28/05/2026
💖💖🙏🏻🙏🏻
🐾 FOUR SIBLINGS, ONE HOPE: CAN YOU HELP US CHANGE THEIR LIVES? 🐾
It never ceases to amaze us that the four Mastin siblings—Ash, Django, George, and Pearl—are still with us. They are beautiful, deserving dogs, but they are stuck in a heartbreaking cycle. Because they are under-socialized outside of the kennels, they are incredibly nervous. They need help, and they need it now.
Here is where they stand:
Ash & Django: Because they are in outdoor, non-lockable kennels, it creates an extra challenge for handling and building trust. We don’t think Ash has ever been out of the kennel environment.
Django was making progress, but he lost his confidence; after their recent kennel change and with a lack of regular volunteers, it’s currently nearly impossible to build his confidence around people.
George & Pearl: They are walked once or twice a week, but they are still very nervous. We are slowly, step-by-step, building up their confidence.
They all deserve so much more than this. To get to a stage where they are happy, confident, and adoptable, they need consistency.
💡 How We Can Progress Them Gently
Working with dogs this nervous isn't about jumping straight into long walks; it's about building trust from the ground up. Because of their differing kennel setups, we have to adapt our approach for each dog:
Building Trust Safely: For Ash and Django in the outdoor kennels, progress starts safely from the outside. A volunteer just sitting quietly nearby, speaking softly, or tossing high-value treats into their space helps them learn that a human presence means good things, without them feeling trapped or cornered.
Just "Being" There: For George and Pearl, progress might mean sitting quietly near them, reading a book or waiting for them to choose to approach on their own terms.
High-Value Bonding: Using extra-tasty rewards to create positive associations, slowly reducing the distance as they realize people equal safety.
Small Steps Outside: For George and Pearl on their outings, we want to gently expand their horizons—moving from quiet, familiar paths to slightly new sights and sounds, always keeping the pressure low and the praise high.
Routine & Familiarity: Having the same friendly faces show up at the same times helps nervous dogs feel secure. Predictability is a massive confidence booster.
💔 Could YOU Be the One to Help?
We are looking for dedicated, patient, and kind volunteers, local to El Mirador who understand that progress happens in these slow, gentle movements.
The Commitment: Ideally, we need someone who can spend an hour or so with them most days of the week. However, even 2 to 3 days a week is a massive upgrade from what they have now.
If you have the time, the patience, and the heart to help these four siblings realize the world isn't such a scary place, please don't wait.
📩 How to help: Please email us directly at 📩 [email protected]
to find out how you can join the team helping these beautiful siblings.
Please share this post! Even if you can’t volunteer, the person who can might be in your network. 🙏
