Entered: 04/12/2021
Status: Adopted
Age: 8
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 54 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Audubon, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving medication for low thyroid and supplement for joint health, beginning supplement to reduce anxiety, losing to a healthy weight
Temperament: Good with adults, good with other dogs, nervous around young children but likely good with older and teens, unknown with cats
Original: “On walks he wants to meet other dogs. He did say hello to one and his tail was wagging the whole time.”
SammB, or Sammy, lived his whole life in NYC with an older couple. He was named SammB because they had previously had a dog named Samm, so he became SammB. When they both owners died within a short time of each other, Sammy spent three weeks in a boarding facility and then went to join family in Virginia. The family tried to incorporate Sammy into their lives, but he was nervous around their young children and ignored their dog. He bonded quickly with the male in the household and would cry when he left the house. Sammy was used to having his people around most of the time and they were concerned when everyone went back to school and work that he would not thrive. They realized that Sammy would be happier in a quieter home with people around much of the time, so MAESSR was contacted to find him a more suitable home.
Sammy first went to a temporary foster home for five days until a more permanent situation could be arranged. His former owners noted that he drank a lot of water and he does. He also pees a lot and needs to go out frequently. He was bathed and lightly groomed before coming into foster care, but his hair was not clipped so he is in serious need of a haircut. He is carrying around extra pounds and has trouble with stairs. Sammy walks slowly which could be due to arthritis or his extra weight, or both. He tends to lie down much of the time.
At his vet visit Sammy was found to be in pretty good health. His joints showed slight crepitus but there was no pain when his joints were manipulated. For the most part his blood work looked good, but his thyroid was slightly lower than the normal low range. He has been started on a medication which hopefully will help him lose weight and become more active. A joint supplement was added to his regimen as well. By losing about five pounds, Sammy’s joints should feel better. Sammy was likely eating more than a sedentary dog should, so his food intake was reduced in his foster home. He walks twice daily and this exercise, along with a more optimal food intake should help the extra weight come off.
Sammy enjoys his daily walks. His foster parents were warned that this city boy was used to pooping on cement…and they found that to be true. While at his temporary foster home, he never once went in the yard or on grass while walking – it was always right in the middle of the road since there were no sidewalks available. A slow walker, Sammy will pick up the pace going downhill, but slows again on the straightaway.
It does not appear that Sammy was crate trained and was not crated when he came to his temporary foster. He sleeps on the floor and generally ignores dog beds. He was looking to get up on furniture and beds but that is not allowed in his foster home.
In his most previous home and in his foster home, Sammy has chosen a person to follow everywhere. When his designated person leaves the house, Sammy gets anxious and barks/howls. When he’s anxious he tends to pant, which seems to make him thirstier. As his new surroundings became more familiar, Sammy became less anxious; he pants less frequently, and he doesn’t drink quite as much as the first couple of days in foster care although he’s still a thirsty guy.
There are no other dogs in the temporary foster home. Reportedly Sammy did very well with other dogs in the boarding facility. On walks he wants to meet other dogs. He did say hello to one and his tail was wagging the whole time. It is unknown how he would do with cats, but he does not seem at all prey driven and might accept a cat in his new home. Reportedly Sammy was very unhappy sharing a home with young children. His forever home should be one where the children, if any, are older.
Sammy’s personality has come out more over the course of the week. He has tried to counter-surf and put paws up on the dinner table because things smelled yummy. Once strongly discouraged, he lies quietly for the rest of the humans’ meal. He will bark when he wants something. Toys are ignored. The only thing Sammy took out of a toy box was a big old beef bone which has been chewed by many other dogs. He did not spend too much time with it.
Sammy recently went to his new foster home. He did well on the hours long trip with several MAESSR transport volunteers. He is adjusting to yet another new situation and is trying to settle in. His new home has two resident Cocker Spaniels and Sammy seems to enjoy their company.
By adding a calming supplement to help with Sammy’s anxiety, it is hoped that he will adjust to yet another new life transition. Medication for his thyroid, supplements for his joints, exercise, and weight loss should all help this sweet guy to accept his new life as a MAESSR boy. In time, he hopes to join his new forever home.