Entered: 05/17/2025
Status: Rainbow Bridge
Age: 6; born 05/21/2019
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 77 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Northampton, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, being treated for an enlarged heart, mass in abdominal area
Temperament: Good with people of all ages, barks at other dogs and cats
Original: “George was the definition of sweetness and love. He gave much love and received much love back.”
New Jersey boy George came into MAESSR’s care due to his owner not being able to care for him with moving to an apartment and caring for a 5-month-old; the owner just did not have the time to devote to George.
George is an exceptional dog! He settled into his foster home very easily with his happy, loving and attentive demeanor. A true Velcro boy, George follows his foster mom all around the house and watches everything she does and listens to everything that is said to him!
George is housetrained and has absolutely no need for a crate as he is fully trusted in the house. George at times will go to the door to let his foster mom know he needs to go out; otherwise, he is just left out periodically during the day. When his foster mom goes to work, he knows exactly when she is leaving as he will get his special chicken jerky treat! He has no separation anxiety at all. When his foster mom comes home from work, as she peeks through the door window, George hears her and is standing patiently by the door, looking at his foster mom with a big smile and a wagging tail! At bedtime, George will sleep on the floor by the bedroom door. Nothing gets past George. If his foster mom gets up during the night, George knows and watches!
George has exceptional house manners! There is no counter-surfing, no trash diving, and no inappropriate chewing for this good boy! George likes to lie on his foster mom’s bed next to her for a while and then hops down to the floor. George is an exceptional car rider! No car sickness. He just looks out the window for a bit, then lies down and enjoys the ride until the destination is reached.
George has not interacted with the resident cat in his foster home. He did see a cat on one of his walks and barked at it. He met a small dog through the fence, barked at it, and walked away. When he met the neighborhood German Shepherd through the fence, he was not fond of this dog and barked at him letting him know that this turf belonged to George. At the vet one day, there were plenty of dogs, but George fixated on an old black lab and barked at him. It seems he may not like big dogs! On his beloved walks, if other dogs barked at him, he would bark back and lunge a bit but could be quickly redirected by his foster mom.
George does not resource anything. He shows little to no interest in toys. Although he may carry a toy back to his bed, he just drops it there. George does know verbal and hand signal commands for “come,” “sit,” “down,” and “stay.” His foster mom tried teaching him to shake paw for his treat, but George would give a comical look, as if to say, “I’m not learning that! Just hand over the treat!” George is fed in the kitchen or bedroom and readily trots off to the place where his food will go and sits and waits patiently for the bowl to be put down. Such a good boy!
George has not been formally groomed as of yet, but did fine when his foster mom trimmed his paws and in between the pads of his paws. He just gave an occasional flinch of the paws when it tickled. He has no problem with nail clipping or ear cleaning. George was a very good boy at the vets and left them do whatever it was they needed to do!
George loves going on his walks! He met many people on his walks and would greet them readily! His foster mom would say, “George, want to go for a walk?” and George was up and ready to go! He loves belly rubs, butt rubs, head rubs, well all-over-body rubs! A very happy boy and so loving! A total pleasure!! George certainly was enjoying his life as a MAESSR boy!!
George initially weighed in at the vet at 86 lbs. Vet was suspicious of how his abdomen protruded and was distended. Upon further examination and tests, it was shown that George’s heart was enlarged and there was a mass in his abdominal cavity. He was started on lasix and prednisone. When the vet saw him a week later, George lost 6 pounds and there was no more fluid around his heart. A further ultrasound was recommended and completed. The results stated that the mass was attached in the abdominal cavity. He was to remain on the lasix and prednisone until his next vet visit. The day of the ultrasound showed his weight was now down to 77lbs.
Unfortunately, very early in the morning on Father’s Day, George passed away. Why is the question. Why is a question that can’t be answered at this time. George was the definition of sweetness and love. His foster mom is definitely going to miss him. He gave much love and received much love back. George was a very special dog who deserved so much. Enjoy your walks at the Bridge, sweet boy!