Petey 3

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Update 08/25/12:

Now is your chance to “Fall in LOVE with a Senior!” MAESSR has a new program to match up our senior and special needs Springers with new, loving families. This is a wonderful opportunity to Fall in LOVE all over again with a dog that really needs you. 

Adoption fees are being waived for all seniors (age 9 and older) and for special needs dogs through the end of September. Keep your eyes open for that special one who would fit perfectly into your life! It could be Petey III; it may be another. Let your heart guide the decision and all else will fall into place! 

Petey’s a happy, comfortable and engaging little guy with his “new beginning” nearly complete!

He continues to be his foster mom’s “Sweetie Petey”. He loves people and is very popular with the kids in his neighborhood who come over to pet him. This boy enjoys lots of attention and has plenty of kisses to share. 

The separation issues that Petey had when he first came into foster care have disappeared. He is comfortable by himself and has free run of the house when his family is out. He has great house manners and never gets into any mischief, unlike the resident dog who insists on emptying the bathroom trash pail!

Petey’s allergies are easily managed now with attention to his food choices. His favorite treat is peanut butter! His foster mom has been working on improving his leash walking by using peanut butter to capture his focus. A little bit of PB is the perfect attention-getter and helps him ignore the neighborhood dogs who bark as he passes by. Petey walks great on a Gentle Leader and is out daily to keep fit and make new friends. 

Back at home this boy is a joy to have around and makes his foster family laugh every time he “woo woos.” He is a love and so easy to live with. To say “not much is really new” on Petey is actually great to hear! It means all his progress since coming into MAESSR’s care, both on health and behavioral issues, has come together. He’s rebounded from a dismal life of neglect and, with typical springer-resilience, he’s moved on. 

The only thing Petey needs now is a great adopting family in his life. Ask about meeting him. Take him for a walk in his neighborhood. Listen to him “woo woo.” Sit for a bit and let him cuddle close. Chances are good you and Petey will be sharing his new beginning together!!!

Update 07/24/12:

Sometimes despite all the best efforts, a match just doesn’t work out. Petey was returned to MAESSR after a brief adoption when it was determined that the barking neighbors’ dogs around his backyard fence were too stressful for everyone and not a good way for Petey to work on his dog greeting skills. He came back to his original foster home and immediately settled back into the routine. 

Petey continues to do well and is regaining strength in his legs. He will likely need to remain on a medicine for the arthritis that the surgeon saw during his ACL repairs. Petey has no trouble with stairs or walking. He also continues to do well with his skin as long as he avoids some common dog allergens like chicken, beef, and gluten. This is very easy to do since so many dogs have allergies and there are now many pet foods and treats that are gluten-free. Petey enjoys duck and fish flavored foods and treats, and duck jerky is a great training tool. 

This smart pup has learned to sit and wait for his bowl, which is a big deal considering that he could not sit for months due to his knee injuries. Now, he is also working with the MAESSR behavior team to improve his leash walking skills. He walks just fine with the resident dogs, but when he sees a strange dog he gets so excited, barking and pulling, that he can be hard to manage. He is not being aggressive toward them, but other dogs and their owners have a hard time figuring Petey out. 

Petey would love a home of his own with owners who will continue his training and allergen-free diet. He has lots of love to share. For example, just yesterday his foster mom spread out the yoga mat to do some stretches and Petey took that as his cue to lie down next to her with his paws over her outstretched arm. This boy is very sweet and loves to cuddle, at the drop of a “mat”!

Update 06/11/12:

More wonderful news for Petey! He did so well with his first ACL repair that he returned to Pittsburgh for his second surgery in mid-May and is now back recovering in his original foster home. Like before, Petey is gradually taking longer walks and will soon be ready to go up the stairs…………although he thinks he is ready now! This boy is so full of spunk that it is hard to hold him back. Even on the hot days, Petey was pulling his foster mom the other way when she would head toward home, wanting to go one more time around the neighborhood on his walk.

Petey has come so far in the last few months. His anxiety is essentially gone and he no longer wears a Thundershirt when left at home alone. The other day his foster mom was gardening and he stayed inside, resting quietly. The constant activity, barking and howling when left alone is a thing of the past. Petey will remain on the anti-anxiety medication through his adoption and for at least another 6 months to assist as he settles into his new home.

Petey’s skin is also much improved. He is on a limited ingredient diet and has a list of foods which he avoids because they make him itchy. It is really no extra effort to keep him feeling good since there are so many low allergen foods and treats available. Petey’s coat is also really filling in nicely. It is amazing to see how far he has come. 

This boy is super Velcro, loving, and a joy to have as a foster. In a few more weeks he should be ready to go to his forever home. Someone who will give him his medications, watch his diet, and continue his rehab as he regains the strength and muscle tone in his rear legs is just what he needs. Do you love to go for long walks and spend lots of time outdoors? Maybe Petey is the boy for you!

Update 05/07/12:

Finally some good news for Petey! He has been doing great since a surgery to repair the ligament in his left knee; he’s steadily getting stronger and more mobile. Petey was able to put his foot down within two days of surgery which is incredible! He has been healing up nicely and is bouncing and barking in excitement when his foster mom comes home or gets his leash. Petey LOVES to go for walks. He was frustrated during the first week or so after surgery when he was only allowed limited excursions to do his business. He has, however, enjoyed the three-times-daily physical therapy prescribed by the vet………heat wrap, massage, a little stretching, and then ice on the knee and thigh. Petey thinks he is at the spa and is often napping through the whole process. What Springer doesn’t love a massage?! 

