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I introduced Ellie, my son’s rescue dog last week. She’s a Brittany and Heeler mix who had been abused for years in Arizona. She was brought to Washington State through the kindness of a Brittany rescue group. I was the one who met the last volunteer to bring Ellie on the final 100-mile leg of her journey, so I guess that’s why I’ve always had a particular fondness for her. Well, that and she looks a lot like the Brittany we lost to cancer two years ago.
Ellie was abused for years, but she’s slowly overcoming some of her issues and she adores my son and daughter-in-law. She’s lucky to have found a forever home with dedicated pet parents who are willing to work with her knowing that her behavioral issues are a result of her abuse, so they use a lot of patience and understanding when dealing with her.
They make sure she gets plenty of mental stimulation, physical interaction, and lots of love. They encourage her to play and take her to the dog park, but she has no interest in interacting with other “strange” dogs. She does play with her “brother,” but she’d rather hang out with the humans.
Ironically, Ellie wants to be accepted by my dogs, and her dream is to be one of the girls. She’s always squeezing herself between my two tiny dogs who have no interest whatsoever in having anything to do with the big dog who’s all legs and clumsy. When Ellie comes to visit, she spends most of her time with me and the girls on the couch while I work. She rolls over asking for a belly scratch now and then and then lets out a sigh and repositions herself for another nap. I’d say this is one of her favorite places.
But even with all of us working to help Ellie fit in, she still has a lot of issues as a result of the lack of care her previous owners provided. She didn’t like grass and had to be convinced not to do her business on the pavement. Plus she had a food aggression that my son and daughter-in-law have done an excellent job of helping her through. But she is stubborn, or at least that’s what we assume, because when she decides not to follow a command, she stands her ground and will not be moved – physically or mentally.
Purina® Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND – An Update on Ellie
We want to give Ellie the best life possible and of course, we’d love her to behave which would make our life easier too. We changed her food to Purina® Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND. It’s the only dog food that’s made to increase the cognitive awareness of adult dogs over the age of seven. This new food gives her a chance to retain the training she does have with the hopes that she’d become less of a loner and interact more. Our mission is to get Ellie out of the habit of looking for out-of-the-way places to hide. That’s how she handles life – by hiding under things or by backing into a corner. We want her to feel secure and happy with us.
Purina ProPlan BrightMind Dog Food Trial – Ellie’s Update
The switch to Purina® Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND was simple because she loves the food. While she loves the taste, we love that she’s getting a food created with botanical oils that are said to promote mental sharpness and alertness in senior dogs like our girl. In fact, owners who switch their pup to Purina® Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND may see a change in their ability to cope with and adapt to change and even show an interest in interacting and playing with their owner.
Have we seen any changes since switching Ellie to the new food? Not yet, but remember, she came to us after years of poor nutrition, so I didn’t expect a huge change in just ten days. But for her, it’s about helping her retain what she has while building up her nutritional levels so that hopefully someday soon she will shine!
If you’re one of the millions of pet owners with a dog over the age of 7, help your pup retain her cognitive awareness by providing her with Purina® Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND. It’s available at PetSmart and other retailers nationwide.
Find out more about Purina® Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND at PetSmart or at the BRIGHT MIND website.
Dear Connie I have a 13 year old cocker spaniel who is the love of my life. She’s been my companion/ therapy animal since she was 3 months old . Being disabled and on disability it’s hard to afford good quality food for her, sometimes it hard even afford cheap dog food. I am sharing this with you and anyone who can help me to provide for her, she has given me the best of her life and I want to give her the best rest of her life. Do you know if there are any organizations / companies that help low income disabled Americans keep and feed there elderly therapy animals. If you have any ideas on where I can go for some help I’d appreciate it, I was blessed to buy her a small bag of Purina pro plan brite mind for Christmas I mixed it with her store brand food she loved it. I noticed that she didn’t run into the walls as much and didn’t seem to be as confused. Thirteen years has sure flown by and she’s made mine wonderful.
Congrats on having such a wonderful relationship with your pet and for having her so long. The Humane Society has a list of resources for pet owners in need. You’ll find it at http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html Wishing you the best.
I hate hearing about abused animals. Purina is regularly at our house
Yes, poor Ellie is a bit of a mess. With a new baby on the way she’s got a lot of retraining that needs to happen to make her baby friendly.
Aww, I love that Ellie has found her furever home! It’s said that she went through years of abuse but now your family is going to make her feel loved for the rest of her life.
Ellie most certainly has won the lottery! That is awesome that you guys have taken her in and are making her feel like part of a family. Thanks for sharing! #client
Awww Ellie is a beaut. I like all legs and clumsy (like you noted she is and it made me laugh), it’s cute on a dog. 🙂
She is all legs….and she just wants to cuddle up in my lap…sweet girl, but not a lot of brains 😉
I will have to share this with my Sister. She has two little dogs. I know she has been researching different dog foods lately. She wants to switch their food.
How sad to hear about an abused dog 🙁 I’m so glad that your gorgeous dog is now so loved and taken care of so well!
Elle is a beauty. The pro plan sounds real good for older dogs. A perfect choice.
This sounds great! I really like the food my pups are on but them? Not so much. So I’m thinking of switching. This sounds like it may be a good option!
Ellie is beautiful! It’s heartbreaking to me that anyone could abuse and animal let alone for a sustained period of time. How lucky that she found all of you to care for her now.
It is so nice to read a positive update on Ellie and you can just see how happy she is from your photos. There really is something extra special about rescue dogs.
Thanks, Marcie. Some days she makes loving her harder than others. She’s a stubborn girl.
I have a family member (human!) named Ellie, too. What a beautifully colored dog she is.
Bright Mind food is so great! I’m glad your son has done so much work with Ellie to help her get over her past of abuse!
This sounds like a great dog food. My sisters dog is older so I will tell her about it.
Thanks so much for sharing the food. I hope she finds it helpful!
My sweet dog is a Hurricane Katrina survivor.I know what it’s like having a dog that needs some extra attention and needs. I love that you saved her and are giving her the life she deserves!
Ah, so sweet of you. And yes, they certainly need extra attention.
I love you guys for taking on an abused pet like her! These dogs are the ones who are most in need of a forever home.
I hate the things human’s do to animals. How someone can be so cruel is beyond me.
What a cutie! It breaks my heart to know the first part of her life was a challenging one. Thankfully there are people like your son willing to make a difference.
This dog’s like to a 360 – from being chained up on a cement slab with no food to being a lap dog who’s spoiled. She won the lottery for sure when it came to a 2nd chance.
All our pets are rescued I think it is better,We do not feed our dogs on this brand as they are really fussy so much of the time they have home made food.
My two dogs are horribly fussy and eat homemade most of the time as well. Thankfully they only eat about 1/2 c of food between the two of them a day. Ellie and her brother eat a much larger volume. I’d be cooking for them all day! 🙂
I am ‘between furbabies’ right now, I just haven’t been able to motivate myself to get a new one just yet, but when I do it will definitely be a rescue, it’s so great Ellie found a loving home with your son and daughter in law! I will keep Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind in mind when I get a new dog, I have a particular fondness for ‘big breeds’.
I think I’ve been without a dog only about 10 years of my life…..and I’m 54. 🙂 I love a furbaby.
My dog has been eating Pro Plan for a while. He really seems to like it.