Entered: 09/27/2010
Status: Rainbow Bridge
Age: 10
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 60 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Louisa, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from treatment for keratoconjunctivitis and low thyroid levels; receiving a daily supplement for joint health; losing to a healthy weight; has regained lost vision; treatment for pyoderma, Lyme disease, ear infection, and eye infection complete
Temperament: Good with people of all ages including small children, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 04/02/2016: “…he had a few really good months here and he did know where he was. He was such a sweet boy. I will miss him for a long time.”
When Shadow returned to MAESSR at the end of last year, he settled easily with the same foster mom who opened home and heart to him the first time around. In a sense, she became doubly invested. So, with his passing, her words pay simple tribute to him as none others could…“…he had a few really good months here and he did know where he was. He was such a sweet boy. I will miss him for a long time.”
From all of MAESSR…to Shadow, we’re so glad you became a MAESSR boy. To his foster family, thank you so much for the love and care given this one…both times.
Update 03/08/2016: “This boy looks and feels great; he is trotting around the farm enjoying every day.”
Shadow has returned to the vet and has had all of his issues resolved. His eyes are doing great, his thyroid levels are up, and his weight is down to a svelte 60 pounds. This boy looks and feels great; he is trotting around the farm enjoying every day. A daily joint supplement has been added to his regimen and, although Shadow will need his eye drops for the rest of his life, he has been restored to good health.
Shadow loves to ride in the car, although he needs a little help getting into the vehicle. He also enjoys taking walks with his foster mom and the other dogs in his foster home. Walking is certainly getting those pounds off.
Since he’s not terribly happy with his weight-loss diet, Shadow has become somewhat of a beggar but he will usually go lie down when told. He has taken it upon himself to be the official kitchen floor cleaner whenever someone is in there fixing food. This boy will eat anything he finds on the floor, although he does not trash dive and will not touch anything other than a toy in his foster home. Well, there’s actually one other thing Shadow will touch. If he gets cold, he will bring his foster mom his coat to put on him and won’t leave her alone until it’s in place. Shadow also prefers to be covered with a light blanket when he goes to bed at night. He’s just got to be tucked in…what a funny boy!
A sweet, loving boy, Shadow longs for a home of his own and someone to give him lots of attention. He promises to be your shadow if you do!
Update 02/09/2016: “With improved health and a reduction in weight, his steps have quickened and he is always ready for a walk, car ride, or anything that’s happening around him.”
Shadow is doing great these days. He has lost about 7 pounds, his ears are clear, and his eye infection is gone. The boy seems to have regained a lot of sight and is now doing the stairs off of the deck into the big dog yard. While he still wants to be escorted to the doggie door, at least his foster mom no longer needs to go out with him.
Truly a Velcro Springer, Shadow helps with the kitchen chores. As a matter of fact, he assists with all the house chores, never out of sight of his foster mom. With improved health and a reduction in weight, his steps have quickened and he is always ready for a walk, car ride, or anything that’s happening around him.
Shadow will make another trip to the vet next week when a new plan for his continuing recovery will be put in motion. Keep posted for news on this sweet boy!
Update 12/30/2015:“All of his medical conditions are improving at a rapid rate and he is returning to the silly, fun Shadow he was while in foster care 5 years ago.“
Shadow was returned to MAESSR after 5 years when his adopting family fell on really hard times and was unable to afford to care for him. Well-nourished and truly loved, the problem for his family mainly was with being able to keep up his medications. Shadow has an eye condition which many humans commonly know as “dry eye” and requires daily drops. That treatment has resumed. He also requires a daily dose of thyroid medication which contributes to his overall health in many ways. Since returning to his original foster home, he has been started back on thyroid meds. He has lost quite a few pounds, but has not been back to the vet for a check up to measure just how much. Shadow also has sebaceous adenomas, some of which are infected, and are being treated presently. He’s completed a course of meds for Lyme disease as well. All of his medical conditions are improving at a rapid rate and he is returning to the silly, fun Shadow he was while in foster care 5 years ago.
