Henry 8

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Update 10/11/11:

Henry is becoming sweeter and sweeter as he feels better – what great news to share!! He’s moved to a new foster home to complete his recovery from a number of minor but discomforting health issues and will soon be in tip-top shape to meet one very lucky adopting family!!

Original:

Henry became a MAESSR boy when a West Virginia shelter arranged a quick transfer after he was relinquished by his owner due to a move. Henry came into foster care with kennel cough and stress-induced diarrhea on a Saturday and was at the vet Monday morning for treatment. Although he was micro-chipped at that time and given medication for the kennel cough, the rest of his vetting will have to wait until his infection clears up. His skin and coat are in poor condition, but the vet indicated the antibiotics for kennel cough will also help to clear up the condition of his skin. This long-legged boy is also flea-bitten and underweight.

While it is too soon to see what Henry’s personality is normally like when he is in good health, overall he has been a good houseguest – very pleasant, calm, easy-going, and sweet! Henry doesn’t countersurf, bother the trash, jump on the furniture, or touch any of his foster mom’s belongings. Indoor territory marking has significantly decreased and he will stop upon prompting. Despite his health issues, he has not lost bowel control in the house. Way to go, Henry! He is a moderate barker, usually giving alerts for people passing by. 

As a result of his kennel cough, Henry has been fairly isolated from his foster siblings, a MAESSR female, and two resident dogs – a neutered Springer and spayed female Bearded Collie mix. They are starting to interact more now that Henry is jumping the safety gates separating him from them – forget the vet’s orders; nobody’s excluding Henry! He and the neutered Springer are having some scraps, mostly minor ones, both equally initiating them. He is getting along and playing with the female foster who tends to drag him around the yard by his leash – what a champ! Henry displays some resource guarding and lets his foster siblings know not to touch his stuff. This has resulted in a few spats. His foster mom has not tested yet to see if he resource guards from her. 

Henry is being crated about eight hours daily with a break at lunch. He is not keen on being crated and has to be enticed with treats as he will not go in without a bribe. He will stiffen up if physical assistance is attempted. Henry whines and barks initially when crated but then quiets down. Before his health started to improve and he didn’t jump the safety gates, he was confined to two rooms while foster mom was at work and was trustworthy there. Henry is confined to bathroom and upstairs hallway at night and sleeps through the night now that his hacking cough is abating. 

It is unclear what commands Henry knows. It may be coincidental that he sat and lay down several times when asked as he usually won’t respond to these verbal cues. He generally comes when called, though. He is taken out in the fenced yard dragging a leash. There have been no attempts to escape even though the shelter staff said Henry is a runner. Henry has been on only one walk due to his illness and bad weather. He is a puller so a Gentle Leader was used; this is another thing that Henry is not keen on. He was walked with the female Beardie and spent a lot of time trying to lose the Gentle Leader. The bunnies along the way piqued his interest without him getting overly excited. 

This Henry the Eighth may not look like a king yet, but given the TLC he deserves, he’ll think he’s royalty! Watch for more on this boy as he regains his health.