Donna

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Update 02/06/11:

There is only great news to report about Donna. Her dry eye condition has responded well to her medication, and as a result, her vision has improved tremendously.

This is one gentle, loving girl. She is good with kids, good with other dogs, and in the words of her foster dad, just good, good, good! 

Donna is a loving, sweet senior who yearns to spend her golden years with her own family to love. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Wouldn’t you love to open your heart and home to this sweetie?

Original:

Donna spent Christmas Day in a house full of children, aging from 2 to 12. She was not overwhelmed and fit right in, a tribute to her wonderful temperament. Just the previous week she had come into her foster family’s care from a very sad and near-desperate circumstance. Due to illness her owner had spent some time in a nursing home, which left Donna and another Springer alone in their home. A good neighbor was stopping by to feed and let them out but the house had no heat. When their owner passed, a MAESSR volunteer stopped by with their caregiver to meet the dogs and both ran up in excitement. They sniffed with normal curiosity and took the treats he offered. Quickly, foster families volunteered for each dog and both were in the warmth of homes for the holidays.

The resident dog in Donna’s foster home is also a senior girl. The two do well together. Donna is protective of her food around the other dog but is improving as the two become better acquainted. She is housebroken and, though she doesn’t signal to be let out, she benefits from the resident dog needing to be out every 3-4 hours and tags right along. She goes the nights without incident.

Her foster parents have not had to crate Donna as her house manners are good. With maturity comes no counter surfing, trash picking or jumping on the furniture. She is good on a leash, although that has not really been necessary either. She is an excellent car rider and a soon-to-be-proficient pilot when she begins flying with her foster dad who also volunteers as a colonel in Springer Air! This should tickle Donna as she is a typical Velcro Springer and will love being extra close in the cockpit!

Donna is in overall good health. She does have a dry eye condition that is responding well to drops now that she is being treated regularly. Initially it seemed she might have some bladder leakage but that seems to have been a short term issue. Her sight is limited, probably to seeing shadows. This is what makes steps a challenge but, with common adaptability, she is getting the feel of ones in her foster home to the outside and each day brings more ease with them.

What one sees easily in Donna is that she is grateful for her second chance. She is an absolutely sweet, little girl – well, little senior! She is very loving and just wants to snuggle. With the softest of fur, everyone loves to snuggle with her too. She doesn’t play much and spends a lot of her free time sleeping, and, when left alone, she does fine as well.

Donna would do well in any home with fewer steps than more. If a multi-dog family welcomes her, it would probably be preferred if other dog(s) were seniors with low energy levels or dogs that would respect her laid-back nature. She’ll soon be ready for one more move – how about right into your heart?!?