Entered: 08/01/2000
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Virginia,
Health: Excellent, UTD, HW-
Temperament: Good – separation anxiety
Original: Megan was originally sold as a puppy by her breeder and the owner kept her outside tied up. It sounds like someone, either the owner or someone concerned about the dog, called Animal Control and they then picked up the dog. She was then adopted by a family who is now relinquishing the dog. They were not aware of the seperation issues when they adopted her. The family says that she has seperation anxiety to the point where when the owner left the basement and went upstairs, the dog started barking, crying and pooping and urinating on the floor. They said that whenever she is left alone she does this. When asked about crate training I got the impression that they just couldn’t do it. (Put the time in to work on the problem.)
The newest family contacted the breeder when she was adopted. The breeder told her that if they decided they did not want the dog that she (the breeder) would take her back. When the family asked what would happen to Megan, the breeder told them that she would place an ad in the paper (and likely sell her to another family). The family is against this as they have fallen in love with her and they know that the breeder would likely not relinquish the info on the seperation anxiety. Ultimately they are afraid that in the wrong home someone would be mean to her.
Some follow up reveled that Megan was a surprise for the grandmother who lives with the family. She doesn’t want Megan in the house and is unwilling to let them try and resolve her problems. We very much want to get her into foster care so we can see the extent of her issues. It may be that mild medication and crate training can resolve the issue. Otherwise, we will be looking for a home where someone is at home most of the day in order to minimize her stress.
UPDATE: Megan has been doing wonderfully in foster care. So well in fact, that they have fallen in love and decided to keep her. She has never demonstrated the level of separation anxiety that was reported to us. She does like to swim in the water bowl when left alone, but what great fun that must be. This little girl is safe and sound and in a forever home.