecting the pack and the territory/home. It sounds like Marley's behaviour fits that criteria.

The family state that Marley is fairly house-trained in that he uses pee-pads during the night, he doesn't know how to play with toys and demands attention with a high pitched howl. It can be so hard on these precious souls not knowing what is happening to them and why and it is so important that families have the time and patience to let them adjust. Marley whilst at the rescue was a happy, friendly boy.

I believe that Marley needs an active family that is going to get him out on adventures and give his mind lots of stimulation and other things to process. He needs a family that understands that training is part of owning a dog and that it is very important dogs learn who is in charge and are responsive to commands and have manners. At his age, there is no need for him to use pee-pads during the night