Entered: 02/04/2018
Status: Adopted
Age: 9 original and now 15
Color: Liver/White/Tan
Weight: 51 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Manahawkin, NJ
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from inexpensive medications for anxiety and low thyroid levels, treatment for ear infection complete, overall excellent health
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown but probably good with children old enough to respect a senior dog’s needs, good with dogs, showed no interest when meeting a cat
Update 04/11/2024: Here is news about 15 year old Abby.
On March 3, 2018, Abby’s new adoptive parents drove across the state of Pennsylvania from Pittsburgh to the Philadelphia area to collect Abby from her foster home.
Unfortunately, Abby was extremely anxious in her new home and was resource guarding her new mom from the resident dog. Abby also dug under or tried to chew through the fence numerous times when her mom would leave the house. One time, she even chewed through a door!
Her new owner was worried about Abby’s behavior and called Debbie Lipcsey, MAESSR’s CEO. Debbie decided that Abby needed to get her anxiety issues under control. A volunteer from a pet rescue pilot organization offered to take Abby from Pennsylvania to Virginia. So, Abby flew off in a 2-seater airplane on a beautiful, sunny day on March 31, 2018, while her mom cried watching her go. After a couple of months of Abby being treated for her anxiety and a minor thyroid issue, she was ready to be returned to her adopted parents. Her new mom called the pet rescue pilot organization, and on June 30, 2018, Abby once again got to sail across the skies and was returned to her very happy adoptive parents! Abby was so happy to be back! After all of MAESSR’s hard work figuring out Abby’s anxiety issues, there were no more problems at her furever home. Abby became best friends with the resident dog, never tried to dig out of the fence again, and when her mom leaves the house, she goes to her couch, lies down and calmly watches for her mom’s return through the window without any anxiety or bad habits! She is a happy and social dog, mothers the kitties in the home, and has become a wonderful and well-loved member of the family.
Update 05/20/2018: “With the addition of these medications, Abby has turned into a social butterfly.”
Abby was adopted and returned due to her anxiety. She would get very upset when her new owner left the home. There also were some altercations between Abby and the resident Springer boy. Abby was guarding her new mom.
After Abby returned to foster care, she was started on an inexpensive medication to help with her anxiety. This made a huge difference in Abby’s personality as she has become much more friendly to everyone. MAESSR is requiring that Abby be kept on this medication for a minimum of six months after adoption. She may need it longer.
When Abby visited the vet she had her thyroid levels checked. Her levels were low, so she was started on an inexpensive medication to bring them to a normal level. She will have to be on this medication for life.
With the addition of these medications, Abby has turned into a social butterfly. She plays with all of the other dogs and bravely greets new people. Abby is now ready to get on with the rest of her life and join her new family.
Original: She also had to learn how to walk on a leash and quickly became a leash walking champ – walking right next to her foster mom and smiling the whole time.”
Abby came to MAESSR when her New Jersey owner, who has health issues, realized she needed help to care for her three Springers. Two of her girls, Abby and Penny Anna have been relinquished to MAESSR to help find them new forever homes. Although Abby and her sisters had limited exposure to other people and life outside their yard, she has adjusted amazing well in her short time in foster care.
Having never visited a vet before, Abby’s check-up was a new experience for her and she preferred to be behind her foster mom in the waiting room. She did great with the exam and was a most cooperative patient, tolerating four attempts by the new, young vet tech to get her blood. Abby has an ear infection and is getting twice daily antibiotic drops and frequent ear cleanings. This sweet girl is a wonderful patient. Her foster mom was amazed when Abby cried during her first ear cleaning; that ear was clearly painful but Abby never even turned her head to protest. Aside from the ear infection, which is her only health issue, Abby is in fabulous shape for a 9 year old senior girl! The vet says her weight is perfect and her teeth are nice and clean. She is currently recovering from spay surgery.
Abby’s first car ride required a boost into the car, but she settled on the back seat and was quiet. Car rides are still not a favorite, and boosts into the back seat are required. She also had to learn how to walk on a leash and quickly became a leash walking champ – walking right next to her foster mom and smiling the whole time. And, when her foster mom bends down to pick up after the dogs, Abby is right there peeking between her legs as if to say, “Here I am, Mom!” and giving kisses.
Abby is very gentle and was very cooperative with the complete spa treatment including bath, haircut, and nail trim. She is not interested in toys or the trash, takes treats softly, and does not guard her food bowl. Abby sleeps on a bed in her foster parents’ room or on the rug next to their bed. When the alarm rings in the morning, Abby is right there giving kisses and encouraging her foster mom to start her day. She is housetrained and whines a bit if she needs to go out. A crate is not used for Abby in her foster home and she has run of the house with the resident dogs when left alone. She is a little anxious when her people leave – howling and looking for them – but she is not destructive and settles down. She’s found napping with the two resident dogs when her family returns. Abby is right there with the crew, wagging her tail and whole back end when they come home; she adores her people but is not really looking to play with other dogs.
Abby is very sensitive to correction and she is not treat motivated, so her foster family has been going slowly with training. She does get off the couch when asked, but would prefer to lap-sit if invited. At 51 pounds, Abby is an extra-large “lap dog”!
A timid girl, Abby will go to the ground and offer her belly if stressed, so further training will go slowly. She will do best in a quiet, undemanding home, with people willing to encourage her exposure to new situations. Her foster mom believes she could do well with children as young as 6 years old, as long as they are respectful of the quiet that this senior girl needs. She is low energy, but she loves to go on walks, including long hikes. Car rides, vet visits, leash walks, and meeting dogs and people have all been new experiences for Abby since coming to MAESSR. She is looking for a forever family that wants to share these experiences, and many more, with her.