Diego

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Updated 11/14/05: While his health issues have not slowed Diego down, it’s really nice to see them being resolved.  He finished his round of antibiotics this week and is now free of Lyme disease. He’s also doing great on his incontinence medication and hasn’t had any episodes in close to a week.

His foster family has discovered the reason for his “gimpy” gait.  One shoulder blade is about 1/2 inch higher than the other.  They feel Diego probably got hit by a car during one of those times when he was running loose.  It doesn’t seem to bother him, and it certainly doesn’t interfere with Diego’s love of walks or jumping in the car to go along for a ride. He’s a healthy, lively, and loving little dog whose greatest need is a family who will return his love and keep him safe at home.

Updated 11/7/05: After two weeks in foster care, Diego is doing great.  He now plays with the resident 6-month-old puppy and continues to get along with the other resident dogs and their 7-year- old boy.  He is becoming more vocal when he wants attention or when he is hungry.  To say Diego goes nuts when it’s walk time is a bit of an understatement.  Lift that leash and one better be prepared to hook up and go out the door immediately.  No waiting around for this guy! He also loves riding in the car.

Due to concerns of his foster family, Diego made a return visit to the vet.  They felt that he was drinking a great deal of water and wasn’t gaining weight. They also noticed he was having periodic episodes of incontinence when he was napping during the day, but only during the day, never at night.  Testing was done which fortunately ruled out diabetes and kidney problems.  Diego is now on a common, inexpensive, incontinence medication to see if that handles this little problem for him.  It will take a bit of time for him to adjust to the med and to assess its benefit. In the meantime, this handsome and happy little guy is enjoying all the attention and being with a family who really enjoys having him in their home. 

Original: Diego is a sweet, older dog who has been rejected at least twice in his life.  One family let him run loose.  After being picked up several times by animal control, Diego was placed in the local animal shelter. He was adopted from that shelter in late 2003 and spent almost two years with his next family.  Recently, Diego was picked up again by animal control.  When his owners were contacted, the shelter staff was told to keep him because there was ill-health in the family and they didn’t have the time, or money, to take care of him. 

Diego visited the vet with his foster mom and did great during his exam. He was started on antibiotics because he tested positive for Lyme disease and should make a full recovery. His relinquishing family reported several unusual incidents during their time with Diego, including chronic sneezing, seizures, and coughing.  Unfortunately, they never took him for a check-up.  His foster family hasn’t experienced any of these problems with him but will continue to monitor his health very closely.

This sweetheart passed his temperament test at the shelter with flying colors. Diego is getting along great with other dogs and is starting to play posture with the resident puppy. He is passing up dog toys right now but will check out a bone.  He’s interested in the resident house rabbit but not excessively so.  Diego has been welcoming to strangers and is polite, not even jumping up at them.  He pulls slightly on his leash, perhaps because he loves going for walks so much.  He is housebroke and only tried counter surfing once while on his first house tour.  He is relaxing more each day as he gets used to a new routine and, though being crated while his family is away is not his favorite part of the day, their return is. 

He absolutely loves the attention he is getting from his new people, including the 7-year-old boy in his foster home.  He is learning basic obedience, starting with “sit,” although he has difficulty actually getting his bottom down on the floor because of his desire to snuggle. He follows his foster mother around the house and has quickly attached, getting a bit anxious when he can’t see her.

Diego wants so much to be part of a family who wants him, too.  Can you make his dream come true?