Entered: 07/15/2008
Status: Adopted
Age: 4
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Sarver, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, Lyme-, treatment for ear and bladder infections complete
Temperament: Good with adults, good with other dogs and with cats, unknown with children
Update 08/26/08:
All of Sophie’s medical problems are over. She is ready to go to her forever home except for the spaying which is upcoming.
With more time in her foster home, she still has no problems with any of the resident cats or other dogs. She goes outdoors off leash with the resident springers. Sophie has not had one accident in the house and is very friendly, making her foster family wonder if her history is correct! She has not been placed in a crate and is allowed free run of the house all the time. What wonderful manners have come in such a short time!!
Sophie’s whole life revolves around food. She is not interested in toys but likes rawhide chews. She wins the fast eating contest. In fact, her foster dad doesn’t know what Sophie won’t eat.:)). When he gives a rawhide bone to each dog, and that is 5 dogs including Sophie, she has them all collected in a few minutes.
If you play hide and seek, you don’t want Sophie on your side. Every time she sees someone, her tail bangs against whatever is near, making her pretty easy to find. She loves ear scratches and tummy rubs and will be a fine addition to any family.
Original:
Sophie has spent her entire life as an outdoor barn dog in West Virginia with little human socialization. Her owners relinquished her to MAESSR because they were no longer able to care for her.
In the short time that Sophie has been in her foster home, she has made great strides in socialization. Initially, knowing that she was frightened by human contact, her foster parents allowed her to come to them in her own time. She would slowly approach them and nuzzle their hands. Now, she comes into the house to get petting and tummy rubs and just to hang out. She is actually sleeping in the dog chair now! She even allows her foster parents to give her medicine without her being terrified! Instead, her long tail is always wagging. Good girl, Sophie!
Sophie is housetrained and has the run of the house when her foster parents are gone. She displays no separation anxiety when they leave. If she is invited to go into the car for a ride, she goes willingly and is a good passenger. A very laid back girl, Sophie gets along with both dogs and cats. She can sit, will come when called, and knows her new name. Toys are totally foreign objects to Sophie and she has no idea what they are for. Chews are a different matter. There is no problem with her appetite! She will guard a chew bone from the other dogs by grumbling at them. Because of this, Sophie may be best placed in a home where there are no little children who may try to get between her and her bone.
When Sophie first came into foster care, her ears were twice their normal size because of matted fur and ear discharge. It took the vet more than two hours to remove the mats so she could be examined and even then mats remained. Her ears have a yeast infection and she has a bladder infection. Both problems are being treated with medication. Sophie is also in heat so the vet recommended spaying in nine weeks. Sophie is going to the groomer to be shaved down, bathed and have the remaining mats cut off.
Sophie’s foster parents have fostered a few dogs that are extra special; Sophie is one of these. With a good diet, vetting, lots of love and care, Sophie’s transformation from a “barn dog” has been remarkable! She was a diamond-in-the-rough to start with and now the real Sophie has begun to shine. She is a sweet, forgiving girl.