Entered: 10/06/2006
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Black/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Yorktown, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, thyroid levels being evaluated, some vision loss
Temperament: Good with people as young as 6 years, will do best as an “only” pet
Updated 11/29/06: As expected from her last exam by the ophthalmologist, Maddie’s vision was becoming progressively worse. While many dogs adjust to vision loss, Maddie was not one of them. Despite the love, patience, and support of her foster family, she became aggressive and untrustworthy.
Updated 11/6/06: Maddie has returned to foster care after a short time with her adopting family. Unfortunately, the more comfortable she became in her new home, the more she began to fight with the resident senior Springer and another Springer. Maddie is such a sweet, affectionate, and loveable girl that it broke her adoptive parent’s hearts to turn her back into rescue, but they know she will do best if placed in a home as the only pet. With no competition Maddie will thrive with all the love and affection being showered upon her.
Through her adopting family and since her return, some additional information on her health is available. Maddie had started thyroid medication, but at her first 4-week check, her levels were high. The vet recommended weaning her off of the med with a recheck to follow. Maddie also has been to see an ophthalmologist. She was diagnosed with cataracts and retinal degeneration, affecting the vision in both eyes. A recheck in 1-2 months will help determine if cataract surgery could help her. Until her recheck, she is receiving anti-inflammatory eye drops each morning. Like many dogs with compromised vision, Maddie does not let it stop her from getting around. At night she does seem to feel more comfortable on a leash, even when being walked around the yard. By day she is good off leash and sometimes you would never know she has a vision problem.
Maddie delights in play. Her favorite thing is “chasing the bug,” the bug being a flashlight beam. As soon as one of her foster parents head upstairs, she will immediately run into the room where this play occurs. It is quite entertaining to watch and a great form of exercise for her. Maddie has also been to the beach and appears to really like the water. This lady doesn’t walk, she’s either waddling, because her butt wiggles so much, or she prances. She’s just overflowing with happiness most all the time.
It’s very easy to fall in love with Maddie and to live with her too, as long as all family members are 2 footed. She’s active, cheery, well mannered, and will devote herself unconditionally to the people in her life. She brings much and asks for little. Can you offer her the companionship she needs?
Original: Maddie is a very sweet, affectionate, and dignified lady. Her owner chose to relinquish her because she was not getting along with the other Springer in her home. This may have been due to Maddie’s poor vision. Even though her eyesight is not good, she maneuvers well in her foster home, climbing up and down the stairs. It did not take her long to learn the layout of the house at all. She and the resident senior Springer get along fine, though there were some minor dominance issues as they were first getting acquainted.
Her manners match her outstanding temperament. Maddie does not counter surf, trash pick, and she’s been in the house with no accidents for up to 10 hours while her foster mom and dad are at work. Because she has been so trustworthy, her family has not even tried her in a crate. When her foster parents come home, Maddie wiggles like crazy and barks. She walks well on a leash, though sometimes she does like to pull when she gets excited.
Maddie immediately took to her foster dad and follows him like his shadow. She loves to chase and pounce on a flashlight beam. She doesn’t chew, has no interest in dog toys, but did grab the other end of the towel when her foster dad dried her paws, so tug-of-war may be something she’d like to try. She does love to jump up on the couch but will get down if told to. Even though she’d like to join the resident Springer in bed, she sleeps on a dog bed on her foster dad’s side.
Maddie’s main requirement is a family that will be patient with her vision problem and doesn’t mind giving her daily thyroid medication which is an inexpensive daily pill. The local vet has checked her eyes and referred her to an ophthalmologist for further diagnosis. She is currently being treated for an ear infection and doesn’t mind having her ears cleaned. She also allows her foster parents to brush her and seems to enjoy it.
Her foster parents feel Maddie would do well in a home with teenage children, as an only dog, or with another dog if it is gentle and laid back. She loves to go on car rides and absolutely loves to be with her people………and if that involves hanging out with you on the bed or the sofa, she will be in heaven!