Entered: 07/02/2022
Status: Adopted
Age: 7; born 03/09/2015
Color: Black/White Cocker Spaniel
Weight: 22 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Madison, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benign mammary tumor removed, 19 teeth removed due to marked dental disease, degenerative mitral valve disease with grade three of six heart murmur, continuing treatment with inexpensive OTC medications for skin issues on rump, treatments completed for bilateral ear infections, worms and stubborn UTI
Temperament: Good with adults; unknown with children but likely fine with older children who can respect her needs, good with dogs, likely fine with dog-savvy cats
Update 10/20/2022: “In the few weeks since she became an official member of the Sleep-On-Mom’s-Bed Gang, Miss Buttercup has truly blossomed.”
In the few weeks since she became an official member of the Sleep-On-Mom’s-Bed Gang, Miss Buttercup has truly blossomed.
Fluent in asking to be loved on, Buttercup has (unfortunately) discovered great fun in parading around with her foster mom’s shoe or sock, and runs – well, more a comical hopping run – with the pack when outside chasing balls. She’s not the least bit interested in the ball, simply the fun of running with the Big Dogs. A few laps of this and she’s off to her usual backyard explorations. Like her resident siblings, she especially loves jumping into and rolling in all the fallen autumn leaves.
Given the cooler weather, Buttercup now enjoys her on-leash walks much more. Her pace is stop-and-enjoy-every-flower and weed. Those with older senior dogs well understand this leisurely pace – the one that reminds humans to treasure the true joys in life.
Buttercup loves to cuddle and hang with the resident pack. However, she does not enjoy rough play and will promptly advise the offending dog of such.
With winter’s cold just around the corner, Miss Buttercup will gladly be your perfect snuggling companion.
Update 10/05/2022: “She relishes her morning sunbath, which she enjoys with one of her resident siblings.”
This super sweet lass has endured diagnostic testing, surgeries and medications without complaint. Like the beautiful flower she’s named after, Miss Buttercup’s future looks very sunny and bright! Given her marked dental disease, 19 teeth were removed. Fortunately, she retained all her molars plus her four canines, which allows her to continue her favorite sport – gnawing on bones. It’s important that her forever home maintains a regular dental routine of brushing and checkups.
An echocardiogram revealed chronic degenerative mitral valve disease with a grade three out of six rated heart murmur. While no therapy is required at this time, given her age and condition, Buttercup’s forever home should continue to monitor for any symptoms of disease progression and also have her re-evaluated in 6 to 9 months. It’s also very important that her weight is maintained at or near her current of 22 lbs.
The biopsy result for Buttercup’s mammary tumor was negative – YEAH!! Because she was spayed late in life, it is possible other tumors may form. A skin biopsy was also performed on Buttercup’s rump; results reveal an acne-like inflammation that may be due to chronic irritation and/or steroid treatment prior to her MAESSR life. This area is slowly but finally responding to medicated cleansing two times a day followed by an application of benzoyl peroxide gel. Best news . . . some of her hair starting to grow back!
With all the poking, prodding, pill-popping, cleansing, ointment apps, etc., Miss Buttercup has taken it all in stride – as if she enjoys the attention after being devoid of it for most of her life. Miss B is very well rewarded with treats for her patience and excellent behavior through it all, and accepts her treat very delicately – as any lady would. It’s been fun and comical to acquaint Buttercup with different foods and textures – blueberries, apples, oranges, carrots, peanut butter, even the occasional morsel of a sweet human treat. At first she didn’t know how to take or what to do with them; now – as long as they’re given in tiny pieces – she very gladly devours them, and then begs for more.
Normally a very quiet dog, Buttercup does let her watchdog prowess shine at strange noises or wildlife in the yard. Though still very timid her playful side is making more of an appearance; very oddly it’s when the resident crew is at its craziest indoor play. She’ll run and chase around with them until she finds a toy to sneak off with up onto the sofa. She’s beginning to chase more outdoors though prefers to sniff — and roll in – all the great scents. She relishes her morning sunbath, which she enjoys with one of her resident siblings. Otherwise she is Velcroed to her foster mom, following her everywhere with a wagging tail or asleep nearby. She’s finally graduated from sleeping on her dog bed to now being part of the dog pile on her foster mom’s bed. Life is soooooooooooo GRAND!!
