Entered: 07/07/2015
Status: Permanent Foster; Rainbow Bridge
Age: 12
Color: Black/White
Weight: 32 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Fayetteville, WV
Health: UTD, HW-, chronic kidney disease with appropriate support in place, discontinued an ineffective supplement to reduce anxiety, incontinence resolved, treatment for UTI and dental extractions complete, significant age-related hearing and vision loss
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children, good with other dogs, reportedly has lived with cats
Update 04/26/2021: “She drew the line at sharing her over-sized basket with a newly arrived foster but was quickly comfortable with his sitting beside her for treats…ladies, first, of course.”
Misty 4, aka Pumpkin, passed winter without complaint but clearly embraced the warm days of spring when they arrived. She’d linger outdoors, rather than hurrying through her busyness, to bask in the sun. She had gained a few pounds and maintained a good quality of life since her last vet visit.
February’s diagnosis of chronic kidney disease had prompted dietary changes and the addition of supportive meds. She readily accepted all…who’s to argue with more scrumptious wet food in the bowl and more peanut butter masking the meds… 😊. She drew the line at sharing her over-sized basket with a newly-arrived foster but was quickly comfortable with his sitting beside her for treats…ladies, first, of course.
Then, abruptly and swiftly her health took a turn, and she was gone. Pumpkin passed quietly and peacefully on her person’s lap in grandma’s rocker at home. She was a godsend while with her foster family and is in good company at the Bridge now. Say “hi” to Pepper and Beau, Pumpkin!
Update 02/03/2021: “This gal recognizes praise, mostly communicated through touch, and responds with vigorous tail fluttering.”
Miss Misty is wintering well. She’s willing to step outdoors when nature calls but is quick to complete her business and retreat from the bluster of snowy days. Snow underfoot may drive her decision-making; it’s certainly not cold temperatures. At any opportunity, she will zip onto the porch and settle down in her outdoor bed as if it was July. Most often, she must be called from such napping and always shows reluctance to come in.
Living with Pumpkin – that’s her new handle these days, has become easier with a few, small adaptations. Her self-initiated willingness to start days around 8 AM, rather than rousing the household at dawn, is much appreciated. While her mental map of the small home isn’t great, she navigates, as if on a mission, from the kitchen to the living room to claim her beloved basket. This trek typically takes less than a minute!
Getting back to the kitchen is a different story. She can make a 5+ minute trip of it, stymied at every nook and cranny. This doesn’t seem to frustrate her but can bring angst to those watching. Toward helping her, she was fitted with a new harness. It’s lightweight, comfortable for full time wear and, best of all, has an easy-grip handle on top. It is used to draw her out of a corner or to guide her indoors in a heel position while keeping all safe. Mealtime has become a snap. She begins by sniffing out appetizers, aka training treats loaded with meds. When she feels a light touch on a shoulder, she knows she’s found the sweet spot, right in front of her foster mom; there she sits and gently partakes. The clang of her steel bowl dropping into a masonry crock puts her nose and brain to work again and, within a minute, she’s chowing down.
She alerts to a clicker as easily as clapping hands these days. She has precious little sense of which direction either sound comes from, but understands both mean “come.” Repeated clicks eventually rein her in as well as clapping and are easier for her people.
Health-wise, a supplement for separation anxiety was trialed and discontinued when there seemed no benefit for this gal. As much as anything, that her foster mom is non-essential and homing it through Covid, Pumpkin is alone only a couple hours a week. Her whining when left alone is much less intense now and to a minimum. A weight loss is being monitored and will prompt a vet visit should it progress.
The emerging joy is that Pumpkin knows when she accomplishes something good… like arrival at her basket, doing necessary stairs to potty, or finding her foster mom when she moves to the next room. This gal celebrates praise, mostly communicated to her through touch, with vigorous tail fluttering. Her happy tail reminds those around her that dogs often adapt well to diminished sight and hearing. She’s never depressed or defeated. Thank you, Pumpkin, for taking life’s “bumps along the way” in stride…😊! To be continued …
Update 11/06/2020: “On the lighter side, regardless of what time Misty goes to bed, she begins her day between 6:30 and 7 AM and uses her vocal talents to rouse the household.“
Savvy dog people know that a dog’s transition to a new home takes time. It typically happens over months, so it’s not surprising that Misty’s foster family continues to see change.
In recent weeks, Misty appears increasingly secure. She’s less obsessed with being literally at her people’s feet. Often now she snoozes peacefully in a basket in the living room, bypassing the closer basket in the dining room where her people have landed. Is the living room basket comfier? Probably, but, when she first arrived, Misty napped on bare floors, just to be within touching distance of a person…indeed, a heartening trend.
Misty’s “sniffing” out her people more easily. Early on, she might stand literally beside her human and not recognize the closeness. Of late, Misty wakes and noses from room to room, seeking people. The best part of this is witnessing her joy when a search is successful. Her hips and tail wiggle wildly; she’s most happy when accomplishing such finds.
Whether because of time to settle or benefit of a supplement, Misty seems calmer and better able to focus her attention. Still nearly deaf, she is responding to hand-clapping. To her, loud claps now mean “come” and guide her to her foster mom.
