Entered: 12/17/2023
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Black/White
Weight: 32 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Springfield, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, liver values being monitored, ears being treated for a yeast infection
Temperament: Good with adults, good with children older than 12 who can read a dog’s signal to back off, leery of other dogs, reportedly good with cats
Original: “Since Maggie’s foster home consists of her foster mom and no other animals or children, she has quieted down greatly and has shown a delightful personality.“
While Maggie was in an over-stimulated state of barking at dogs on television and in “her chair,” the 9-year-old child in her Maryland household tried to hug Maggie’s face and Maggie bit her lip, requiring a few stitches. Maggie had shown signs of warning before toward this child, but this was the first time a bite occurred. The older sister could do anything to Maggie, so the 9-year-old felt she could too, ignoring Maggie’s warning signals. Instead of putting Maggie down or taking her to a shelter, the family lovingly relinquished her to MAESSR for a second chance.
Getting Maggie into the vet’s building was very challenging because it triggered high anxiety in her as she pulled in the opposite direction. However, once she was in the exam room, Maggie graciously allowed the vet and tech to examine her, clean and medicate her ears, and take blood and weight. Nail trimming will be done at her follow-up appointment. She has not been to the groomer yet.
Maggie arrived at her foster home with all vaccines up to date, but needed updated testing for fecal, urine and heartworm. Since a wellness bloodwork panel included all these tests, the vet proceeded to do the panel. Everything was normal/negative except the liver values which were elevated. After receiving Maggie’s bloodwork from her previous vet, her liver values had decreased from her treatment for an infected tooth in 2023. Her liver values will have to be closely monitored. Also, the earwax removed from her ears was positive for a yeast infection. Treatment was administered immediately and will be rechecked at the end of a month.
Keeping the reason for Maggie’s relinquishment in mind, her foster mom is exercising caution with Maggie around any children until she can better understand her fears and overstimulation issues. When she was a puppy, Maggie was viciously attacked by two dogs and subsequently she is reactive around strange dogs.
Maggie is very anxious about walking up and down the street in her new neighborhood. She doesn’t pull but is on the look-out, ready to get home as soon as possible. At this point, Maggie responds to the commands “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “crate,” and “no.”
When two friends came to meet Maggie, she stayed at her foster mom’s side and didn’t want to greet them despite their very friendly approach. Maggie may have feared she was being taken away again and didn’t want to leave.
Her first car ride triggered anxiety—pacing in the back seat and drooling while safely leashed to the headrest of car seat. It’s going to take a lot more time for her to feel secure when traveling.
Overall, Maggie’s house manners are very good; however, she does like to counter-surf and sniff the contents of the trash can when her foster mom is not looking. She will back off if she hears a firm “NO,” but now anything tempting must be kept out of her reach. Thankfully, she does not chew inappropriately and enjoys the privilege of getting up on the sofa to cuddle next to her human.
Although housetrained, Maggie did not arrive with any clear-cut signals for needing to go out; it has been a learning process for foster mom. As Maggie adjusts to her new environment, this will change. She is excellent about going into her crate, especially since she knows there are treats to be enjoyed in her “cave”! She sleeps through the night and enjoys sleeping next to foster mom in the master bedroom.
Since Maggie’s foster home consists of her foster mom and no other animals or children, she has quieted down greatly and has shown a delightful personality. Because of her traumatic experience as a pup and previous life in a highly over-stimulating environment, all triggers have been removed in her foster home: no balls, sticks, or sensory activity toys. To release her energy, she loves to do zoomies around the fenced backyard, playing with her Kong stuffed fish and an unstuffed, squeaky fox toy. All playtime is closely monitored so that she does not get over-stimulated and have trouble calming down. Since her present foster home is void of other dogs, cats and children, this enables her to savor all the attention of her foster mom. This peaceful, calm environment helps Maggie stay relaxed and happy. Although she allows her foster mom to interact with her toys, dog food, and treats, she will guard any stolen food she gets on her own. Because she is a foodie, she quickly learned that she gets fed in the kitchen.
Because Maggie is prone to be reactive to high stimulation–like dogs on tv– she needs a very calm, peaceful environment without young children, where she is the sole fur baby until she can overcome the traumas she has experienced.