Petey’s skin is also much improved now that his foster mom has been able to identify some foods which he needs to avoid because they make him red and itchy. He has wonderfully soft fur and, now that it is filling in, it feels like velvet. Good thing Petey loves a belly rub………he is so soft that it is hard to resist! His leash manners are still a work in progress. Now that he is allowed to walk a little further, his foster mom is working to desensitize him to the sight of other dogs on leash and is teaching him that pulling doesn’t get him where he wants to go. 

Since Petey is doing so well, the plan is for him to return to the vet in the next few weeks to have his right ACL repaired. Then it will be back to square one! Keep your fingers (and paws!) crossed for a second successful operation and recovery for this special guy.

Update 03/30/12:

Misfortune seems to be shadowing little Petey right now. When his slight limp was examined by an orthopedic specialist, injury to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was discovered. And, since that diagnosis, it seems Petey may have injured the ACL on his other hind leg……….:((. ACL injuries are one of the most commonly seen orthopedic problems for active dogs and bring varying discomfort. Unfortunately for Petey, this recent injury is causing a lot of pain and difficulty with walking. Please keep this sweet boy and his foster family in your thoughts as they work together with the veterinarian to help Petey through to brighter days……………

Update 02/15/12:

Petey has lots of news since his original write-up. He is now taking an inexpensive anti-anxiety medication, supplemented by wearing a “Thundershirt” while his family is at work and he has had no more destructive behavior. Now he has free access to the downstairs along with the two resident Springers. His foster mom has left a video camera running to observe Petey while she is gone and he is clearly much calmer. Obviously he has learned that his family is coming back and all the uncertainty of his recent life, including a month in the shelter, is behind him.

After his foster family noticed a limp, Petey made an unscheduled trip to the vet. The doctor did not feel any instability in his knee or hip, but Petey will be examined by an orthopedic specialist just to be sure it is not something of concern like an ACL injury. The good news is that in his first three weeks in foster care, Petey has gained 7 pounds! He has also finished the steroids and antibiotics for his skin and the fur is slowly starting to fill in on his back and legs. 

Petey has learned to play a bit with the young resident dog but mostly he is quiet in the house, resting on his bed and waiting for his favorite activity – a walk! Petey loves to go for walks and car rides and he is learning not to pull on his harness. Even with one bad leg, he is still pretty strong. His foster mom is working on desensitizing him to dogs he meets while on walks; barking at them doesn’t win over many new friends. Once he meets a dog, Petey looks to play. He is also getting along well with the resident Springers now that he has learned some doggie etiquette……….pushing in to get the most petting or a taste from someone else’s bowl are inappropriate behaviors in a multi-dog home! 

This super sweet boy is a real lover who gives lots of kisses. He is also an expert at his second favorite activity, napping curled up in his foster mom’s lap! Watch for more news on this handsome gent – it won’t be long till he’s ready for his forever home.

Original:

Petey came to MAESSR from a shelter in New Jersey where he and three other dogs were taken after being removed from their owner for severe neglect. Besides being very thin, Petey was very itchy with a bad case of fleas which had likely been untended for some time because he had lost much of his fur on his back from scratching. The shelter treated his fleas and started him on antibiotics and steroids to help heal his skin. Not knowing what he looked like when he came in to the shelter, it is difficult to say how far he has progressed. Some of the patches are starting to fill in and hopefully with good nutrition and no more fleas, he will continue to improve. Petey doesn’t mind it at all. He actually loves to go for walks and willingly puts on a fleece jacket for the cold days. He looks quite dapper and the other Springers in his foster home are probably jealous!

In his foster home, Petey lives with two resident Springers; things are mostly fine except for when he forgets and tries to take their food. He will eventually realize that there is plenty of food for him now and he does not have to steal food from his housemates or resource guard food as he had to do previously. So, food related scuffles periodically erupt even under his foster mom’s watchful eye. These scuffles will abate with time as Petey puts on weight. He is very, very sorry for starting a brouhaha, a wonderful sign. 

Petey had a few accidents in front of the door but his foster family is getting better at understanding that his excited barking means: “I have to go RIGHT NOW” so they hurry him outside. During the day he is kept confined, in part because his anxiety at so many recent changes likely led him to whine and howl when left alone which excited the resident dogs and led to some mischief by him and the young resident dog. Petey will start on a low dose, anti-anxiety medication to see if this helps him overcome some distress at being left alone while his family is at work. 

At this point, Petey does not have much interest in toys or engaging the other dogs in play although he is very interested in birds and squirrels he passes on his walks. Petey loves a long walk and does well on a harness to thwart a tendency to go at too quick of a pace for the elderly resident Springer who prefers to stroll. Although he would prefer to lap sit, Petey is content to lie at his foster mom’s feet in the evenings and at night he quietly curls up on his bed next to his foster mom. 

This boy is very sweet and loving. Now, he just needs some TLC to get some weight on and his fur to grow back before he is ready to find his forever home. Watch for updates!