Dottie 3

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Update 11/08/2018:  “She and her canine foster brother play very well together, and Dottie’s forever home will need to have a doggie role model and assistant.”

Dottie came through her spay surgery well. She seemed a little relieved to see that her foster mom was taking her home! She’s is receiving the “slow kill” method of treatment to rid her of heartworms and will be on this for a year or until she tests negative for heartworms.
 
Still unwilling to socialize with humans, Dottie continues to hide in corners and under furniture. However, she does present herself more often for petting. Dottie is comfortable sneaking out of the house using the doggy door and now also is starting to sneak back in. Baby steps for this timid girl, but progress is being made. Dottie was still exploring beyond the yard until her foster mom put a cinderblock in front of the spot she was using to exit. Occasionally Dottie gets excited and comes with hand clapping, but she does not yet respond to the command “come.” On leash she will follow her foster mom when she says, “Let’s go,” but not when she is ensconced under the big bed or on “her” bed.
 
Dottie definitely responds to positive reinforcement only. Her foster mom sometimes feels impatient when she is in a hurry and must move at Dottie’s pace. Although necessary, this slows the process even more.
 
She and her canine foster brother play very well together, and Dottie’s forever home will need to have a doggie role model and assistant. Someone with a loving, patient, and compassionate heart will be greatly rewarded by this sweet girl.
 

Update 09/26/2018:  “Dottie has never barked or cried since being in her foster home and sleeps in a crate where she feels very safe.”

Dottie is a good weight and the remnants of her dry skin due to flea bite dermatitis are clearing nicely with help from an Omega 3 supplement. She has started heartworm treatment, has been scheduled to be to be spayed and has recovered from a bout of conjunctivitis. 

Miss D. has never barked or cried since being in her foster home and sleeps in a crate where she feels very safe.  Although still very shy, this sweetheart has made some progress both indoors and out.  

Dottie surprised her foster mom when she got loose in the back yard and ran and played all over like a puppy with the other dog in the home.   She’s not afraid to go out the doggie door to freedom!  This female Houdini will need a very secure fenced yard.  She left her current safe haven several times but came back to be with her foster brother.  

Her foster mom thinks Dottie’s shyness is fear of humans and lack of socialization with people.  In the home, she is always hiding under a bed or other furniture but does now want to be in the same room as her mom and foster brother.  She seems to take her cues on safe contact with humans from her foster brother.  

One thing is clear–Dottie will need a very patient family with a friendly dog who can show her the way.  She is very lovable, and the smallest effort on her part to show trust and/or affection to her foster mom is most heartwarming and rewarding.  The best of Dottie’s life is ahead of her.

Original: “In her previous life Dottie was an outside dog and slept in a doghouse.”

Dottie is a petite Springer mix whose life and vet care before MAESSR are sketchy. This little cutie was rescued from being sent to a shelter by a relative of her original owner of nine years in North Carolina. Because her rescuer returned to teaching and Dottie displayed signs of anxiety, she was relinquished after a few months to MAESSR.

In her previous life Dottie was an outside dog and slept in a doghouse. She has had a very difficult time adjusting to being inside and relating to human interaction. She is unable to make eye-contact with her people, panicking, and running away to hide. She’s currently on a supplement  to assist with her anxiety. When the resident dog seeks attention for his human, Dottie will sidewinder up to get a little attention herself, which is an improvement since coming into foster care. Her foster mom got excited recently when Dottie chose to join her and her foster brother around the computer; this is a wonderful change from hiding under her foster mom’s bed, a typical safe place for her.

This little scamp has proven her ability to get out of a fenced yard; but on the plus side, she has shown no signs of barking, destructive behaviors, aggression, or fear biting. Good girl!  But she has a long way to go before she will be a well-socialized and comfortable dog. The best thing to happen to Dottie is coming into MAESSR’s care, but her foster mom thinks it will be a long time until she realizes this fact. 

Reportedly Dottie lived with children in her original home. The ages are unknown, but this may be irrelevant given that she was an outdoor dog.  She does not approach other dogs, but Dottie has been fine with the resident canine. Her attitude towards cats is unknown. 

Dottie will be spayed soon and will begin her treatment for heartworms. She will have the “slow kill” method of treatment which involves giving the infected dog monthly Heartgard tabs over the course of a year. (Doxycycline therapy is sometimes done as part of the treatment as well.) At the end of the year the dog is retested for heartworms. MAESSR will supply medication to the adoptive family and will pay for the follow-up vet visit and heartworm test. Although most dogs are heartworm-free after one year, MAESSR will pay for the treatment if the dog is still heartworm positive.

After spay surgery and after beginning her heartworm treatment, Dottie will have to grow in the love that her foster mom can give her. Send good thoughts Dottie’s way as she learns how good life can be.