Entered: 06/07/2013
Status: Adopted
Age: 10
Color: Black/White
Weight: 42 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, treatment for a UTI and ear infections complete, dental with extractions complete, benefiting from a supplement for joint support, appears to be deaf
Temperament: Good with adults and older children, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Update 09/25/2013: “Twisting and turning Ruby may be just the senior gal for you!”
Ruby recently moved to another home because her foster family had to take a trip. After a few days, her new foster mom noticed that Ruby’s mouth smelled BAD. Ruby took a trip to the vet who decided she needed a dental. While under for the dental, the vet had to remove two teeth. Ruby is feeling MUCH better now.
Treatment was completed for Ruby’s urinary tract infection. The vet did a final culture of her urine to ensure everything was perfect. Now that it is cleared, Ruby should not have any more issues.
Ruby is such a sweet girl. She is the absolute PERFECT older Springer. She gets so excited when her foster mom gets home. Ruby jumps in the air and twists and turns! It makes her mom doubly glad to be arriving home.
Wouldn’t you like to get a really warm welcome home? Twisting and turning Ruby may be just the senior gal for you!
Update 08/28/2013: “Ruby continues to be a sweet older girl.”
Ruby continues to be a sweet older girl. The longer she stays with her foster family, the more her personality comes out. She signals when she really, really needs to go out by giving a small whimper and pacing around her people. But, since her “need to go out” signal and her “excitement to be around her people” signal can easily be confused letting Ruby out on a regular schedule works best.
At times, when hungry, Ruby can be a little mouthy so a home with older children or adults who take care in how they give treats and pills to might be better. She usually eats twice a day but some mornings, does not show much interest in her food. On those days, she usually wants to eat a little more in the evening.
Ruby still loves her walks. She usually walks very well on a leash but will get very excited and try to run and pull when she sees other dogs, squirrels or birds. She does love meeting other dogs and when she is able to come in contact with them, her tail sets a wagging and she handles being sniffed at without any incidents.
Ruby can usually be found sleeping at night at the side of her foster parents’ bed. She still has no interest in getting up on the bed or furniture in general. Since this gentle senior can not hear, in the morning, she must be touched to be awakened and directed to go outside for a potty break. If not, she tends to sleep in even with everyone milling around her.
Ruby completed her treatment for a UTI to unfortunately find out she had another UTI that needed a different antibiotic. She is currently taking that antibiotic twice a day to clear this current infection.
The good news continues with this gentle senior. She is looking forward to having a permanent sleeping spot!
Update 07/20/2013: “A little time and beneficial health care can make such positive changes.”
The sweet senior girl, Ruby, continues to shine in her foster home. A little time and beneficial health care can make such positive changes.
The joint supplement that Ruby is taking has done a world of good. In fact, she’s been known to run and hop around the backyard…or inside the house when her people come home…or just for the heck of it! Her foster mom thinks that Ruby sometimes forgets how old she is because the supplement is making her feel so much better. Ruby absolutely loves to go for walks although shorter walks are best for her, given her age and the recent heat wave. The rest of the time Ruby contentedly naps away the day. She still shows no interest in toys but loves, loves, loves her head scratches and her treats. She continues to do okay with taking a bath although, as she gets more active, she has become a bit wiggly during her bathing!
Although Ruby’s ear infection has cleared, regular ear maintenance a couple of times of week is required to keep infections at bay. Unfortunately Ruby has gotten a urinary tract infection and the first antibiotic did not do the trick. Her foster parents are working with the vet to identify the right medication and get her back in tip-top shape.
Keep posted for continued good news about Ruby’s progress. She is truly a precious gem.
Original: “She loves her biscuits but does not resource guard her food.”
Ruby was relinquished to a shelter in Pennsylvania when her owners had to move to a place where they couldn’t have a dog. The shelter contacted MAESSR hoping to find a foster home for a super sweet girl.
This senior loves people, especially women and children. Her foster mother works during the day and Ruby is extremely excited when Mom gets home. She does a cute little Springer dance, a few little hops and runs around. For an older girl, she sure gets a lot of pep when her foster mommy is around. While she does not dislike men, she just really isn’t interested in them.
Ruby likes meeting other dogs and follows them around, sometimes breaking into a her special run, but does not engage in play or have interest in toys. She loves to be outdoors and go for walks. She pulls a little on her leash, but settles down after a little while. Miss Excitement cannot be trusted off leash as she loves to dart off through her foster home’s neighborhood, going from her normal slow meander to a full trot in a matter of seconds! Since Ruby is deaf, she does not have any recall skills, nor does she show that she understands hand signals for “sit” or “stay.”
This good girl is housetrained and signals by standing near the door. Since she does not bark or whine, her family will need to be aware that she is hanging around the back door. She has never had an accident and seems to be able to hold her bladder for a long period of time.
A perfect house guest, Ruby has full access to the house at night and when her foster parents are not home. She usually sleeps by the side of the bed at night and, when she’s home with the resident Springer and her foster dad during the day, she can be found napping in different corners of the house. This good girl does not counter-surf, get into the trash or get up on furniture. Perhaps she enjoyed people food in a previous life as she is underfoot when the refrigerator is opened and does try to give her foster mom those sad eyes hoping a scrap or two will drop. She loves her biscuits but does not resource guard her food. Her foster parents use care when feeding her near her foster brother as she may not be able to hear his little growl telling her to back away from his food. Ruby thinks all food and water bowls are her own personal buffet!
A typical beautiful Springer lady, Ruby behaved well at the groomers and handles her baths with little fanfare. And, as a typical Springer, she does not love to have her ears cleaned but does not fight the procedure or run away. She was a perfect patient at the vet’s when she received her shots and initial ear cleaning and handles car rides easily by settling down for a quiet nap.
Ruby’s ideal home would be a calm one, with or without another dog, where she could follow her forever mommy around, go for frequent short walks and enjoy her very own yard. A mom who either worked from home or was home a lot throughout the day would make her extra special happy. Looking for a sweet, well-behaved girl who will spend time with you and adore you? Make Ruby a part of your life!