This gent is still the loving, sweet, gentle boy as when he met his foster family the first time around. With returning health, he has gone right back to his favorite pastime… TOYS! They are all over the floors again, in every room and in every bed. Yes, MAESSRLand, he also carries them outside to go potty! As soon as Shadow began to feel better, he found the bucket where the toys are kept (as none of the present dogs in his home are “toy” hounds) and preceded to pull out all the ones he liked, leaving the rest for later!
Shadow continues to be housetrained, letting you know when he needs to go out, and, all of his perfect house manners remain. It is as if he had never left this foster home…the Big Boy is Back!
Stay tuned for Shadow’s progress.
Update 10/18/10: “He loves the walks around the farm where he can visit with the kitties and other dogs.”
Shadow is beginning to blossom in his foster home. He has lost some of those extra pounds and is a bouncy, happy boy. This lovely Springer is always up for playing in the yard, going for a ride in the car or just being petted. Some of his favorite times are when his foster mom’s 2 year old great-granddaughter comes to visit in the afternoon. He will give her all his favorite toys and they will play until both are exhausted.
He loves the walks around the farm where he can visit with the kitties and other dogs. Shadow never goes far from his foster mom………he is truly a shadow. Although he didn’t know many commands when he came into MAESSR care, this boy learns fast. He has mastered “sit”, “stay”, “down”,” go to bed” and, of course, his favorite “go get your toy,” as he is seldom without a toy in his mouth.
When his foster mom had to go out of town for a few days, Shadow went to stay with a family with children and, even in a new place with new people, he was perfectly well behaved. He enjoyed the children and was very good with the resident female Springer. Everyone had a good time, especially during the sleepover on the floor where he could sleep with the children.
Shadow continues to have perfect house manners. This kind, gentle boy tries very hard to please and all he wants in return is love and a family he can call his own. Open your heart to this sweet boy and your family will have a devoted friend for life.
Original: “If no one notices when he goes to the door, he will go to his foster mom, putting his head in her lap and give her that “please let me out” look.”
Shadow came into rescue as result of divorce. A loving, sweet, gentle boy, he settled right into his foster home as if he had always been there, getting along with the other dogs and even the cats, who are not fond of the dogs. Shadow has perfect house manners; he does not counter-surf, trash dive, get on the furniture or touch anything except “TOYS”! He loves his toys and is never without one either in his mouth or close by. And when foster parent is available for a game of fetch, watch out! Shadow is in his glory! After checking out his foster home, one of the first things he did was empty the toy box and pick out his favorite eight toys, which he put into a pile. He is so cute!
Housetrained, Shadow will let you know when he needs to go out. If no one notices when he goes to the door, he will go to his foster mom, putting his head in her lap and give her that “please let me out” look. Although he does go into his crate with no problem, his foster mom has seen no reason to crate him as he is so good in the house. So, he has complete freedom in the house when his foster family is out and he sleeps through the night on his bed beside his foster mom.
In the car, Shadow is an excellent passenger and is happy to go for a ride. Reportedly, he gets car sick, but he has been fine so far. Shadow is very good both on leash and off; he never goes far and his recall is excellent. He knows “sit,” “go lie down,” and “come,” but his foster mom has not found any other commands he seems familiar with. Shadow loves everybody who comes into the house and is very good when meeting new dogs.
Shadow’s health was not the greatest when he came to MAESSR. He had 11 teeth removed plus a tumor removed from the base of one ear, which is not expected to come back. He has also begun treatment for Lyme disease. Shadow’s eyes do not make tears and as a result he needs eye drops twice a day, perhaps for life. He is very cooperative about getting his eye drops, standing patiently for as long as it takes. He is also taking inexpensive thyroid medication and he takes his pills with no problem. His foster mom says one would never know anything was wrong with Shadow; he is an active, lively boy, who loves to cuddle and always wants to be near his people.
Shadow is the type of boy who would fit into almost any home, but his foster mom definitely feels he needs a home where he will get lots of attention and activity. He would love to be your little shadow!