Name Ssme
Gender Female
Weight Small (3.6kg)
Date of Birth December 25, 2015
Breed Maltese
Neutered O
Vaccinated Complete
Rescue Location #NamyangjuPuppyMill
Characteristics Energetic, scaredy-cat, social butterfly, likes to mark
Training Indoor and outdoor potty-trained, knows "walk"
Likes Walks, food, dog friends
Dislikes Loud sounds, sudden movements, being touched suddenly
Possessiveness


Rescue story
Ssme was rescued from #NamyangjuPuppyMill, where small breed dogs were illegally bred and sold. The place was a nightmare. The stench of accumulated excrement made it almost impossible to breathe or even keep one¡¯s eyes open. The dogs who had grown accustomed to such conditions could not even dream of seeing bright light, breathing fresh air, or walking on flat ground. #weact_ssme was subjected to repeated pregnancies and forced to give birth, while enduring abuse and eating food waste. Through the rescue by WEACT, she finally escaped from the hellish breeding facility, and her journey towards a brighter future began.


Personality
Ssme is a highly social dog who displays infinite affection not only towards dogs and cats, but towards all other animals as well. It¡¯s evident that the trauma from her past environment and human interaction is the reason why this friendly girl is so easily spooked by even the slightest human touch. With the help of her foster family, she¡¯s been able to heal from her past traumas, but unexpected touches still trigger memories of her past scars. Nonetheless, Ssme displays a strong desire to develop relationships with others, so if you genuinely express affection with a gentle gaze, we believe that her fear will eventually diminish as well.

Thanks to the loving care of her foster family, Ssme is gradually finding stability and revealing her adorable personality. When her food is being prepared, she will come over and whine, urging them to hurry up. She is quite skilled at taking baths, but the sound of water from the showered can startle her a bit. Hence, she prefers to relax in a warm tub just for herself. Ssme is known for her love of walks. She not only enjoys smelling every scent, but she also tries to taste the grass and dirt. Due to her constant sniffing, she can happily play by herself in a dog park, rolling around in the grass and running freely. She enjoys the outdoors so much that she¡¯s willing to wear a raincoat just to take a walk in the rain.


With humans
Ssme has been fearful of humans for a while now. Though she can handle being around them for a short while, any sudden movement or sound can cause her to whimper in fear. Even the slightest touch near her hip area can make her flinch, but she is making progress in overcoming her fear. While Ssme hasn¡¯t completely warmed up to her foster family, she is slowly getting closer to them. She appears to be adjusting to her surroundings and is whimpering less frequently when frightened. Although she still attempts to flee when touched, she is becoming more comfortable sitting still for gentle petting. Ssme¡¯s fear of humans remains significant, so we must be especially cautious around her.


With dogs
Ssme¡¯s heart is full of love for her dog friends! She loves all dogs she meets on her walks regardless of size or temperament, jumping around like a bunny and inviting them to play. If a friend passes by without noticing her, she cries and waits until they turn around. Nothing in the world excites Ssme more than meeting a new dog friend, closely followed by her love for all dogs.


With cats
Although Ssme has never lived with a cat, she always approaches them with a wagging tail and expresses her desire to play whenever she meets them during walks. She has a naturally friendly disposition towards most animals.


Energy level
Walking is Ssme¡¯s favorite activity, so please take her out frequently to help her release her energy. When she¡¯s outdoors, she transforms into a ball of energy, running around and sniffing everything in sight. As she tends to get very excited and may attempt to jump down stairs or pull on her leash, it¡¯s important to use a double leash for safety reasons.


Shedding/Barking
Ssme doesn¡¯t shed. If her foster parents take their resident dog out without her, she barks out of separation anxiety. She also barks when they return home. She may also sometimes howl or bark when someone leaves the house, but it usually stops soon after. Barking seems to be how Ssme expresses her emotions. It would be helpful to try and understand each situation and react accordingly.


Needs help with
Ssme occasionally surprises her foster family by doing her business on their bath mats, but she is mostly successful with indoor potty pads. It seems that she prefers to relieve herself outside. She requires recall and crate training, but she is afraid of the sound made by plastic crates. Therefore, noise desensitization training is essential. As previously mentioned, Ssme is easily startled by sudden contact with humans or objects. Her hip area is particularly sensitive, but she is slowly becoming less reactive. She experiences separation anxiety and may bark, so she will need some help to overcome it.


Health specifics
Ssme has excessive tearing and needs regular maintenance, including a special kibble diet for her allergies. She has skin vasculitis on the tips of her ears, so it¡¯s important to check them regularly and apply ointment as needed. Her teeth were so damaged and loose that several had to be extracted. She now relies solely on her remaining canines and molars for eating and chewing. Ssme underwent multiple surgeries to remove mammary tumors, likely due to numerous pregnancies and deliveries. Although she may seem fragile, she has faced many scars and wounds with unwavering bravery and determination.


Ideal family
Ssme takes great pleasure in exploring the various scents present in nature during her walks! She would thrive in a peaceful suburban area or in close proximity to a park or wooded area, as opposed to a bustling urban environment. She seems to learn best by watching other dogs, so it would be helpful to have a resident dog with a similar sociable personality. Ssme has a fondness for cats, but it¡¯s crucial to find one who can handle her playful nature. It would be ideal if someone in the family could stay with her at home and provide her with companionship. To help her overcome her fear of humans, it would be beneficial for her to establish lasting relationships with people of different ages and genders in her family. This can expand Ssme¡¯s world, which had been limited to a dark and narrow breeding ground, and make it bright and broader in the future. While many of the pups rescued alongside Ssme have found their forever homes, she is still eagerly waiting for a loving family to call her own.


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