Entered: 11/05/2016
Status: Adopted
Age: 10
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 35 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Louisa, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, treatment for pneumonia and eye infection complete, missing one eye, deaf
Temperament: Good with adults, reportedly plays well with children, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 03/03/2017: “Although not a barker, Sam does make funny little noises when he gets excited. This makes everyone smile!”
Sam was adopted and then returned to MAESSR when he turned out to be too energetic for his adoptive household. Upon return, Sam was placed in a quieter foster home with fewer dogs so he could receive more individual attention. He is doing very well with settling into his new environment, and he is proving himself to be a very good boy.
At his new foster home Sam has a very large, fenced yard to explore at his leisure, which he enjoys to the fullest! Although good on the leash, he does pull some; he really likes going places. Since Sam is deaf, he must be kept on a leash when away from his yard; having a few cookies along to keep his attention is helpful, too!
Sam is still good with other dogs and cats. He enjoys meeting new people when they come to the home for a visit. Being deaf is not a problem for this sweet boy at all and he is beginning to learn hand signals. Sam also likes to help with the cooking and house cleaning when allowed…or maybe he just wants to keep an eye on everything going on around him.
When it’s time for a snooze Sam sleeps in the living room on the sofa or a dog bed with the other two fosters pups currently with his family. In the morning he comes to greet his foster mom with kisses and a playful attitude. Although not a barker, Sam does make funny little noises when he gets excited. This makes everyone smile!
Sam’s foster mom finds him to be a terrific boy that would be a wonderful, affectionate addition to any loving home.
Update 12/04/2016: “So, Santa, if you could find me a family that would like a really quiet, low-key guy around as a buddy, I’d be really grateful.”
Dear Santa,
I am Sam. Sam, I am. Ha! I like Dr. Seuss as much as the next dog! Anyway, I wanted to ask you for a special Christmas gift. After landing in a shelter, some really nice people from MAESSR took me into their home. I had pneumonia and an eye infection, so I wasn’t feeling great, but my foster parents took good care of me and now I am healthy again. Now I feel much better!
The thing is, I’d really love to have my own family. I know I’m an older guy, but I’m pretty easy to have around the house. My foster mom likes to point out that I’m really quiet…not a barker, like a lot of dogs. And I like to sleep in! My family gets up at 6:30 (way too early for me!). My routine is this: get up around 8:00 and go outside right away to take care of business. Then I like to have my breakfast. After that I like to go outside again to take care of some more business. I admit, when my family forgets to do this, I might have an accident in the house. I am housetrained, but my routine is pretty important to me.
So, I might be a little set in my ways, but it’s not a big deal. I really love people food and, if I’m given just dog kibble, I’d rather starve. Just a little wet food on top or, better yet, a little yummy people food added is all I ask. That’s not so hard, is it? Because I like people food so much, it’s best if the counters are kept clear. Sometimes I just can’t help myself…and I help myself (to the food, that is).
Being outside is a real pleasure to me. I would love a new home with a fenced yard where I could hang out and explore. I also like taking walks and I’m really good on the leash. Otherwise I like spending most of the day sleeping on the couch.
So, Santa, if you could find me a family that would like a really quiet, low-key guy around as a buddy, I’d be really grateful.
Your friend,
Sam
Original: “He tries to stand at the counter to check out his foster mom’s menu!”
Sam came to MAESSR from a Pennsylvania shelter and found his life turned around as he was welcomed into a warm and comfortable MAESSR foster home.
This elderly gentleman is a sweetheart. Sam is housetrained, signals he has to go out and shows a lot of energy by walking all around his person. He is not crated since he is such a good boy in the house. While he does not get on the furniture, he does counter-surf and needs to be watched at dinner time as food is prepared. He tries to stand at the counter to check out his foster mom’s menu! He thinks people food is a fine idea, but is picky about his own, needing both dry and wet food.
Sam is lazy in the house and sleeps most of the day if no one is home. As a Velcro boy, he follows his person all over the house and seems to get under foot. When his mom is sitting, he sleeps and does not hear her move but goes looking for her when he awakes. At night he sleeps in his folks’ bed room, next to the bed.
One-eyed Sam perks up nicely for his walks—he does love them and notices people and other animals. Sam walks well on a leash and doesn’t even pull when he sees squirrels. He does need to be kept on the leash as he will walk away and not hear his person calling him.
He is well-mannered, does not bark or guard his toys and is good when people come to pet him. Sam rides well in the car and lets his mom bathe him, groom him and clean his ears and teeth without a fuss.
All in all, MAESSR’s new guy is quite the gentleman and will be a quiet companion and easy housemate once his health issues are resolved. Keep an eye out for his progress.