Entered: 10/24/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 41 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Richmond, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, blind in left eye due to a cataract, PRA diagnosed, skin allergies controlled by medication, surgery to correct entropion on right eye complete, has achieved a healthy weight
Temperament: Good with adults, would prefer a toddler-free home, fine with dogs of either gender, unknown with indoor cats, will chase outdoor cats
Update 12/16/2014: “I know it’s almost Christmas, so I’m hoping that I get a chance to sit on Santa’s lap. If I do, I’m going to ask him to please, please bring me a forever family.”
One of our very special pups has a very special request this holiday season:
Greetings MAESSR Family!
I am Hannah and I’m so happy to be a part of MAESSR. I’ve had some health issues, including a problem with my eyelid that was fixed thanks to the folks at MAESSR. I have a great foster family that includes a foster brother named David who’s also a MAESSR dog. We have a great time together! I have a really sweet foster mom, too. She calls me a “DOLL!” I’m not sure what that means but she smiles when she says it, so I know that’s something good.
I do fun things with my family. My foster mom says I’m going to take a trip this week to the pet store. I like meeting new people and I bet I’ll get lots of head patting, which I LOVE. Did you know that there are really great treats there, too??
One thing that I like to do at my foster home is snuggling on the big bed with my foster parents. I’m okay with being in my crate, too. One of my favorite things to do is getting my” walkies.” The only time I bark is when I’m so excited to see my leash come out!
I know it’s almost Christmas, so I’m hoping that I get a chance to sit on Santa’s lap. If I do, I’m going to ask him to please, please bring me a forever family. I hope he can find one that won’t care if I don’t see too well. Because I don’t need perfect vision to show my love! Maybe my family would include another doggie friend for me to play with. And maybe they like to give lots and lots of belly rubs and walkies! I’m hoping that I’ll wake up on Christmas morning in my new home surrounded by my very own family. So, that is my Christmas wish! Oh, and world peace!
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Hannah
Are you looking for a special present to put under your tree this Christmas? You won’t find a better one than Hannah!
Update 12/03/2014: “While Hannah’s eyesight could possibly diminish, her sweet temperament and capacity for love will not.”
Hannah recently visited a veterinary ophthalmologist for an evaluation of her eyes. He recommended surgical correction of the entropion eyelid on the right eye. Her left eye has a hyper-mature cataract which has left her with no sight in that eye. Hannah also was diagnosed with Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This condition starts with gradual loss of night vision and, eventually, day vision also is lost. All dogs with PRA will eventually develop complete blindness as the condition advances. Hannah will be started on a supplement that is believed to help with eye health.
This sweet girl will be much more comfortable after her eye surgery. She then will be ready to become the much loved member of some lucky family. While Hannah’s eyesight could possibly diminish, her sweet temperament and capacity for love will not. Do you have room in your heart and home for Hannah?
Original: “Her favorite thing to do when no other dogs are around is to roll upside down and get lots of tummy pets.”
Hannah has had a rough year. Her elderly, New Jersey owner passed away. Then, she went to live with the grandson and his family, where she was overwhelmed by 3 other dogs and a 13 month-old child. An unfortunate incident with the toddler made her substitute family turn to MAESSR for help in finding Hannah a child-free forever home. While Hannah was sleeping, the toddler reached over her to grab a television remote. Startled awake, Hannah nipped at the child but did not break the skin. This made the young parents nervous and they contacted MAESSR. Other than that one incident, Hannah has shown no aggression towards people.
With nice house manners, Hannah is fully housetrained, rarely barks, does not chew inappropriately, respects fences and baby gates, and doesn’t counter-surf. She does beg for food by placing her head in her person’s lap but will go away if asked. She sleeps in her crate at night, though she would prefer the bed! Otherwise, Hannah has full freedom of the house.
Although Hannah has had no formal obedience training, she does know “sit” and “come.” She lived with a doggy door in her first home but has had no issues in her foster home with just going out with the resident dogs. When out for a walk, she pulls a little on the leash but is learning that that is not acceptable. She loves to go for long walks, especially in the woods and will trot short distances already, building her endurance slowly. She would probably learn to be off leash, but as she’d love to chase squirrels and feral cats, it isn’t permitted in her former home. Hannah has had limited experience riding in the car (mostly trips to and from the vet) but she is a quiet passenger; now, she is learning to associate car rides with hiking, so she hops right in.
Hannah has some medical issues. She has allergies (atopic dermatitis) for which she takes medication twice a day for itching. That seems to work for her. She also has a cataract in her left eye which has rendered her visually impaired in that eye if not blind. Her loss of vision in this eye doesn’t seem to handicap her; she just turns her head to see things as needed. Further, Hannah has bilateral entropion. This is a condition in which her eyelashes turn inward, causing irritation and discomfort. She will need surgery to correct this. Now she just takes drops when her eyes are particularly irritated. Hannah is slimming quickly with lots of activity and not being free fed; her current weight is too much for this small girl. She is professionally groomed and has no problems with having her feet or ears handled, and loves being brushed. She was kept shaved down due to her skin issues.
In her prior household, Hannah would fuss with the female dogs on occasion, but has shown had no problems with her foster dog siblings, 2 males and a female. She is not really playing with the resident dogs in her foster home. She is more content to be with her people and hang out. Her favorite thing to do when no other dogs are around is to roll upside down and get lots of tummy pets. She’s fed separately from the resident dogs because she eats more quickly, but doesn’t guard her food, letting humans pick up pieces and put them back. Hannah will play with toys but not for long. She has not been swimming but enjoys being bathed.
Hannah loves being near her humans; she doesn’t mind other dogs but people are her thing. She can usually be found within a 4 foot radius of someone, quietly napping until it’s time to go outside to explore scents and look for squirrels, or change rooms for chores, dinner, or TV. Her usual Springer grin brightens up a room, and if you talk to her softly, she turns into a wiggle butt.
Hannah would love to be the center of attention in her forever home, so she probably wouldn’t need a sibling, although she doesn’t mind having them around and sleeps better crated when there is another dog nearby. With her full tail and white spot on the end, she’s almost always in wag mode and will make someone a fine friend. Mellow indoors and eager to experience the outside, Hannah’s a fine Springer girl.