Polly

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Updated 12/20/05: Polly is doing delightfully well in her foster home.  All of the rough spots where she had scratched at fleas have healed and only one still needs to cover with new fur.  She had been having occasional “little” accidents, despite frequent trips outside, so a urinary tract infection was suspected.  A return to the vet confirmed it, and a second round of antibiotics is almost complete.  Curing the infection has helped Polly be totally reliable in the house.

She remains so much fun to have in her foster home.  She is always a happy girl and willing to play.  She’s a great match for the young resident Springer and really gives him a workout at least twice a day.  She also gets very excited when her foster mom joins the mix on the floor to play with both of them.  It can get a little wild at times, but can also be stopped immediately, if mouthing or flying paws need to be toned down.

The great thing about Polly is that after a good play session, she turns into a true cuddle bug.  She loves hugs and will snooze alongside her foster mom on the couch if invited.  She will eye the bed but goes willingly to her bedside crate at night and sleeps there with the door open.  She is making progress with her manners and hasn’t been seen counter surfing for two weeks.  She is also learning to sit politely for her treats in turn with the other dogs and for her meals to be put down.

When Polly first arrived, her family saw her as a fun, but wild little package. That’s still fairly accurate, but with time to settle in, her softer, snuggly side has emerged, making her a nicely rounded Springer who will be a lot of fun for her forever family.

Original: After passing through several homes over recent months in northwestern West Virginia, Polly, and her sister Molly, arrived at their MAESSR foster homes. The last lady who took them in couldn’t keep them but was committed to seeing that these sweethearts would have forever homes. Both are healthy and well-fed gals. Grooming and flea preventative were their biggest immediate needs. Polly was also started on a round of an antibiotic to guard against infection where she had scratched at those irritating fleas!

Polly is surely the most cheerful springer her foster mom has ever met. Her whole back end wiggles to let all around her know that she is happy. When she had her vet check and got shots, it took three people to hold her still, not because she was scared, but because she was so excited by all the attention.

There are two dogs in Polly’s foster home, a young Springer and a senior Beagle. The Beagle resisted Polly’s overtures, so she decided to leave him to his napping. But she was relentless with the Springer until she got him to play. She’s a vigorous playmate, loves to play tug of war with the dog toys, and the two dogs get along very well now. She has met cats at the local shelter, and rather surprisingly, showed absolutely no interest in them.

Meeting people comes easy for Polly, and she brings smiles to their faces. The youngest child she has met is a 9-year-old whom she really liked. He took her on a long flex leash for a nice walk and she did fairly well, only leading him to a trash can once. You see, Polly loves food almost as much as people and dogs. This comes in very handy when training her. Getting her attention is as simple as having a supply of liver treats! She’s smart and is starting to learn basic commands and house manners.

Polly is almost housetrained, with just an occasional accident. She very quickly crate trained and sleeps in one bedside at night. During the day, she is crated while her family works. She is always eager to get out when they arrive home but shows no sign of impatience when they’re away.

Polly is really ready for a family who will make a forever commitment to her. She is good hearted with a need for basic obedience training and guidance into good manners. Because she can be so excitable, her foster mom thinks she would do best with children no younger than 12 and with adults who have an energy level to match hers. She would really enjoy having another dog in her adopting home as long as it was a playful one. Polly’s cheerfulness is quite captivating, and she’s willing to share it! How can you resist?!?