Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I adopted Tammi from the Cape Coral Animal Shelter 3 years ago this month. She was 5 months old. I saw her picture online and fell in love with her. The litter had been dumped in DeSoto county at 4 months old. She was the runt of the litter & bullied by the other puppies who denied her food and she got very sick and almost didn’t make it. She was petrified of everything, and I knew she needed patience and love. At the time I had 2 dogs with cancer. I had gotten Tammi when one was diagnosed so the other would not be alone when he passed but sadly that one got an even more aggressive cancer and they both passed away within 6 months of each other leaving Tammi alone. She had built a bond with both of them. The first 6 months that I had her she was too scared to even come out from under my desk except when to be with the other dogs. I couldn’t walk her. I had to carry her to get her in the car. Forget going for a walk; she would shut down and shake (she even feared the front door). I had never seen a dog so traumatized before. I boarded her for 2 weeks with a trainer in LaBelle hoping she could pull Tammi out of this but with minimal success and she wouldn’t eat the whole time she was there so she was skin and bones when I got her home, I vowed never to do that to her again. While she was at the trainers, she met a Siberian husky named Gwen, also a rescue, looking for a home... they bonded instantly, and I ended up taking Gwen home with us also. I decided to take Gwen in for routine puppy training. She was 11 months old and I found K9 Enrichment Center on referral from my Vet (Islandside Animal Hospital). I read the testimonials on Facebook and thought I would check it out. Gwen loved it and after a few months I asked if they might be able to help with Tammi, who was basically fine in her home environment, but when I took her out of it she would shut down and shake uncontrollably with her tail between her legs. It broke my heart to see her like this. I asked Ryan and Crystle if they thought they could help Tammi come out of her shell & get more confidence. They said you bet we can. We have now worked together for about 5 months now and the change in Tammi is amazing. It is baby steps but every day I see her gain more and more confidence thanks to their gentle loving training. We hit a big milestone just a week ago where she used the doggie door for the first time (with the flap held up) Ryan & Crystle are giving her what she needs, and she is braver and more confident thanks to them. We go every other Wednesday for day training now (Gwen goes the other Wednesdays). Crystle has even been able to comfort Tammi when she gets her nails trimmed after the Vet said they wouldn’t do it anymore without sedation because she freaks out so badly. Crystle just holds her and whispers comforting words, and it goes quite well. I am amazed and so happy with Tammi’s progress thanks to K9 Enrichment Center. I honestly did not have much hope for her being able to go on regular walks without her freaking out when a car drives by or when a loud noise is near her, she use to shut down and shake uncontrollably. We both have more confidence seeing the world, and we are so excited to have found such devoted people to help us through this journey. We look forward to our morning walks now every day . I can never thank them enough for what they have done for us and plan on being a part of their family for a long time.