One comical quirk? Miss Priss loathes getting her feet wet, especially wet grass. She also doesn’t like going out in the rain. The result: her foster mom carries her outside onto the grass, stands with her/walks around for several minutes encouraging her to move. Once she takes her initial steps, she’s fine and will do her business. And she is excellent with her speedy and methodical routine of “business.”
Buttercup is a docile pup whose whose sole desire in life is to be cuddled and loved. She’s gradually learned how to ask for such by sitting at her foster mom’s feet and staring or (her favorite) jumping up with her non-stop wagging tail – how can her foster mom resist!? Buttercup’s forever home must be very patient and willing to continue working with her confidence building, to trust humans and continue bringing out her playful side – which she definitely has. For as quiet as she is, Buttercup does enjoy being near – and sometimes in – the action. She would be fine as a solo dog or with another dog-friendly and patient pup. Buttercup’s ideal forever home is one on the calmer vs. rambunctious side with folk(s) who are able to work from home or are retired. She’d also be the perfect BFF for a calmer child, especially a shy one, with whom she can play, cuddle and sleep with. She’d be the perfect guest at a child’s tea party. Due to her small size and oftentimes being underfoot, she should not be around others who may be unsteady on their feet.
Being a puppy mill dog, one can only imagine Buttercup’s life prior to joining the MAESSR family. She is quite simply the perfect pup – not demanding or needy, quiet (except when on guard duty), no inappropriate chewing or messes, way too petite to counter-surf (oh, but can she dream!), excellent in the car, walks well on-leash, and loves to cuddle. This unbelievable and resilient sweetheart deserves a forever home that will dote on her, share a bed, sofa and easy chair with her and treat her like the royalty that is this absolute gem.
Original: “Although sometimes hesitant, Buttercup enjoys short on-leash walks, and is in awe of all the wonderful scents in her new found world.”
A Pennsylvania animal rescue that pulls dogs from Lancaster puppy mills contacted MAESSR asking if we could foster this sweet Cocker mama and her young puppy. While at first terrified and trembling all over, this adorable lass is loving her freedom. However, it will take quite some time before she’s fully accustomed to all her new life offers.
Buttercup’s foster home is on the rambunctious side with five resident MAESSR Springers aged 1, 3, 5, 7 and 13 plus a 1 year young, very active MAESSR foster. Buttercup and her puppy currently reside in a quiet room opposite the boisterous side of the house. She is given free run of the room during the day and crated at night. She has had very few accidents indoors.
Slowly adjusting to life post-puppy mill, her first week in foster care was quietly spent getting used to her room, great new food that she now inhales, and a super cushy new bed. How sad it was to see her terrified reaction when first introduced to the bed; thankfully, she quickly learned just how great life really can be!
Although Buttercup clearly adores all the massages and cuddles from her foster mom, she has no clue how to ask for love. Her tush wiggles non-stop whenever her foster mom is near, then she lies down stiffly waiting to be approached with cuddles. She’s very slowly getting used to being touched all over; however, it will be a long road until she is willing to be rolled on her back and receive belly rubs. Learning what a toy is remains a mystery but is an obstacle that, like everything else she’s enduring, this strong little lady will overcome. She is very curious and definitely has a playful side that is waiting to come out.
Although sometimes hesitant, Buttercup enjoys short on-leash walks, and is in awe of all the wonderful scents in her new found world. She has very slowly been introduced to her resident siblings and now spends small amounts of time with them in the house as well as the large fenced-in yard. Like the resident 13 year old, Buttercup prefers to do all her sniffing on the opposite end of the yard from where the crazy crowd plays. When it’s just she and her foster mom in the yard, she will indulge in a game of chase-the-human. She now seems to prefer the yard to walks; however, the walks will continue so she gets used to new sounds and unfamiliar objects.
Health care clearly was not a priority in the puppy mill since Buttercup came into foster care with many health problems. Infested with worms and suffering from ear infections and infections of the skin, Buttercup is benefitting from her medical treatments. With all the medications Buttercup is currently on, it’s amazing how easily she takes them – she must know how much they help her. After her skin infections completely clear, she will have needed dental work done and will be spayed.This adorable mama has a long road ahead. Stay tuned for Buttercup’s continuing new-life adventures!