Entered: 05/12/2021
Status: Rainbow Bridge
Age: 10; born 02/13/2011
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 47 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Girard, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, large inoperable bladder tumor
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children, but may be too rambunctious for little ones, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 01/14/2022: “The vet determined that Finnegan had a large bladder tumor that was inoperable.”
Although he was doing well in his foster home waiting for the perfect forever home with his brother Murphy, Finnegan began acting off recently and was taken to the vet. The vet determined that Finnegan had a large bladder tumor that was inoperable. It was decided that the kindest next step would be to let him pass to the Bridge. Run free there, sweet boy!
Update 11/15/2021: “Finnegan and his brother Murphy are hoping that they can find their forever home together this holiday season.”
Finnegan continues to do well in his foster home. He has lost some weight and it shows. He’s likely at his optimal weight as he is barrel chested and a naturally larger dog.
Leash walking has not really improved for Finnegan. His foster mom still wraps a leash around his belly which keeps him from pulling and dragging. She hasn’t yet tried a gentle leader, but his forever family might want to see if that helps.
Finnegan’s foster mom is letting his fur grow a bit to leave some feathering. He and his brother were shaved down prior to their arrival in foster care.
Both boys are very mellow 10-year-old dogs. Finnegan is a little more “dramatic and emotional” than his brother (for example, he’s impatient waiting for a meal, etc.) At times he gets a bit possessive about his space. He doesn’t care for another foster, especially when he gets in Finnegan’s space. Since this foster doesn’t care for males and lets them know it, Finnegan has decided the feeling is mutual.
Finnegan and his brother Murphy are hoping that they can find their forever home together this holiday season. Can’t you just picture them wearing big bows and lolling by a roaring fire at your house?
Update 09/04/2021: “Finnegan and his brother Murphy 16 need to be in a cat free home.”
Despite living peacefully with the resident cats for the past four months, Finnegan’s foster mom just reported that, unprovoked, he had just attacked one of her cats requiring a vet trip. So, Finnegan and his brother Murphy 16 need to be in a cat free home.
Update 08/19/2021: “In the middle of July, Finnegan had the lump on his jaw removed. Happily, it was a benign lipoma. “
Finnegan 2 and his brother Murphy 16 continue to do well in their foster home. Being able to chase birds and squirrels in his fenced yard has helped Finn to drop some weight and his foster mom is pleased with how trim he looks.
In the middle of July, Finnegan had the lump on his jaw removed. Happily, it was a benign lipoma. The vet couldn’t remove all of it because of blood vessels present, but most of it has been removed. No further treatment is necessary; his forever family should just keep an eye on it. Finnegan’s skin allergies haven’t cropped up again; they may have been stress related due to changes in his life. The vet and Finn’s foster mom thought giving him a daily joint supplement to prevent age related joint stiffness would be advisable.
Leash walking with Finnegan has improved somewhat due to the way his foster mom walks him. She loops the leash around his belly instead of using a harness. This helps to steer him, similar in concept to a gentle leader. When his brother Murphy barks at people on their walks, Finn joins in but he won’t initiate the barking. He is more of a nervous Nelly type of guy.
Finnegan and Murphy would love to live out their lives together in their shared forever home as they are a bonded pair. They have much to offer a family. They are already trained, have delightful personalities, love attention and petting, and are full of life! Double your pleasure by adopting both Finnegan and Murphy!
Original: “He would love a safe place to run and a swimming hole would add to his fun!!”
Finnegan and his littermate Murphy lived with their Pennsylvania owners until their dad died and Mom needed to move to a home without a yard. MAESSR was asked to help with this bonded pair. The boys have seemed very stressed after losing Dad who was their best friend.
Finnegan is adventurous and enjoys swimming and going to the lake. He doesn’t care too much about toys, but does like hooves to chew on. His foster mom is working on manners, because he does like to bark at everyone and his leash skills need some help! Because of his rambunctious nature, he did not spend time with visitors or children in his original home. Finnegan is enjoying a fenced in yard at his foster home and so would do well in a house where he doesn’t need to be walked all the time.
Finnegan reportedly does not dig or chew, but might beg or counter-surf if given the opportunity.
He had some training as a pup and knows “sit.” He does not like to be crated but was fine gated in a room with his brother when his original owner went to work. He does love his people (and his brother).
Finnegan’s ideal home would be a place where he and his brother can live out the rest of their lives, with or without other dogs. He would love a safe place to run and a swimming hole would add to his fun!!