Entered: 03/04/2007
Status: Adopted
Age: 11
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Fredericksburg , VA
Health: UTD, HW-, being treated for a double ear infection, mild arthritis
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children, good with other dogs, good with cats, benefiting from medication to assist with anxiety during the transition to his foster home
Original: Sam was relinquished to MAESSR by his family that he had been with since a puppy almost 12 years. He was a devoted and loyal canine companion to his human dad who passed away about 18 months ago. His human mom has been traveling a great deal since that time and wasn’t able to adequately care for him. The result was a great deal of time in a boarding kennel for Sam. It wasn’t a good environment for him, so his owner contacted MAESSR.
Sam came to his foster family in a state of extreme anxiety about his changes in environment. He was confused and scared to the point of not being able to calm down. When an ear infection was discovered, it was so severe that he couldn’t stop crying. He visited the vet who provided medicine for his infection, but the doctor was more concerned about his anxiety. Sam was prescribed an anti-anxiety medication to help him calm down and assist in his transition to his foster home.
The medication was a miracle for Sam. After an adjustment in the dosage, he became calm and able to comprehend the new environment he was in. He has begun to fall into the routine of the household. Sam has had a few indoor accidents but, at this point, they can be attributed to his anxiety. Sam is good on a leash and enjoys scouring the yard for new smells. He is a good eater and is very happy to get treats. His treats include a little bit of peanut butter with his pills, which he relishes! Sam has never been crated. He is very good when given full run of the house while his foster family is gone, and considering his nervousness, his foster family sees no need to increase his stress unnecessarily by starting to crate him right now.
Sam is very vocal. He “talks” when he is walking on a leash, when he is unsure, when he wants attention, and when he is unhappy when someone leaves the house. His human foster brother discovered he loves to play fetch with a rubber ball and Sam catches the ball in his mouth. He’ll probably love to play Frisbee when the weather gets nice. He has not had any issues with the resident pets, a female springer and a male cat. He checks them out but would prefer the companionship and attention of humans. The relinquishing family stated that he was good with their grandchildren, ages 5, 6, and 9 but he has not met children since in foster care.
His foster family notes that Sam knows “sit,” “down,” “paw,” and “no.” He has really taken to the male adults in the family and that could be because he misses his dad. He is definitely a counter-surfer and checks out the trash, so his foster family is working on those manners. Sam loves to go outside, but also likes to come back inside when done. He doesn’t get on the furniture and sleeps beside his foster mom’s bed. Travel is not one of Sam’s favorite activities and he protests vocally when he must go somewhere in the car.
His foster family’s main concern is tackling his anxiety with love, attention, and a normal routine so he can relax and enjoy his senior years. Sam would do best in a household of older adults who have a set routine, who are home a lot and can make Sam a big part of their lives. He deserves to live his senior years in comfort and security. Once he is settled, he will return love ten-fold! Perhaps you have a soft spot in your heart and room in your life for this handsome and loving boy.