MILO'S JOURNEY

The Pack Project would like to introduce Milo! Milo has been in care since November 2016. He is not currently available for adoption.

When Milo came into care he was terrified of people. He could not be touched at all. He preferred to hide under a bed and not look at anyone, except other dogs in the home. He loves female dogs! Over the past 2 years Milo has come a long way. It has taken a lot of treats, patience and trial and error to figure out how to make friends with him, and gain his trust. 

We don’t know much about his past. He was caught as a stray and moved immediately to a foster home as the shelter realized it was not a suitable environment for him. He has a crumpled ear and missing teeth so its hard to say what horrible things happened to him in his short life. It is suspected he is approximately a year and a half old now. 

Since being in care we have managed to make significant progress. He went from hiding under a bed and only coming out when people were sleeping or sitting very quietly in another room and not looking at him, to now taking treats from people, though he quickly steps backward to avoid any attempts at petting his head. He still will not let people touch him using hands near his face but his foster can pet him using her feet, and most recently can give him bum scratches with her hand! He also has learned sit, down, sit pretty and touch. A great feat considering one couldn’t talk to him when he arrived without him running and hiding under the bed.

He is quite the character since his personality has started to come out. He follows his foster mom around and will touch her with his nose or put his feet on her for treats. He barks when he’s excited, like while waiting for his food to be served, or when he tries to be the play police with the other dogs! He now loves to smile! Although still very unsure of people he is learning to trust and make the best of life with people.

It will still be a long while until we believe Milo will be adoptable but we will continue to share updates on his progress until he is available.  Check back soon for updates on Milo!

October 10, 2017
Today marks a big break thru for our long term foster Milo. He is wearing a collar! After months of letting him sniff it and him barking at it he finally has it on and is leaving it alone!!
He loves his morning cuddles and pets from his foster mom and playing with his foster fur siblings. Hopefully he will soon learn that his collar means more freedom to get outside and see the world!

April 29,  2018

It has been a busy couple months in Milo's foster home. He continues to make slow but consistent progress with trusting humans, and learning to wear a leash/collar. Neighbors and friends who visit can get Milo to sit and wave and take a treat from them. He is hesitant to actually shake a paw but does a great wave! He comes on command most of the time now. He also knows down and touch and is working on sitting pretty. Milo will finally put his head thru a slip lead to get a treat, but still panics when it gets snug on his neck. Its a work in progress! After chewing up about 4 collars the slip lead seems like a better option. 
He loves to cuddle in bed early in the mornings (only one hand allowed on him at a time) and loves to sit close to his foster sisters and his foster mom.
Milo's foster home is hopeful that summer will bring a bit more time to spend specifically with him and have even better progress reports soon.

November 12, 2018
​Hi. It's Milo. My foster mom said happy 2 year anniversary to me today. I've been safe and warm in Pack's care for 2 full years now. That's a long time! I'm doing really well though. I wear a collar and leash now and get to walk around the block over and over. I can't go far because I still haven't seen the vet. Mom keeps trying to get me into a kennel, or into her vehicle but I'm still scared to be confined. That's also why I won't let anyone pick me up or put 2 hands on me at the same time. But I do let my foster mom try and get away with some things. Like when she puts this weird basket over my nose. But she gives me lots of treats for it so I let her. Who doesn't love treats?!
I also love to talk now. It drives my mom crazy, ha ha. I bark in the morning, when she comes home from anywhere, when it's food time, when I'm being the play police. I have to make up for lost time when I was too scared to say anything. 
I've met lots of people. I'm not picky about who gives me treats (except really little kids who don't walk on their own or know how to give me treats, they scare me)
My neighbors that know me pretty well can even put on and take off my collar/ leash so I can go outside. I love going outside to play or walk! 
I'm going to continue working on not being so scared of being confined so I can get to the vet, then my mom says I might be close to looking for a new forever family.
Thank you to everyone who is following my story and to those who continue to donate food and supplies to this group. I've wrecked a few blankets and collars while living in my foster home. I'm lucky to have been eating good food all because of awesome people like you. Thanks!

march 2020

After 1203 days in foster care with The Pack Project Milo is adopted!!!!!
Milo's journey as we know it began as a young pup of about 7 months old during the summer of 2016 when he was picked up as a terrified, starving stray in Yorkton, SK. It was quickly determined that shelter life was not suitable for Milo. A rescue agreed to take him and off to Melville he moved. After a few weeks of living in a foster homes back yard because he was too terrified to go in the home, and terrified of anyone getting too close to him the networking began to find him a different foster home situation. The Pack Project had a foster willing to try. Nov 11, 2016 is the beginning of Milo's story with us.
Terrified of the kennel, car ride and new surroundings when Milo is let into his new foster home he immediately takes refuge under the bed, and this is to become his new safe place for the next 3 years.
Weeks are spent hand feeding Milo chicken and cheese in an effort to gain trust. No eye contact or touching is permitted these first few weeks. Slowly he comes out more and more during the day. Eventually touching using feet only is permitted, then he learns to sit for treats and not run when being spoken to. Then comes touch where he learns to "boop" for treats. To become one of his favorite activities even with strangers. The entire time Milo uses his foster sisters, the resident dogs in his foster home to bolster his courage and help him learn so many things. He totally loves his foster sisters. After 3 years in care his transformation is amazing. He has such a huge personality. So full of joy, fun and attitude! He totally loves playing tug, going for walks, telling stories, quiet time cuddles and of course his sisters (or almost any female dog for that matter!) There were many ups and downs, 2 steps forward 1 step back, tears, frustration, and triumphs all in the hopes that one day he would be a safe, happy and adoptable dog.
The saying "it takes a village" holds so true and TPP wants to thank so many who helped get us to this special day. From the original people who got Milo off the streets and to a safe environment, to the rescue and fosters who tried to help him first. Thank you to all the supporters of TPP who donate so many supplies that are needed. So many treats to earn trust, food to get and keep him healthy when he wasn't able to get to the vet yet. All the blankets he used, shredded in fear and frustration, all the collars he chewed off himself when learning to accept them so he could go outside and learn to walk on a leash. All the friends and other volunteers at TPP who came to meet Milo to help him learn that strangers weren't bad, just new people to give him treats!
Special thanks to Metro Pet Market for sponsoring his neuter when he was finally able to get out to the vet. And extra big thanks to the staff at Albert North Veterinary Clinic who made special allowances for Milo with his fear of confinement, and being touched by strangers. They were awesome when he walked in for the first time early in the morning all soaking wet and filthy because he walked with his foster mom 5km in the rain to get to his neuter appointment! He still wasn't about to get in a kennel or a car.
And most of all a huge thank you to his new dad who after reading Milo's bio wasn't at all put off by this boy with special requirements. He came many times to meet Milo in an effort to help Milo feel as comfortable with him as possible. And after all the visits and treats it was decided to try moving Milo to his home. And it has been successful. Milo is still a bit reserved about his new environment, but gains trust in his new dad every passing day! He will be the only child and therefore get all the love and attention he deserves. Lots of long walks, playing tug and especially extra training which his smart little brain needs to keep him entertained. He will still get to visit his loved sisters on occasion which I'm sure will bring him much joy as well.
This is the best ending we could have hoped for and though it did take a long time it is so worth it when you see the joy this little dog has for life when he is comfortable and feels safe. Happy tails Mr Milo! We will continue to watch for updates on how your new life is going!
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More Updates coming soon!