Clarabelle

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Update 04/04/2016: “Many blessings that MAESSR could say “yes” to helping her and that she landed in the foster home she did.“

Miss Clarabelle was in very poor health when she became a MAESSR gal last fall.  With love and care, she made some gains but remained fragile.  A few days ago her foster mom noticed an abrupt change in her behavior along with alarming physical signs of difficulty.  Within 2 minutes of arriving at an ER veterinary hospital, Clara went into cardiac arrest and passed to the Bridge.

Her foster mom shares these thoughts on Clara’s time in her home…

“…she was a happy dog, nothing stopped her or even frightened her. She loved her meals, morning biscuits, walks around the neighborhood, and standing, sniffing the scents on the wind. She was easy to please, happy just standing with her head in my lap, getting cuddles, and preferring to lay on the floor rather than one of the dog beds. She hated the cold and snow, only going out as far as the porch to do her business…ugh!… but she LOVED getting toweled off when she came in. I am going to miss her. I’m going to be watching for poop on the porch that won’t be there, and be turning around in the house and stepping over an imaginary body. I guess I’ll never know why she NEVER made a sound, but I truly hope she’s barking up a storm now….I wonder what her bark sounds like….”
 

Clara’s time as a foster may well have been the best of her life.  Many blessings that MAESSR could say “yes” to helping her and that she landed in the foster home she did.

Update 12/15/2015:  “Would you believe I have to gain weight?  Would you share some of your milk and cookies?  Just kidding, Santa.”

MAESSR’S senior gal, Clarabelle, is hopeful that Santa will grant her a special Christmas gift…

Dear Santa,

I know you will remember the Howdy Doody show?  You remember everything and know all about me.  I was named after that wonderful clown with his (her?) honk, honk horn!

I just want you to know what a good girl I’ve been this year.  I get along with all the people and dogs in my foster home.  I even like older kids who know not to trip over me when I don’t see them or can’t get out of their way.  I’ve gone to a special doctor for dogs and was a true champ when he poked and prodded to make sure I would receive the best care possible.  I come when my foster mom calls me, as long as she’s close enough that I can use both my sight and hearing; neither one is as good as they used to be.  I’ve had to adjust to so many changes, but I just go along with it all, being as sweet and loving as I can be.  

I’ve also been a very, very lucky girl.  The wonderful folks at MAESSR (keep them on your “nice” list) have been helping me out these last few months after I was found wandering.  And the very special people in my foster home are making sure I get enough to eat.  Would you believe I have to gain weight?  Would you share some of your milk and cookies?  Just kidding, Santa.

So, I need to make a list for you.  Of course, I would like a forever home of my very own in spite of the love and care I receive from my foster folks.  Kids would be OK as long as they are old enough not to stumble over me…and understand that I sometimes stumble!  But, most of all, Santa, I just want that one special person who will be mine.  I’ll follow that lucky soul wherever they go, accept whatever comes my way and wag my stub of a Springer tail.

I’ll be watching for your visit next week, Santa, and hoping for my very own home.  “…and to all a good night.”

Love,

Clarabelle

Original:  “Clarabelle has an aura of sweet innocence about her and she does not have a mean bone in her body.” 

Not much is known about Clarabelle before she became a MAESSR girl, other than she was found as a stray in Pennsylvania and had a very hard life.   

Clarabelle was in extremely poor condition when she came into foster care.  She was severely underweight, her teeth were worn, her legs were somewhat weak and a bit uncoordinated, and she most definitely had vision loss, but was not blind. She also exhibited clockwise circling behavior in her crate, outside while loose in the yard or walking on a leash, and even while in the house. When outside, her circling always takes her to the far corner of the yard at the bottom of a small hill, standing and staring out of the fence.  Her foster mom has to get within six feet of her, calling her name, before Clara sees her.  Then, she happily follows her back to the house.  Oddly, she did not display this circling behavior when she went to the vet.  It seems that her most normal behavior comes when most other dogs are usually stressed.  Further vetting is pending to get answers about this behavior. Clearly, Clara has not been an easy dog to evaluate. 

That said, Clarabelle has an aura of sweet innocence about her and she does not have a mean bone in her body.  She was wonderful at her vet appointment allowing the vet to examine her with ease.  She also went to watch an agility trial and did no circling there either.  She just stood still, looking around and meeting people and dogs in a friendly way. 

Because of her limited vision, she has bumped into things, been snapped at by the resident dogs, and stumbled over water bowls; however, she just keeps right on going like nothing happened. She always wants to be near her person and will follow her foster mom around like a little puppy.  Interestingly, in the time that Clara has been in her new home, her foster mom has not heard ANY sound from her–no barks or whimpers, nothing. She does not respond to any commands either.

Clarabelle was probably never housetrained considering the many accidents she has had in her foster home and the fact that she does not signal. So, Clara is being taken out frequently and given lots of praise when she does eliminate outside.  She is beginning to catch on!  Good girl, Clara!  At night and when her foster mom is at work, she is crated.  Like a puppy, she is learning to interact properly with her canine foster sisters, too. 

Please watch for more news about Clarabelle as she goes through more medical evaluation and as she benefits from the love and good care she receives in her foster home.