Entered: Original entry 08/22/2009; 02/28/2022
Status: Adopted
Age: 13; born 03/22/2009
Color: Black/White
Weight: 43 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Fayetteville, WV
Health: UTD, HW-, eating prescription diet to aid digestive health, some stiffness when rising, overall good health
Temperament: Good with adults, reportedly good with children, good with other dogs, cats unknown
Update 06/05/2022: “She needs someone who will patiently listen to her, someone to admire and love her, and provide what really amounts to no more than basics in her senior days.”
Charisma was renamed Abby after her 2009 adoption from MAESSR. Vet records show a birth date of 3/22/09, though her back story indicates she came to MAESSR as a stray. As such, she’s 13 years old currently.
Abby enjoyed life with her adopting family until a few months ago when changes made returning her to MAESSR the best choice for her and her family.
Abby’s overall health is good. Of note is that to repair an early age injury, wires were inserted into each of her back legs. Occasionally she appears a bit stiff when rising, lies down slowly, and moves with easy motion most of the time. For several years, she’s been on a prescription diet to support digestive health. She chows down twice daily, never missing a kibble. She gets a Greenie every day and has no apparent dental issues. In recent years, she had benign cysts removed. Two more are managed on a “watch and see” basis; they don’t bother her. She’s UTD and on monthlies for HW and flea/tick protection.
In her current living situation, Abby shares the home with one older adult and one 2-year-old MAESSR boy. They get along well; Abby declines playful overtures from the male and he respects her signals. She has run of the ground floor in the home which gives her nice space and only ½ flight of stairs to do when going out to potty. Accidents have been minimal. Her habit is to make deposits during the first trip out in the morning and immediately after her evening meal.
Home grooming is acceptable to Abby; she accepts touch all over. Her only resistance comes with nail trimming. A muzzle hasn’t been required but she makes quite a chore of this necessary care. She’s in a natural coat, not summer slipped.
A “motivational barker,” Abby isn’t a cuddle bug but she is very engaging with her human. She barked at her human intensely when first arriving whether to relieve stress or to get attention. She seemed to have so much to share and barking was her way of expressing herself. She was never ignored but, when it was apparent that food, water, warmth, all basics were in place, she didn’t always get a response. Over time barking has largely diminished. Abby’s human jokes that Abby may have taught her as much as Abby thinks she needs to know or is capable of learning. At the least, with time, living with Abby has become peaceful but she’ll never be a condo dog.
What remains persistent in Abby’s behavior is panting. Paired with a stare at her human, it often begins before meals, or, when it’s Greenie time. A firm “go, Abby” often sends her to either of her two beds, especially if dinner is still hours away. She may settle for a nap there for several hours. She usually settles quietly through evenings.
In her adopting home, short daily walks were common. In her current home, Abby isn’t walked but has daily opportunity for exercise in a large, outdoor space. Oddly, as soon as elimination is complete, she often asks to come indoors.
Visitors to the home Abby is currently in have all been dog-loving adults. She’s comfortable with new faces but doesn’t press to engage. In her original home, children were part of the family and love apparently flowed both directions.
To help Abby travel to her current home, the vet provided medication as she was known not to travel well. She hasn’t been away from home so no further meds have been given.
Abby has a cheerful, classic ESS manner of starting her days. She comes to the gated bedroom with a happy tail and lands a few kisses as soon as her human lets her in. Then she’s ready to go out.
Abby’s a good girl and has had a good life. She isn’t even graying with age. She needs someone who will patiently listen to her, someone to admire and love her, and provide what really amounts to no more than basics in her senior days.
You won’t regret adopting this senior!
Original: “Charisma totally lives up to her name. She can charm anyone totally within a few minutes!”
Charisma totally lives up to her name. She can charm anyone totally within a few minutes! With that said, one must remember that behind that cute face there is an extremely active, fieldie Springer baby. The operative word here is ACTIVE! Charisma is going to be a high energy girl and she is very smart; so, her new family will need to be willing to work with her so she knows how a good Springer girl acts. She currently does not know any commands and thinks that the world is hers to explore. Like all MAESSR pups a year old or younger, Charisma and her forever family will be required to take at least one series of obedience training classes together. This helps in the bonding process and it sets the stage for a lifetime of safety, structure, and obedience for all involved.
This little ball of fire was found as stray in eastern Virginia . She was taken to the local shelter and MAESSR agreed to bring her into its program. Charisma has been great in her foster home. She is full of fun and mischief. She will counter-surf in a heartbeat and then look at her foster mom or dad with that cute face as if to say, “Didn’t you want me to have that?” Housetraining is coming along nicely and she is crate trained. Charisma likes to ride in the car and she will pull on the leash.
Are you ready to take on this WILD but fun fieldie? She’ll happily keep you on the go for years to come!