Gretel

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Update 02/26/10:

There are times when love, vigilant care and excellent vetting are not enough to bring a good quality of life to a dog with seizures. When the dog is a Springer in foster care, the decision to euthanize is no less difficult than if the dog was a long time resident.

Gretel was released to the Rainbow Bridge today. Her foster family had worked diligently with their vet to try to get her seizures under control. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to help. The foster family felt that the frequent seizures were extremely hard on Gretel and that it was time to give her rest. Godspeed, Gretel, and a heartfelt appreciation to her foster family for giving her every chance to overcome her illness.

Update 01/23/10:

Gretel has returned to MAESSR’s care because she had been experiencing seizures in her adoptive home. It was felt that Gretel needed to come back to MAESSR for further evaluation. She is in a foster home with several other dogs and is doing well.

The current goal is to reduce the amount of medication Gretel receives. Her foster family is keeping strict records of all med changes and is monitoring seizure behaviors. At this time Gretel is taking half the dosage she was when she arrived and she’s responding very well. Her foster mom believes that Gretel can be stabilized on a much lower dosage of meds and continue to have a wonderful quality of life.

Gretel has a wonderful Springer temperament and love of life. She loves to cuddle with her family in bed at night and sleeps like a baby (Yes, she does snore!!). Gretel has fantastic house manners and is such a good girl that she would be a fantastic addition to any home.

Keep watching for updates on this sweetie!

Original:

Gretel and her brother Hansel were relinquished to MAESSR due to the ill health of their owner. They were wonderful companions to the owner’s husband in the final months of his life.

Gretel is an easy going girl who loves companionship– with adults, kids, and other dogs. Gretel met her foster mom’s six year old nephew and she was fine with him. This pretty girl is gentle to the resident cat indoors, but will chase the cat outdoors. If given the chance, Gretel will counter-surf and will beg for table food. She is housetrained and is not destructive when left alone with other dogs. There is almost always someone in and out of her foster home, but Gretel has been alone with just the other dogs and they all have free run of the first floor. Gretel is a good watchdog, too, and lets her foster family know when a stranger is around.

Gretel loves running and the yard and relaxing there. She is a moderately active springer who will probably have more energy when she loses some excess pounds. Gretel listens well and knows how to “sit” and is learning to walk nicely with a gentle leader. She also rides nicely in the car. In her original home, she rode in the car in a crate with its door opened, but since her foster mom’s car is not set up for that, Gretel has just been great riding in the back seat of the car. She jumps in and out and likes the adventure of going somewhere in the car.

Gretel will be a wonderful addition to some lucky family!