Entered: 08/03/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 34 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Dumfries, VA
Health: UTD, HW-
Temperament: Good with adults, has met school-aged children well, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Original: “With the attention a youngster needs, he will thrive and one lucky family will see that “finding Nemo” brings smiles their way, every day!!“
Little Nemo came into MAESSR’s care from a shelter serving a very rural county in southern West Virginia. He had arrived there as a stray……..lean, clean and in overall good condition. That and his sweet temperament prompted the shelter staff to reach out for help in saving him when his time was almost up. After an exchange of photos, Nemo was determined to be a springer mix and a MAESSR volunteer picked him up. That was a happy day for Nemo!
Once home Nemo immediately put his nose to the ground for some overdue sniffing around the yard. He met the resident dogs and another foster, all of whom were much larger and older than him. With a submissive “hello” to all and appropriate doggie manners, he blended readily into the pack. His only challenge was over-the-top attention from the other foster, and, this he took in stride. Nemo began learning from the other dogs quickly……..where to go when he heard a human say “dogs, outside” and how to get a bedtime snack by sitting politely alongside everyone else.
Nemo kept a dry, clean crate at night from Day 1 in his foster home but needed some guidance during the daytime. If limited to the room where his people were, he did fine but, he wasn’t quite ready for run-of-the-house. He tried to assist at the kitchen counter one evening during meal preparations, but just wasn’t tall enough to be of help. The scene did provide a teaching moment. Possibly hearing “off” for the first time in his life, Nemo instinctively did the right thing and wasn’t noticed trying again. He showed some interest in a Kong toy but didn’t bother a thing in the house that wasn’t for dogs. And, with trash safely stashed behind doors, there were no temptations to resist.
Surely another new experience for Nemo was some tidying up on the grooming table at home. He was excited to find himself in the noose, but didn’t resist beyond trying to kiss his way out of the situation. Brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming………all went well with many pauses for treats.
En route to his regular foster home, Nemo took in MAESSR’s Summer Splash on Lake Anna in Virginia. There he met several dog-savvy school-aged children and was comfortable with their outdoor activities. He was offered a chance to swim himself but opted to stay on the lawn where his nose never stopped working.
Nemo’s a gentle, soft-natured little wiggle butt. As on the grooming table, his answer to every new situation is to reach out to the people around him with kisses. He’s ripe for a family that has time to work daily with a young dog. Left to his own devices, he could likely get into mischief. With the devotion a youngster needs, he will thrive and one lucky family will see that “finding Nemo” brings smiles their way, every day!!