Entered: 12/13/2019
Status: Adopted
Age: 8 months; born March 2019
Color: White/Tan Cocker Spaniel
Weight: 20 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Audubon, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, deaf and visually impaired since birth
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children but likely needs a home with older children due to his special needs, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Original: ”Pluto was born deaf and visually impaired, likely because of a double dose of the Merle gene which makes his beautiful though unusual coat largely white with pale tan spots.”
Pluto was the last of a litter of four puppies born to a couple’s Cocker Spaniels in Pennsylvania. Because of their living situation, the couple felt that he would do better in another home that was better able to keep him safe. So they brought him to a shelter which then contacted MAESSR.
Pluto was born deaf and visually impaired, likely because of a double dose of the Merle gene which makes his beautiful though unusual coat largely white with pale tan spots.
Housetrained, Pluto circles to signal when he needs to go out. Because of his visual impairment, Pluto likes to be close by and can be underfoot but is learning to walk on a leash. His foster mom is working with a trainer to see if he can learn more commands which will help to keep him safe and engaged. Although crate trained, Pluto uses the crate only to keep him safe when his foster parents are out of the house.
This little guy knows how to get on the sofa and on the bed and can even do the stairs by himself. He does get spooked by unfamiliar shapes, whether on the ground or up above him, and will bark sharply and back away from the scary thing. His foster family now sleeps with a night light on so he is more comfortable at night; this is also the reason he is in their bed, to keep him from waking up, spotting a shadow, and barking.
Pluto doesn’t chew inappropriately but he would counter-surf if his legs were longer and his nose will lead him into trouble with an open trash can. On walks he is learning to do the leash having only lived with an electric fence before.
Pluto is a bit leery of new people but only for a second because they seem to appear out of nowhere and startle him. He soon warms up and wiggles and kisses his way into everyone’s hearts. He is respectful of the resident dogs and is not looking to play. So far he hasn’t had any interest in toys and does not guard resources. He was good with the vet at the shelter and is good riding in a car restrained with a harness to keep him from tumbling off the seat. By report he is wiggly for the groomer but this is typical for a happy, energetic puppy.
Watch for more on this little guy as he settles into life in his foster home.