Boss the Chihuahua faced a sure death sentence if sent back to the pound for misbehaving after he was adopted by an elderly person in an assisted-living home.

Terrified of wheelchairs and walkers, two-year-old Boss was “terrorizing” residents at the Las Vegas facility, where he’d lived for just two months, according to the home’s manager. He had to go.

The day before he was to be returned, however, a plea for help was issued from Oli Lewis with Sin City St. Bernard Rescue, who heard about Boss’s plight. Lewis couldn’t take in a small dog because of the enormous size of her St. Bernards, so she called me and I picked up Boss at the eleventh hour and took him home to foster.

Boss was given his name because he was, to put it mildly, bossy. He was terrified of large dogs, new people and, especially, wheelchairs and walkers. When he was in what he perceived to be a frightening environment, his way of coping was to lunge, bark and bare his teeth.

Sherry Woodard, Best Friends’ animal behavior consultant, evaluated the tiny dog to help me guide him past that behavior. When told that Boss was affectionate and sweet toward his 85-year-old former person, Woodard said, “That is who he really is.” The other behavior, she said, was a defense mechanism.

Woodard suggested that Boss be allowed to get used to his foster environment, away from the noisy assisted-living home, and just be allowed to be a dog. His elderly person’s reaction when he barked had been to hit him. When he first met Woodard and barked at her, he didn’t get a reaction, other than positive words. Woodard described him as clearly confused and trying to cope in the environment he was forced to live in.

Luke, Boss and Lydia

In his foster home, I gave him reassurance and affection coupled with regular walks, a few hikes, trips to PetSmart and Petco, and rides in the car to drive-through restaurants – all to help him acclimate to new things and new people. Slowly, his fear disappeared and Boss became a happy, playful dog.

Even better, six weeks after leaving the assisted-living facility, Boss has found a forever home with a family in St. George, Utah.

He’s an example, Woodard says, that pet behavior can change with time and positive training, which is one of the goals of a No More Homeless Pets campaign to find pets forever homes.

“Defensive behavior based in fear is so common in the dogs I meet,” Woodard says. “They need help to learn how to enjoy their opportunities for relaxing and enjoying a better life.”

Today, Boss has that new opportunity for a better life with teenagers Lydia and Luke and their father, Dan Oliver.

When Boss arrived at his new home, he was happy to be there, wagging his tail and looking up at his new family. The first thing they did was to take him shopping for a winter jacket.

“He’s going to be the best-dressed dog in Utah,” Oliver says.

Written by Cathy Scott
Photo of Boss by Gary Kalpakoff
Photo of Luke, Boss and Lydia by Dan Oliver

As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.

February 10, 2009 : 5:49 PM ET
posted by: cathyscott

Update today from the Oliver family and Boss: Things are going great! He has adjusted very well and we are very glad we got him. He is a very loving little dog and is quite smart! He loves to play with the cats and us and he goes everywhere with Lydia. He visited me at work today (he does quite often when Lydia comes to see me) and she was taking him to get his nails trimmed. He is definitely a part of the family and we wouldn’t give him up for the world. Lydia tells me constantly, “Thank you for my dog, Dad”. He is in his forever home. Daniel

January 19, 2009 : 5:33 PM ET
posted by: korach

I adopted a "shelter" dog six years ago, when I was almost 85. I was afraid they wouldn't let such an old lady have a young dog, but they did! She had those incredible, sad, big brown eyes, and was lying at the very back of her cage. The friend who brought me to the shelter thought i should adopt an available, older, well trained Shi-Tsu, but I f ell for my tricolored mix of healer and beagle. She was great going home; liked both me and my 86 yr. old spouse, and my friend. But the next day, she tried to attack that good friend who had brought her home, and from then on, hid under my desk, wanted to attack everyone who came, and climbed into her crate for safety. It took me about six months of loving her to get her past her fear. Now she enjoys going to nursing homes and finding dropped popcorm or cookie crumbs, and being petted by the old folks. Since my husband had to move to assisted living, she got lots of experience! What a difference a little love makes! Great story about Boss!

January 15, 2009 : 7:04 PM ET
posted by: dogsorbust

Thank you for the update!!!! It is heart warming to know that he is getting on so well in his forever home!!

What an absolut cutie pie he is. There is no question as to Who Is The Boss? He is!

January 12, 2009 : 2:45 PM ET
posted by: cathyscott

An e-mail received this morning from Boss's new dad:

Cathy,

Boss has truly been a blessing in our house. Through patience and some one-on-one walks we are the best of friends. He sat on my lap last night when we all watched a movie and Lydia was jealous. I teased her that he is now dad’s dog, but make no mistake he simply adores Lydia. Luke and I play with him and the cats seem resolved to the fact that this is his forever home. Thanks for helping us find him!

