Lost and Found: A Life Anthology

The Transformation of Vincent Van Gogh

The Transformation of Vincent Van Gogh

BRAT Dog (4217) VVG 

by Dean Sigler

I first heard about VVG when the BRAT coordinator, Linda Webb-Hilliard emailed Terrie to find out if we could help with a Basenji in need. Linda indicated he was in distress at the foster to adopt home he had been placed in four months prior. She sent me information about VVG and how he came about being in rescue. 
VVG had lived with a single male from about two months old until he was eight years old. The man got into a relationship with a woman who had a couple of young children and several cats. After a trial period the man relinquished VVG to BRAT for re-homing, saying he didn't get along in the new family dynamic. 
Linda brought VVG into her home to evaluate and vet him fully before placing him for foster or adoption. After she was sure VVG was ready to go Linda settled on a young man who had just lost his female Basenji of many years. She personally did the home visit and interview and felt he was a good placement for fostering to adopt of VVG. So VVG was off to his new home, which had similar family dynamics to his former life. 
A couple of months later Linda was contacted by VVG's new foster family indicating he was not working out. His foster parent indicated VVG was acting out and had started biting people, especially the children. He also indicated VVG would not listen to him and stay out of the kitchen, like his former Basenji would do. VVG's foster parent explained to Linda that not long after VVG came to live with him they went to Tennessee for a family get together. VVG's foster parent went out with some of the other adults and left VVG with other people he did not know and several children. Evidently the children picked on VVG enough that he snapped at them. VVG's foster parent was informed of this and that they had "disciplined" him. VVG's foster parent indicated VVG was biting and snapping more and more as time went on and would not listen to him. 
This is when Linda contacted Terrie about us possibly helping. We, of course, agreed to help and I made contact with VVG's foster parent to arrange for me to pick up VVG and bring him home with me. Finally, October 6th 2013, I drove from Indy to Lexington to pick up VVG. When I arrived, I walked into the house and the first thing VVG did was sniff my fingers then snap at them. Nothing overtly aggressive, just a hit and run type of attitude. I finally got VVG into the car and headed out and the first thing I noticed was he was very stressed and agitated. 
After a very interesting three hour drive we arrived at VVG's new temporary home. We came into the house and VVG immediately began exploring the house. The pack was outside in the back yard while VVG checked out his new surroundings. At this point I brought Benny into the house to begin the introductions . The usual sniff-fest took place, then something very un-Benny like happened, Benny let out a snarl and took VVG to the ground. Benny stood over him and let VVG know what was expected of him. Benny then walked away and let VVG up. After VVG got up Benny came over and play bowed and tried to get VVG to play, which was not going to happen anytime soon, one by one - Willow, Tess and Mr. Bear came into the house and introduced themselves to VVG. Nothing as dramatic as meeting Benny, but pretty intense just the same.
Terrie and I then set about the business of getting to know VVG and learning what we could about his trauma, sometimes the hard way. This was evidenced very quickly when we were putting the pack outside and VVG was hesitant by the door. I placed my hand on the back of his head and VVG turned and bit my hand without warning. I placed a lead on his collar and was able to bring him outside. When we brought him in we were able to examine his head area and discovered his head was badly swollen on the left side and was tender. We introduced him to a crate and he was resistant to going in and struggled to stay out. We worked with him to become comfortable in the crate and to understand it was his safe zone anytime. 
I took him to the vet to get his head checked out and some strange looking discoloration on his belly and loins. Turns out the discoloration was a severe staph infection most likely caused from spending a great deal of time in a damp environment. Hi head was tender and swollen, however his eyes and ears appeared normal, so the likelihood of permanent damage was slight. 
About a week after I was bit, Terrie was putting him outside and reached down to grasp his collar and VVG turned and bit her on the forearm. We were learning the triggers for which he felt he needed to defend himself, two of which were reaching for the head or the collar. I am under the belief he was held by his collar and beat about the head and shoulders. Still to this day VVG occasionally reacts when I place my hand to his head in certain situations, but the reaction is pulling back with a warning huff. 
There were many incidents of nipping the hand and attempting to bite and pulling back early on, which became fewer and far between with Terrie and I, however VVG would not allow anyone else near him until early December, when a couple of dog savvy people came to visit. VVG took his time to check out the visitors and within an hour he was sitting in their laps. At the end of December our son came to visit for the holidays. VVG was very aloof initially, eventually warming up to my son and spending much time in his lap. 
All of this interaction was closely watched to prevent any incidents until an incident with a friend. This person reached across a baby gate separating VVG from this person and VVG bit her hand without warning. It was a puncture wound with no tearing and healed quickly. We were trying to figure out what his trigger was in this incident, eventually coming to understand the friend extended her hand in a fist configuration which is what VVG responded to. We discovered this about two months later when, not paying attention, I was asking VVG to go out and inadvertently pointed a fist toward him and he bit me. This too was a puncture wound with no tearing, which indicated a warning bite. I looked at him and said "dumbass, you still need to go out" and he went to the back door where Terrie let him out. This was in the beginning of March and we have not had any more biting incidents since then. 
This was the turning point in VVGs transformation. VVG had been exposed to my six year old grandson, on a regular basis over this time, with no interaction allowed. At one point, VVG pushed over the baby gate and checked out Caleb. Once he was done VVG came over to me and laid down. From this point forward there was no more separation and VVG has shown no aggression toward him at all. VVG has been introduced to people more and more, with no incidents of aggression. The key for VVG is to let him initiate the contact and allow him to check out the person. 
Along with all of the behavioral changes, we finally got VVGs thyroid issues stabilized with medication. We attended the BRAT convention which was held in Syracuse, NY in June 2014 and VVG was a big hit getting some much needed exposure to other people and Basenjis with no incidents reported. VVG made some new friends, two legged and four legged alike. 
In discussions with Linda, we decided it was time to begin the process of finding the right home for VVG to live and prosper in. It would have to be a special home where the prospective family understood a potential biter and would be patient with VVG to help him completely heal. There were a couple of people familiar with VVG who expressed interest in adopting him, but whose current situations did not allow for this to happen. Linda received several promising inquiries into adopting VVG, however there were a few concerns which ultimately led to the final path of VVGs life. 
With concerns about VVGs welfare and mental state in having to make another major change in his life after the last ten months of stabilizing his environment and concerns about how the prospective family would react to VVG if he attempted to bite or bully his new family the ultimate decision was for VVG to remain with us. So, on August the 7th 2014, the Sigler pack grew by one member when the adoption of VVG was official. 
Dean and Terrie Sigler and the Sigler Pack
Willow, Benny, Tess, Mr. Bear and 
our newest member VVG