This gal continues to love outdoor time. A new opportunity has emerged for off-leash at home. A large, fenced plot was brush hogged. When turned out the first time, she quickly began slow, cautious exploration. In the absence of any angst, her foster mom eventually stepped away. Clapping hands brought Misty to her. From distances of 50-100 feet, Misty would come. By afternoon’s end, there was less clapping; Misty was adeptly sniffing out her foster mom. She paused at times for briers and stubble; she was fearless, went into problem-solving mode and then moved forward…loved seeing that!
Rounding out these days … Misty has an occasional accident so her nightly arrangement includes a queen-size crate in the kitchen; when her family leaves home, she also crates. The rest of the time, she has run of the first floor. Signs of separation anxiety are less intense but remain. When Misty is home alone, she whines or howls. She stops the moment she alerts to people’s return. Another dog at home doesn’t deter her. Fortunately, her family is out extraordinarily little. On the lighter side, regardless of what time Misty goes to bed, she begins her day between 6:30 and 7 AM and uses her vocal talents to rouse the household. No need to set the alarm! Her family has learned this means she needs to go out; she’s considerate and stops the moment someone steps into the kitchen… successful communication both directions! Her lush coat is growing out from a summer clip. She’ll be glad of this when winter arrives.
Misty remains among the sweetest and most even-tempered Springers her family has met. She’s teaching patience and about managing multiple issues in an older dog. Her foster family is glad she’s landed with MAESSR and with them. To be continued …
Update 08/02/2020: “She’s enthusiastic with walks on hilly and rough-cut surfaces…so different from the wide, level sidewalks on her previous beat.”
Misty is a very sweet dog. For years she enjoyed a wonderful life in a retirement village. She loved sitting in a wide upholstered chair with her “mom” and always had her paw up on the side of the chair, looking very cavalier. When they sat outside, she loved watching people walk by and, of course, she loved it when they stopped to admire her and give her some love. Multiple daily walks were routine, keeping her active and fit. Being surrounded by lots of people fulfilled her social needs. Only when life abruptly threw her family a curve did she return to MAESSR’s care.
In classic Springer fashion, Misty is adapting well to a new home. Despite significantly compromised vision and hearing, she’s settling nicely. Upon arrival she was extremely cautious with every step but never appeared fearful. It took her about a month to “map” the new floor plan and embrace a new household routine. Somewhat funny but very real is that she was afraid of the dark when she arrived. To help her along, her crate was set up in a room with a dimmer switch on the overhead light. Each night for two weeks, the dimmer setting was tweaked downwardly. It worked…she’s good for an 8-hour night in a dark room now…yeah!!
Misty moves with increasing confidence, albeit with gentle bumps into walls or her foster mom still being part of the daily norm. Misty’s tail wiggles daily now, most often when she’s praised for doing a great job on stairs. She sniffs out her appetizer/med combo at mealtime. She’s enthusiastic with walks on hilly and rough-cut surfaces…so different from the wide, level sidewalks on her previous beat. Misty loves porch time and will nap on the floor or offer front paws toward a boost onto the couch. She lives peacefully with a resident senior ESS but isn’t dependent on him. She has done a few hours of travel well and is easy to home-groom. She’s happy and in-touch with her surroundings.
With transition going well for Misty, MAESSR has given the nod to her becoming a permanent foster. In a perfect world, she should not have to grow into a new home again. Fingers crossed this new chapter will be a long and happy one for her…she’s a “dollykin!”
Update 08/21/15: “Some dogs find ways to amuse themselves with or without help from their two-legged friends. In Misty’s case, the two-legged friend is a bird!
Some dogs find ways to amuse themselves with or without help from their two-legged friends. In Misty’s case, the two-legged friend is a bird! This beautiful girl has discovered if she creeps up on a bird very silently and carefully, eventually the bird will take flight; then she can chase as it takes off and even leap in the air as if to catch that foolish flying feathered friend; she hasn’t yet succeeded! This seems like a game to her, and she enjoys the chase. Go for it, Misty!!!
Misty continues to enjoy her foster home this summer although she still becomes a bit anxious when she is left alone and sometimes dribbles a bit. The dribbling may be caused by her drinking pattern and/or her anxiety. Her foster mom and her vet are working on these issues so this lovely lady can be the best she can be.
In her own time Misty will be looking for a home in which a family member is home much of the time and can give her walks, snuggles and friendly bird company. Labor Day is coming followed by all the good times that fall brings. Wouldn’t you like to share them with this very special young lady?
Original: “A fan of good exercise, this young lady enjoys a three-four mile walk each day.”When Misty’s elderly Florida owners passed away and their daughter with two dogs, two cats and some birds could not handle another dog, Misty found her way to MAESSR.
This black and white beauty is housetrained although she does not have a signal to go out. A perfect house guest, she does know the creature comforts of life and likes to be on the furniture and to sleep in bed with her person. Misty knows “sit” to have her leash attached and does then walk nicely. A fan of good exercise, this young lady enjoys a three-four mile walk each day.
Miss M. interacts well with other dogs and is always friendly to those tall two-legged critters. She does not seek food or toys. While she does not care for riding in a car or being groomed, she tolerates both activities.
In her original home, Misty was never without her people and, since losing them, fusses when she is left alone even if she has another canine companion. Her foster family is helping her overcome this separation anxiety.
This lovely girl is quite contented when her person is nearby and she knows the next outing is coming soon. She would like a home in which her folks are home most of the time to ease her anxiety. Are you looking for a walking companion who will curl up next to you when you’re ready to be at home and rest? Misty is just the girl for you!