Sloane

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Update 06/01/10:

Sloane has been returned to MAESSR through no fault of her own. She arrived very shy and frightened but quickly warmed up to her foster mom and she is learning to take treats and trust the man of the house. Calming signals from her foster parents and hotdogs are quickly moving her trust issue ahead. Sloane is fine with the resident Springer, and, the cat came out of hiding after only a few hours once she realized that Sloane was ok.

Now that Sloane has learned the daily routine of her foster home, she has begun to shine. After a walk she knows which driveway is “hers” and she sprints toward the house with ears flying and does a happy dance. Her tail and rear end which were frozen with shyness upon arrival now do the cutest wiggle butt! The other day after concentrating on doing her business, she scratched the ground with her hind legs and then did a twirling happy dance that had everyone laughing!

Sloane recently had a lump removed from her belly and it was discovered she has breast cancer. The edges of the lump were free of cancer and there were no lymph nodes involved, so the hope is that the cancer was contained there. Sloane will need to be watched very closely for any re-occurrence of tumors. At 45 pounds she is in otherwise good health and acts like a much younger dog.

This beautiful little girly-girl is so funny and sweet. She will make a wonderful girlfriend for some lucky person and fit into an adopting home like a glove.

Original:

Sloane is a timid girl but she has demonstrated that she is a willing learner in new surroundings. Since in foster care she has met new people and lets them touch her if they are nearby; Sloane is not a greeter though, not outgoing at all, and would not step forward to offer a paw right now. Though uncertain as to how she would be with children on an ongoing basis, she has been good with kids she has met in her new neighborhood. Her foster mom feels if she was exposed to these kinds of social encounters more often that she would slowly become more accepting.

Her foster mom has handily gained Sloane’s trust. Sloane loves her foster mom and loves to cuddle with her. Being absolutely as close to her as possible at all times is a comfort to this dog. Even when her foster mom is gardening! Have you ever tried to weed a flower bed with a dog’s help? Sloane doesn’t appear to mind her nails, ears, eyes, tail or belly, anything, being touched. She arrived at her foster home freshly bathed and groomed so, in confident hands, she can trust her well-being to new people.

There is another dog in Sloane’s foster home. Sloane gets along very well with the older resident female Springer. There have been no challenges or aggressive behavior between the two at all. In fact Sloane will watch her senior housemate to see how to react in situations or to sense if a space is “safe.” Sloane will try to get this housemate to play but the senior is simply unwilling.

With strange dogs Sloane seems fearful at times, especially if they run up to her. When this happens, she is prone to bolt away so a firm grip on her leash is important. She has also met some fellow dog walkers at her own pace and seemed OK with them. She will walk on a leash but is unsure of new surroundings and will hang back or require coaxing from her seated “I’m not moving” position at times. Although Sloan does not cower, she is timid and fearful of things like stairways and doors or entryways into halls. As with meeting people, increasing opportunities to try out new things will help her grow into a more confident gal.

Sloane is healthy and an eager eater. She will let her foster mom take the food bowl or a treat away with no problems. She has not been too interested in toys but does tug loose things off the bed or a chair, things like clothing or blankets. She does not chew them but there have been towels on the floor when her foster mom has returned from work. Initially crated at night, Sloane has proven trustworthy and no longer uses a crate when her family is away either. There has been an accident or two but that may be more related to her adjusting to a new schedule than to her being housebroken.

Sloane came into MAESSR’s care from a shelter in southwestern Virginia where she had been turned in by a breeder. She is a beautiful gal and has a good mind. The ideal home for her would have another dog. Sloane gallops around the yard now and would likely play with another dog or human as she relaxes into an adopting home. Having someone home during the day or able to get home mid-day would be great for her too. Sloane’s world has likely been somewhat limited but she is ready to grow into a bigger slice of life. Will you give her the chance she’s ready for?