Entered: 06/30/2019
Status: Permanent Foster; Rainbow Bridge
Age: 13
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 53 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Manor Park, NY
Health: UTD, HW-, Lyme -, receiving medication to control seizures, has gained to a healthy weight, age related arthritis, deaf
Temperament: Reportedly good with people as young as one, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 08/10/2021: “ ‘Riley is one of the sweetest and most deserving dogs I have ever been blessed with fostering. He is an amazing dog with a kindness about him that is rare and unique!’ “
Since his health began to decline back in May, his foster mom knew that sweet Riley was entering the final chapters of his life.
Three years ago his original foster mom had welcomed Riley back into her home and heart after his adoption didn’t work out. Since then MAESSR made Riley her permanent foster so they would never have to be separated again. His epilepsy, his medications, and his diet were all closely monitored by her so Riley was kept in prime condition. As he became more tired, his foster mom bought him a dog stroller so he was able to go on his regular walks. She never begrudged his calls to go out in the middle of the night to relieve himself and as she said, “I couldn’t love him more than I do!”
Old age and failing health did separate them again—but only temporarily. Riley is at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for his beloved foster mom to meet him again.
In tribute to him she shared, “Riley is one of the sweetest and most deserving dogs I have ever been blessed with fostering. He is an amazing dog with a kindness about him that is rare and unique!”
Riley will be greatly missed.
Update 05/24/2021: “In the woods Riley prances like he’s 5 years old.”
Riley continues to do well and is stable on his medication; he has had only one seizure in the last 8-10 months.
Riley is a funny guy. He loves to go for walks, but only in the woods. If he’s taken for a walk through the neighborhood, he walks so slowly his mom feels like she’s torturing him…but drop the leash and he will take off running like a pup! In the woods Riley prances like he’s 5 years old. You are the King of the Woods, Riley! In the past four months Riley has aged significantly, which is to be expected considering his age. MAESSR ran a full work up on him just to make sure nothing was going on. Nope, perfect results. For a 13-year-old who has been epileptic for many years, he is aging as expected and slowing down. Yet recently, for the first time in weeks, Riley ran through the back yard like he was a pup. This boy never ceases to amaze his mom!
Update 02/04/2021: “Riley had a great time running in the recent snow and then slept for two days!”
Riley’s great news – he continues to be seizure free. Woo hoo, Riley!
The new rules going to the vet are something that Riley does not appreciate. He doesn’t like to be separated from his foster mom and when he comes out of the exam room, he is barking and pulling to get back to her.
Riley had a great time running in the recent snow and then slept for two days! When inside, Riley loves curling up with his brothers and sisters to take a snooze. He really does have the life of Riley!
Update 10/13/2020: “Riley is now 12 years old and thriving.”
Riley became a permanent foster when it became apparent that he was doing so well with his health management in his foster home. He is doing great as MAESSR continues to regulate Riley’s medication through blood tests to make sure that his epilepsy in controlled. He hasn’t had a seizure since last November thanks to his foster mom’s vigilance. Way to go, Riley! Having gained some necessary weight, Riley now maintains it at approximately 53 pounds.
Riley is now 12 years old and thriving. A very regular guy, he wakes his foster mom up every morning between 1:30 – 2:30 a.m. to go outside and take care of business. He then comes back inside and curls up on his favorite double bed which comforts his arthritis.
Riley is very much loved.
Update 03/03/2020: “This senior is great with the resident dogs and cats and walks up the pet steps to sleep in bed with his foster mom and foster brother and sisters.”
Since Riley returned to his foster mom, he has been doing really well. As long as Riley is familiar with where he is and receives his meds as scheduled, his epilepsy is under control. Yeah Riley!!
This senior is great with the resident dogs and cats and walks up the pet steps to sleep in bed with his foster mom and foster brother and sisters.
Riley needs a quiet home that offers routine and structure. He eats at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and is better than any alarm clock that could be purchased. This love knows when it’s time to eat and he lets his person know…….once he finishes his meal he waits for his cheese with his meds in it.
Riley is a sweet-natured boy who means no harm to anyone. He’s just looking for a quiet place to lay his head.
This fellow is deaf and, despite his age, is pretty fast on his feet so he would benefit from having a fenced in backyard. And, of course, he’d love a family that would appreciate an alarm clock and would understand the need to keep him on a routine.
Update 12/01/2019: “Riley would do best in a quiet home with lots of love, maybe some furry friends, and doggy stairs to help him get on and off his human’s bed.”
Riley continues to be the perfect houseguest in his foster home. He proves daily that he is housetrained, and he loves all the resident dogs and cats – what a sociable guy! Riley does not get up on furniture, but he does enjoy walking up the doggy stairs to sleep in his foster mom’s bed.
