Entered: 04/21/2019
Status: Adopted
Age: 12
Color: Black/White
Weight: 49 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Newport News, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving a supplement for joint health, benefiting from a weight management food formula to achieve optimal weight, benign lipoma on chest area
Temperament: Good with adults, good with children (reportedly lived with a toddler), good with dogs, good with cats
Update 04/24/2019: “The vet couldn’t believe that Lula is 12! This girl is in great shape.”
Lula continues to be a delight at home. Her foster family has started taking her places for socialization. Sometimes she gets a bit overwhelmed if too many people approach, or if she’s not ready to meet someone. After a few minutes, however, the shyness wears off and the tail starts wagging again.
Recently Lula was taken to the vet to get checked out, get her labs done, and have her nails trimmed. They had some trouble pulling blood and were not able to do the nail trim. The vet was able to touch each of her paws without a problem (as can her foster mom.) It was agreed that, most likely, being restrained scared Lula. Rather than try again and stress her out, a mild sedative was ordered for Lula to take before the next attempt, just to take the edge off. At the vet’s office she’s been marked as a “Less is Best,” which is their code for no or little restraint for the nail trim, etc. She was fine receiving her vaccinations.
The vet couldn’t believe that Lula is 12! This girl is in great shape. Her bloodwork and rest of labs were very good. Keep posted for more news about this terrific senior Springer.
Original: “Lula has very hood house manners. While she’ll go inthe crate if asked, there is no need to do so as she is completely housetrained, hasn’t had accidents, and will signal to go out.”Lula was adopted at a young age from a shelter and lived a happy life with her Virginia owners for several years. A cross-country move was deemed too stressful for this sweet senior, which is how she became a MAESSR girl.
Despite paperwork that lists her age as 12, Lula does not look or act her age – more like a 9 to 10 year old. In her foster home, this lovely lady gets along just fine with the resident dog and cat. In fact, the resident dog has accepted her far better than any other foster, and the cat has come out of hiding without even a complaint when Lula sniffs her rear end. She must have a trustworthy aura about her! Lula tries her best to engage the resident dog in play, but she receives the “are you crazy?” look. She’s playful, but not overly so. She has been fine with the 12 and 17 year old children in the house and has particularly bonded with the younger one.
Lula has very good house manners. While she’ll go in the crate if asked, there is no need to do so as she is completely housetrained, hasn’t had accidents, and will signal to go out. This good girl doesn’t counter-surf, check out the trash, chew up things, or display any other bad habits. She knows basic commands fairly well, although sometimes her foster family has to make sure they have her full attention for compliance. She “sits,” will “lie down,” “stays” for both commands, and gives a paw for treats. She doesn’t beg for food when her family eats; in fact, Lula will go lie on her bed when told to at the family mealtime.
Lu does jump a little in excitement, but it’s more of a hop up and down rather than a forceful jumping on her people. She walks well on a leash and was likely walked on a leash to go potty because she ALWAYS goes when walked.
Lula allows her ears and feet to be handled with no issues. Her foster parents noticed that she’s in pretty good shape for a senior girl, although she could probably lose about five pounds. She’s begun a new weight management food to assist with this. The only indication of her true age is that Lula sometimes seems just a tad bit stiff in the hips, which is noticeable in the care she takes going up and down stairs. A glucosamine supplement is being added to her food to see if it helps her hips.
As for the car…Lula’s previous owner was spot on about Lula not traveling well. She whined the entire 35 minutes home from the shelter; however, the next day she was taken for a short ride to a pet supply store, and her family discovered that when the 12 year old sat in the back with her, she didn’t whine at all. It’s unclear if it was the shorter trip, a child back there with her, or a combo of both. Whatever the reason, it was a better ride over all.
Lula is due for vaccines in a few weeks when she will meet with the vet to get updated on her vaccines.
This is one sweet, sweet girl. Have you heard that senior Springers are the best?