Entered: 03/10/2007
Status: Adopted
Age: 3
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Intact Male
Location: Dallas, PA
Health: UTD, HW+ and beginning treatment, being treated for an upper respiratory infection, slightly underweight
Temperament: Good with adults and teenagers, children unknown at this time, dominant with other dogs, beginning socialization with cats
Updated 4/22/07: Sadly, Harley did not survive his second round of heartworm treatment. With advances in recent years, successful treatment of heartworm disease has led to life-saving outcomes for most of MAESSR’s HW+ dogs. With such a track record, it’ a bit easy to forget the real danger for the dogs when a cure for the disease is sought.
Harley was greatly loved by his foster family and had made wonderful progress in adapting to indoor life with them. He followed his foster mom adoringly from room to room. He had become fast friends with the resident springer and the princess cat. He spent the last few weeks of his life in a loving home and would have made anyone a wonderful forever dog.
Original: Before coming to MAESSR, Harley and his kennel mate, Hailey, had lived outside in separate runs in New Jersey. When his owners divorced, they had to find other homes for their dogs, so an all-breed rescue group stepped in to help. Then they called MAESSR. This was a very lucky day for both springers since they were suffering from heart worms. Harley is now known as Harley Van Gogh after a well-meaning volunteer in his original rescue group caught a portion of his ear while trying to trim out all his mats. He had a quick trip to the emergency vet clinic, was stitched up, and is healing nicely. He is looking much snazzier now that he has been groomed. Harley is underweight right now but is being well fed by his dietitian foster mom and should gain to a normal range.
Since he had lived outside for his whole life, the whole experience of being inside is very exciting to Harley. He has become very attached to his new foster mom. He especially enjoys dinnertime when things are cooking. He will put his paws on the counter to investigate the nice smells but understands “no” and gets down when told. He is not housebroken but is doing very well with learning this indoor etiquette. Harley is developing very nice crate manners, too.
When he first arrived, Harley was not very well mannered with the resident female. He was used for breeding in his former life, so that seemed to be the only way he knew to interact with a female dog. Harley is doing much better socially after a few days of work. He is an attention bug and loves to be showered with affection. He will plop right down in anyone’s lap on the floor. Also, he does what his foster mom calls his “happy dance.” Harley will arch his back like a cat and spin in a circle while rubbing his body up against someone. What a sight!!!
Harley doesn’t seem to have any experience with toys. Although he had no clue what to do with a ball or a rope toy, he has found out he really likes stuffed animals. He picked up one and carried it all around the neighborhood on his walk. Harley loves to go on walks. He is learning very nice leash manners. He will sit politely to be put on his leash and he allows the resident dog to go out first. Harley eventually settles down in the car, but that too is a new experience for him. He barked at the resident cat from inside of his crate. His foster mom will reintroduce them later if she can ever convince the princess cat to come downstairs again.
Harley will be starting on his heartworm treatment. Because of this, he will be on very limited activity for several weeks but will be receiving lots of attention. More on Harley as he settles in.