Update to VVGs story

About three and a half weeks ago on the 2nd of October we noticed a swelling in Vincent's lower jaw on the left side. Thinking it was probably an abscess, we took him to the vet for a check-up. The vet indicated he would probably need to have the molar removed and referred us to another vet who had the equipment necessary to do this. I contacted this vet and they scheduled an appointment for the following Monday morning. The result of this appointment was yet another for a teeth cleaning and exploratory surgery. 

On Friday October 10th we went to the vet and VVG spent the day. The result of this visit was the worst possible scenario for Vincent, he has an invasive tumor which has eaten the back half of his lower jaw bone and the roots of the molar. The vet performed a biopsy which was sent to Purdue University for evaluation to determine the scope of the injury. The vet indicated VVG had trauma to his jaw consistent with a break and that it was very likely the tumor began in this area. 

The following week initial results were received indicating the tumor was malignant cancer. Purdue was running further testing to identify the markers of the cells. Finally on Thursday October 23rd we moved to the next step in determining the extent of the cancer. We consulted with the people at Purdue and now have an appointment for Vincent to spend the night at Purdue for extensive testing including ultrasounds and a CT scan. The results of this testing should reveal the extent of his cancer and what, if anything we can do for him.

His full body CT scan indicated the tumor was localized to his jaw with no apparent spreading. The decision has been made to go with the palliative radiation treatment regime. This will consist of a series of four intensive radiation sessions over a four week period. His first treatment went well with no negative effects. The follow-up exam and second treatment also went well. The oncologist indicated the tumor has not grown since the first treatment - good news - and they were able to actually open his mouth wide, which they were not able to during the CT scan.

So, we have completed the four radiation treatments with generally pawsitive results. The tumor has shrunk by about 30% since we started. VVG is able to eat and drink with no problems. His energy levels are back to pre-tumor levels and he is his old snarky self. We have an observation period of about three weeks, then we will return to Purdue to do follow-up blood work and a physical.