This is little Banjo in mid-November of 2002. He lived in the country on the end of an eight-foot chain with a tree for shelter for a year, 24 hours a day; his food and water bowls were always empty. He was first staked outside in the winter of 2001 when he was just a little puppy.

Banjo didn't get much attention....outside in the heat of a Texas summer and the cold of winter, he watched his "family" inside the warm, lit house where he was never allowed to be and longed for the affection that he never received. All alone and unwanted, he wagged his tail hopefully when people went by ("won't you please come talk to me, pet me, love me?"), but nobody ever did. A neighbor attempted to get Banjo's owner to treat him better and at least feed him; concerned by his bony little body and scabby skin and ears, she would buy a McDonald's hamburger for him each day on the way home from work and toss it over the fence to where he could reach it. Finally, not too long ago, the neighbor's husband was able to persuade Banjo's owner to trade him for five pounds of deer sausage. That was how much this little pup's life was worth to them. But Banjo needed a place to go. The neighbor talked with the Humane Society, but they are unable to take dogs in poor health with unknown temperament. A staff member at the HS/SPCA desperately wanted to get Banjo out of that horrible situation and referred the neighbor to Blue Dog as a possible foster for Banjo. After an agonizingly long wait for a space to open up, Banjo went to a Blue Dog foster home where he was evaluated and went for medical treatment. Aside from being very thin, having an ear infection and a flea infestation, Banjo was physically OK. Even after a year of being forced to stand in his own waste, he picked up housebreaking and house manners quickly! However, due to lack of socialization during the time he lived on the chain, Banjo was fearful at first when meeting new people. His foster mom has been working with him on this by going to LOTS of new places (pet stores, doggy parks, unfamiliar houses, dog-friendly restaurants, etc) where there are friendly people and his comfort level has greatly increased. We have also been working to boost his self-confidence by learning basic commands and getting him used to his crate. He is super loving with his family and is a very gentle guy...it's almost like he is so happy to have a full food bowl, toys, lots of petting, and a warm spot on the bed that he is on his best behavior. The first time that he slept on the bed, his tail wagged just a tiny bit even when he was asleep! Banjo has come so far, but he is in need of a family where he will be taken lots of places and go for lots of walks to continue to work on socializing. He really seems to like kids and will run right up to them to give kisses as they are less intimidating than adults, but he would be scared with children who weren't gentle with him. He is very watchful and will bark at people who come up to the house to let his family know that there are strangers around. He does seem to warm up a little faster with women than with men, also, but anyone who feeds him treats MUST be OK. Banjo is ready for a new start in life. He would also like to thank his Aunties S. and S. who worked so hard to get him out of that horrible situation! For more information on Banjo, email jenny@bluedogrescue.com.