Most likely Riley will be on his seizure medication for the rest of his life. He is regulated on his medication, which needs to be tested every three months. Riley experiences a seizure approximately one to two times a month. Unfamiliar events tend to elicit a seizure; for example, when his foster mom has company or Riley goes on an outing.
Riley would do best in a quiet home with lots of love, maybe some furry friends, and doggy stairs to help him get on and off his human’s bed. He’s a real sweetie who has so much love to share with his family.
Update 10/14/2019: “Riley is an amazing dog with a kindness about him that is rare and unique!”
Through no fault of his own, Riley returned to MAESSR’s care when his needs were not being met in his adoptive home.
It took Riley a little while to bounce back to his old self upon returning to his foster home, but he’s now better than ever. There have been no seizures since his return, and he is regaining an appetite for a diet that’s essential for his health.
Riley is a super sweet boy that does not have a mean bone in his body! His needs are few, but in order to meet them his new home should understand and accept a few things about him:
First off, Riley LOVES people food and will consume it at any opportunity. Keeping it from him is imperative because Riley is epileptic and a change in food can cause him to have a seizure. On walks, which he loves, Riley is very strong and pulls on the leash. His new home should have a fenced yard so he can run and be himself and not be held back in his exercise. Also, Riley is 100% housetrained and sometimes needs to go out in the middle of the night. He will bark and continue to bark until he’s allowed to relieve himself in the proper location.
With that said, Riley is one of the sweetest and most deserving dogs that his foster mom has ever been blessed with in over 35 years of rescue. That’s quite an endorsement! He is great with dogs of all ages and sizes. He is great with cats, even if the cat is mean to him! Riley is great at the vet, being groomed, and with everyone he meets. In a nutshell, Riley is…great!
Riley is an amazing dog with a kindness about him that is rare and unique! Any home would be blessed to have him as part of their family.
Update 07/09/2019: “This sweet boy, described as not having a mean bone in his body, was just fine with the kitties.”
After a little more time in his foster home, Riley’s foster parents tested him out with the resident cats. This sweet boy, described as not having a mean bone in his body, was just fine with the kitties.
Riley is feeling more confident in his foster home, too. He no longer follows his foster mom from room to room – no more tripping her up at every turn! His barking has improved, too, but he continues to be quite vocal at mealtime! He’s perfectly housetrained and the cool floor is where he prefers to sleep.
Since joining his foster family, Riley has had one very mild seizure. If one didn’t know what to look for, it could be missed; it lasted about 15 seconds.
Riley is a super sweet boy looking for that forever family to call his own. Senior Springers are the best…just ask Riley.
Original: “Gentle and sweet through and through, Riley is getting along very well with the resident dogs and is completely housetrained.”
Riley became a MAESSR boy when his Pennsylvania family feared that their children could get hurt by accident while Riley was having a seizure.
This sweet boy’s seizures began a year ago and he is now receiving medications to control them. He only has seizures 1 to 2 times a month; otherwise, Riley is a healthy boy. About ten pounds underweight, Riley is eating heartily three times a day so achieving a good weight should not be difficult. As with many senior Springers, he no longer has his hearing but does quite well! That made holiday fireworks a lot less stressful!
Riley went to the vet and was wonderful there. He openly greeted staff and waiting owners and their dogs. Riley let the veterinarian give him a full exam and take blood with no issues, even giving the vet a kiss while she was looking in his eyes. His bloodwork was fine, his foster mom happily reports. Based on his behavior at the vet, his foster mom feels he would be just as good with the groomer.
Gentle and sweet through and through, Riley is getting along very well with the resident dogs and is completely housetrained. He barks to signal when he needs to go out. Riley has not yet been loose with the resident cats but that should not be an issue based on what his foster mom has observed.
Riley was not allowed on the furniture in his previous home and even though his foster mom has invited him on the couch, Riley chooses to sleep on the floor or on a dog bed. Riley has not been in a crate in many years nor would it be needed; he is not destructive in any way. When his foster mom is home, Riley is loose in the house; when no one is home, he rests in a small room. At bedtime Riley is allowed to sleep wherever he chooses in the house but usually sleeps on the dog bed in the master bedroom.
So far, Riley isn’t interested in toys but he enjoys being in the yard with the resident dogs. In the car Riley is a bit anxious but then settles down and goes to sleep.
Riley’s foster mom is helping Riley brush up on leash walking skills and is teaching him that begging at the table is not appropriate nor is barking excessively. Riley loves his humans and is learning not to bark when he can’t see or find them.
This fine Springer boy would love a forever home with an active family that had a lot of time to spend with him. He has lots of love to give!