Lucy 5

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Update 04/16/10:

Lucy continues to do well in foster care. She’s proving to be a medium to low energy gal who is always ready to step out for fresh air and is a great leash walker. She loves car rides and is very calm when traveling; she usually curls up and sleeps along the way. Toys or a game of fetch are not favorites for Lucy but she has her own sweet ways and is great company to all people. Lucy LOVES people and will go to anyone for belly rubs, even strangers who, of course, do not remain strangers for long! She is kind and gentle and very affectionate to all humans. Not so much a playful companion, Lucy is the one you want to snuggle with on the couch.

Though not a fan of dogs when she arrived, Lucy continues to get more and more comfortable with strange dogs she meets. She no longer crouches on the ground or raises her lips. Her tail is still tucked but she now realizes some dogs only want to sniff their “hello.” She does continue to guard her crate (which she loves) but is warming up considerably to the resident dog. There is no playing yet, but there are big, full doggy wags now, and, she will lick his lips when they are getting leashed up and she is excited, especially the first thing in the morning! Terrific progress to see for her! Her foster mom feels Lucy could probably live with a mellow dog that respects her space and doesn’t take her crate/bone/food guarding personally. She remains great with cats but will give squirrels a chase in her yard.

With Lucy there is neither submissive urination nor any human aggression. She does not guard her food or toys from people. She seems to be fine when off leash in a safe area, staying close by and coming back immediately if called. At night she settles on her dog bed in the bedroom and stays there like a good girl until morning.

Lucy’s pictures are a bit misleading. She was shaved down before coming to her foster home, as it was the best way to deal with a long neglected coat. Only her tail was left long but, once her new growth catches up with the tail, Lucy will have a beautiful full, medium length, wavy coat. She really wanted this explained so no one would think she has hair that is normally short!

Lucy will never be tied to a tree again. Her happiest days are ahead. She loves unconditionally, trusts everyone and takes great comfort in being close to her people. The family that chooses Lucy will be very lucky indeed!!!

Original:

Lucy 5 spent the first years of her life tied to a tree in her native Arkansas. A small, private rescue removed her from that situation, but was unable to find her a home. So, MAESSR was called upon to help.

Housetrained and crate trained, little Miss Lucy has had no accidents while in foster care and she enjoys being in her crate. She is not food aggressive and takes treats gently from both adults and the children in her foster home. Curious about what may be on the counter, Lucy does put her paws up gently to sniff the counter, but she is too petite to reach anything up there. For her vet appointment she was very good for the exam and for her blood drawing, only crying when her microchip was implanted.

Lucy is great with the children in her foster family and she just ignores the cat. She doesn’t really care for other dogs, though, and she fusses when the resident dog passes by her crate. Shy and submissive, Lucy had been physically picked on by a group of dogs kept in an enclosed yard when she was in the care of her previous rescue group. Her reaction to the resident dog may be a residual effect of her previous attack by the pack. Lucy is not aggression at all with the resident male, but a forever home environment where she was the only dog may be best for her. Then, she could receive all of the attention and continued socialization that a one-and-only gets.

Watch for more on Lucy as her personality continues to unfold in her foster home.