Dan Oliver

January 12, 2009 : 7:36 AM ET
posted by: elasarko

Great job getting this little guy into a loving home. As for the elderly person who would hit him, lets not beat up on her please. It sounds like she was under alot of pressure and stress, faced with eviction and the dog going to the pound. Im not condoning her actions but she is from a different generation and we need to remember that. Lets leave this person alone and just be thankful that the little guy made it to best friends before it was too late for him. Im sure that the lady had the best of intentions when she adopted the dog, maybe the adoption agency that gave her the dog initially should have done follow up visits and pulled the dog once they realized the dog would not fit in there because of his fear of wheelchairs and walkers....Im just happy this all has a happy ending. The elderly person is not being evicted and little Boss has a great new home. El

January 12, 2009 : 7:32 AM ET
posted by: doggymama4

Seems to me the story of that cutie pie Boss, the great family that found him, and will obviously love him, has got lost in the discussion of hitting ........kudos to Cathy and the Oliver family.

January 12, 2009 : 12:41 AM ET
posted by: SUNNEE

Thank you!

January 11, 2009 : 5:03 PM ET
posted by: cathyscott

All good points, Sunnee.

January 11, 2009 : 4:55 AM ET
posted by: Sunnee

How many times did I state that hitting is NOT OK. The education proposal was intended as a classroom type program in the FUTURE for senior citizens in general. Not right then and there. Does anybody have a better idea?! What do you want done to this senior ? Yelling cussing physical punishment all is illegal.... Showing them how to treat a little animal or any animal for that matter is much more beneficial than doing what?? By the way I read somewhere a while back that Michael Vicks was encouraged to come to BF after his release to get some type of idea on what kindness to animals involves etc. Any comment on that? That doesn't mean BF condones what he did.Just posting things that can't be enforced and alianate offenders is counter productive. I'm all for severe punishment if and when it can be applied. As far as I'm concerned M.Vicks should roast in hell but since he'll be out after two years it would be much better to work WITH him somehow so he can do some good.The seniors could tell their children and grand children 'Guess what I learned today..'

January 10, 2009 : 6:21 PM ET
posted by: beckydelawder

Also, Cathy, thanks for your rescue work in Vegas. I rescue senior chis. If you ever have a senior chi that needs placement or foster, please e-mail me at beckydelawder@yahoo.com.

January 10, 2009 : 6:19 PM ET
posted by: beckydelawder

I agree that SUNNEE needs to rethink her comments before she posts them. She offends me too how she would stick up for a human over a pet that was being hit! I have a 4 lb. chi and if I hit him in the head at any moment, it would kill him as he is a senior. I think that senior human is in a human pound and he ought to be made to give nice pet classes and how to act towards animals.

January 10, 2009 : 12:08 PM ET
posted by: dorothea j knight

I have a seven pound fox terrier who will be 18 in May 2009 - and he is a boss. He is in very good health, is hard of hearing, and continually keeps an eye on me. I'm a widow and of course he sleeps with me . As he snuggles up to me, I place his cover over him and as I reach under it with some tender loving touches, he lets out some very tiny growls - just to let me know he is still the boss.

January 10, 2009 : 11:13 AM ET
posted by: cathyscott

Hi, SUNNEE-- The elderly person who had Boss was about to be evicted because of him, and she was emotional and at her wit's end (and so was Boss). Animal control was scheduled to pick him up early the next day. My Number 1 goal was to take Boss with as little emotional discomfort to her and to him and without me being bitten (it almost worked; he got me on the back of my leg and his new family is aware of it). It wasn't the best time to educate her on using methods other than hitting. We had a pleasant conversation and I told her he'd go to a great home, which he has. I agree; education to prevent future abuse against animals is a vehicle for ending it. Maybe another day, another time, but that day wasn't, in my mind, an opportune moment for it.

Thanks for your comments; they're greatly appreciated. Open dialogue is a good thing! Best, Cathy

January 10, 2009 : 2:30 AM ET
posted by: SUNNEE

In response to hitting is hitting: Of course it is not acceptable to hit an animal as I stated in my blog and we must protect animals at all cost. However the issue must be addressed at the root namely by educating these people (Meaning this senior or other seniors) or else it will continue. Some people swat with newspaper . Either is wrong .But while one action should be charged with cruelty the other should be addressed through education as there is no other recourse. That was my point. Obviously the person wasn't charged with animal cruelty so what else is there but to educate. Doing nothing will result in the same thing over again.