Heron

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Updated 7/26/06: Heron is recovering well from her second spay-related surgery, thanks to good veterinary care and being on a “No Activity” schedule. Her stitches are scheduled to be removed this week and her foster mom thinks that the vet will allow Heron to begin taking part in moderate to normal activity. The enforced “quiet time” plus plenty of good food is allowing Heron to fill out and become even prettier, if that is possible!

Since her ear infection, kennel cough, and UTI have also been successfully treated, Heron’s health issues seem a thing of the past! In fact, she feels so good and wants to play so badly that it is all her foster family can do to keep her quiet!

This sweet little girl may be the perfect addition to your home! She’s started her “new beginning” and now only needs a forever family for complete happiness!!

Updated 7/14/06: Heron has developed kennel cough which is being treated with the same antibiotics she is taking for her urinary tract infection. The vet thinks that this should be sufficient treatment and will resolve both problems.

When Heron went in for the follow-up visit after her spaying, the vet discovered that her internal stitches had popped. This happens occasionally in connection with spaying and, though not a true emergency, it must be dealt with promptly to assure the dog’s safe recovery. Heron is scheduled for follow-up surgery on July 17th and like her original surgery, she will need to recover for 10 days following this surgery.

Heron has not shown the effects of the popped stitches. In fact, she becomes more bright-eyed and alert every day. The concern for Heron is that she did not recover easily from the anesthesia when she was spayed. Please keep her in your thoughts as she undergoes a second surgery and makes her second recovery.

Original: Heron is a bright eyed, affectionate and petit girl. Overall, she is a quiet and docile Velcro Springer. She is still learning that playtime is fun and is something springers enjoy and excel at! She is learning to play at the side of an 11-month-old Springer puppy who wants her to run and tumble about. Heron plays with the puppy but usually cuts the playtime short and heads into the garden where she hides under the flowering bushes. When she sticks her pretty head out, her face is wreathed in flowers, she is so cute that it is hard for her foster mom to make her come out. When she does come out, she usually sits quietly at the side of the pen and waits for the puppy to settle down so they can again be closest friends.

Heron also gets along with the senior ESS and the resident cats. She will chase the cats but has never hurt them. She usually steps back and watches the puppy play with them once they are caught. She is not aggressive with toys although, she will growl if the other dogs get close to her food bowl when she is eating. She was groomed, scissors only, and behaved like the well-mannered lady she is. The couple of times Heron has been around children she was frightened when approached by active children, but she was her usual sweet self when petted by a quiet, mature adolescent.

When she is crated with the puppy, Heron does well but when she is alone in the house, she somehow manages to get out of a locked crate. She doesn’t destroy anything, but she has had an accident or two. Heron is not fully house trained, so her adoptive family will need to continue this training. Heron is beginning leash work and must be coaxed to take walks. Right now, she would rather sit and wait for you to finish your walk without her. The only time a tug is needed is when she needs to move along. She is beginning to learn basic commands such as “sit”, “stay”, “come”, and will need to have positive reinforcement until she fully understands what is expected. She is good off leash and comes promptly when called. However, she will follow the puppy next door to visit the neighbors and their gardens. What social rascals Springers can be!

Before going to her adopting home, Heron will have completed meds for minor health issues. She is being treated for an ear fungus in both ears and a minor UTI infection. Other than these problems which are common when a dog is neglected, Heron is in overall good health. Her foster family thinks she will do best in a settled household without active children to frighten her. If you want a sweet, docile, affectionate Springer, Heron may be just the pretty girl you have been waiting for.