Penny 5

---

Updated 8/8/07: The change in Miss Penny during her 2+ months in foster care is heartwarming. When she arrived, she seemed quite put out at times with everything and everyone around her and no wonder. Her infected ears and load of intestinal worms would make any girl disgruntled. With that behind her, other issues were looked at. She has been on an inexpensive, daily medication for spay incontinence for over a month. This has resulted in her being comfortable and reliable for 9-hour nights and for the occasional 8-hour day when her family is away from home.

Penny’s retest after a month on thyroid medication showed great improvement. There are subtle but certain benefits. Her coat is improving, she is licking paws less, her appetite is excellent, there is more spring in her steps and she is a happier dog. Improved health won’t turn back Penny’s clock but it can certainly make the days ahead much brighter for her.

The only thing Miss Penny needs now is a loving family to share her senior moments with;  and if they have air conditioning in their home, that would be an absolute bonus!!!

Updated 7/7/07: Penny, or Miss P, as she is often times called these days, has settled into her foster home well. With the terrible ear infections behind her, she is feeling much better than when she arrived. She has revisited the vet once for bloodwork and was found to be hypothyroid. An inexpensive daily medication is being used to treat this condition with retesting in a month to confirm the dosage. She has had a bit of urine leakage and began a low dose of daily medication which has totally resolved that problem. With much in bloom at her foster home, Miss P has also had some watery eyes, so an over-the-counter med recommended by her vet has cleared that up. Overall, this gal is in good health. Though cautious on stairs, she’s doing lots of them in her foster home so as not to be left out of any activity– all very good to see in a young senior!!

Soft toys have caught Penny’s attention. There is a yellow chick in the toy basket that she especially likes. She will occasionally pick up a ball but only to slow the pace of play among the other dogs in her foster home. When their play reaches too much of a pitch for her, Penny usually places her face in her foster mom’s lap for petting. If course, it works every time. She has visited a dog park and a small farmer’s market where she did well in the company of strangers. She remains a good rider in her crate and on short, local runs, has ridden well behind the seat in the family pick-up.

Like so many Springers, Penny just lights up when it’s time to be in the yard. She seeks out the shady spots and sniffs them thoroughly. She will pull on her leash if her foster mom isn’t moving along quickly enough, but she isn’t a runner, just a quick paced walker. Indoors Penny likes soft doggie beds, ear massages, and a quiet life with her people. She mainly needs someone who will love her and enjoy the steady companionship that she can offer. She will be with her foster family for a few more weeks and then ready for other young seniors to share the comforts of life with.  Would that be you??

Original: After a very short stay in a shelter, this gal came to MAESSR from southern West Virginia. Penny had been surrendered by her owner without a specific reason. What background is known on her would indicate that she had been part of her owner’s family for years and was well cared for. She has clearly been well fed and, at 53 pounds, the vet suggested she might trim about 5 pounds. She is being treated for short term health issues and will finish medications in 10 days. Her overall health is good. A thorough brushing, clipping, and nail trim were all she needed upon arrival at her foster home and she was patient as her foster mom did these things.

The first few days in foster care for Penny were a bit tough. She wasn’t feeling too good and wouldn’t eat. She seemed to be looking for something familiar in every direction with the outcome being bewilderment. Her recourse was to stand quietly and lay her head in her foster mom’s lap. Hopefully, she has turned a corner in the last day or two. She is now eating regularly. She is very accepting of her crate when her foster family is away and sleeps bedside on the softest dog bed through the night. Penny knows exactly what she should do first when let out of the doggie door and has been accident free since her arrival. She rode quietly from the shelter to her foster home, again in a crate.

There are two young springers in Penny’s foster home and she is getting along with both, though largely she ignores them unless their ball playing activity gets too close. She will sit beside them for treats, taking her turn politely. Occasionally, she will grumble at them if she is getting petted and they try to cut in, but a simple “ah-ah” stops that. She hasn’t met cats in her foster home but her previous owner indicated she was not good with them. Penny has not really met children in foster care either, but ones at vet’s office were not worrisome to her.

So far toys and balls have not caught Penny’s attention. She has noticed people passing by on foot when she is outdoors and can be quite vocal. She will bark to let her foster mom know when she is ready to come in from the dog run. She even barked after her breakfast, seemingly asking for more! She’s not excessive but is an expressive springer!

With good house manners and a nice “sit,” it’s easy to overlook that Penny doesn’t know a lot of commands. She will pull on a leash with vigor at times and that is something her foster mom is working on. More on Miss Penny as she settles in further.