Spot 2

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Updated 6/16/07: Spot’s flight with MAESSR volunteers to his new foster home went well. He was a happy dog when the pilot handed him off to his awaiting family and he rode home in the car just fine. Shortly after his arrival, Spot began his heartworm treatment. The vet and her staff just loved him because he was so gentle and easy to work with. He and his foster brother formed a quick bond and both fell asleep in the exam room during Spot’s first visit. Spot had no ill reaction to the initial treatment and returned home for a quiet stretch until time for the second step.

During heartworm treatment, dogs need to remain quiet so Spot’s activities included leashed walking and he was improving with the regular practice. He was settling right in with the whole family and had his “spot” on the floor in the bedroom at night, right by the air-conditioning vent. When his family was out of the house, he was resting quietly in a crate, typically with a Kong loaded with peanut butter. He had put on some needed weight and was looking very handsome. Like the typical Velcro Springer he would follow his foster mom everywhere. He was not above stealing food off a plate if one was left lying around, but he hadn’t been caught counter-surfing–yet!

With everything for Spot finally, and seemingly, headed in the right direction, it was heartbreaking to find him sick when his family got home one day. Since he wasn’t keeping anything down, he went to the emergency vet and then he spent a day with his original vet. After a bit of a rally following a night of IV fluids, he took a serious turn for the worse. Further diagnostic testing led to the discovery that Spot had liver cancer and treatment wouldn’t help. The decision to release him from this illness was made.

Spot had stolen the hearts of those around him in a short time. He will never get to garden, chase butterflies or run in the yard again, but he was in loving hands since coming into MAESSRs care and will surely be waiting at the Bridge for those who gave him their best.

Updated 5/18/07: The personality of a foster dog is almost always emerging during its first weeks with a foster family. Spot is not an exception. With more time to settle, it has become clear that Spot will not stand for what he views as inappropriate canine behavior relating to his crate or his food, at least from male canines. He and the young resident dog in his foster home have had some serious scraps. The best resolution was a complete separation of the two dogs.

More is known about Spot’s crating needs now too. He likes his crate and goes in easily. He will even hang out there. He will, however, break out in an effort to find people. This can happen whether he is home alone or with another dog. Once out of the crate, Spot goes to windows and tries to get out of the house. His foster mom tried both wire crates and plastic ones in an effort to calm his behavior and found that wire seemed better for him. Having another dog in the house when the humans leave and a crate that could not be compromised seemed the best combination for him.

In this first month, Spot has done well with learning some rules and limits that go with responsible doggie behavior. This weekend he will take to the air with MAESSR transport volunteers for the flight to his new foster home where heartworm treatment will begin. He will require a long period of quiet time during the treatment. Fingers crossed for a safe recovery so he can get back to chasing squirrels and butterflies. 

Original: Spot came to MAESSR because his family was experiencing financial difficulty and needed to find a new home for him. Although he used to live in the house, Spot had moved outside to a kennel a couple of years ago because there were too many dogs in the house.

After two years of living outside, Spot is getting a refresher course in house rules. He sometimes forgets what he knew about housebreaking. When he arrived at his foster home, Spot had no sense that it is bad for a dog to stand up on counters and tables, but his house manners are improving. He responds well to the corrections that his foster mom gives him. He stands up on the counter less often and is only infrequently marking in the house.

On the positive side, Spot has made no attempt to get up on the furniture (unless the furniture is occupied by his foster mom’s lap) and sleeps on the floor. He must be crated when left alone. He barks a little in the beginning but is calm and quiet when his foster mom returns home. Spot was crated in the car during his transport to his foster home. He poked at the crate and barked a little. His foster mom expects part of this was that he had just been given to a stranger and was in a new situation. His relinquishing family reported that he had done some hunting in the past. He knows “hup” for “sit,” he gives “paw” when asked, and he responds to “come.”  Spot is good on a leash, too.

Spot is a friendly, good-natured guy. The only real sign of his age is some graying hair around his eyes. He follows his foster mom everywhere and sticks his nose into everything. He likes to explore the yard, chase squirrels, and run around with the resident dog, although he can’t quite keep up with that 2-year-old speedster. He has not yet shown any interest in toys but will lie down and chew hard on a Kong. Although there is still some jockeying for position between Spot and the young male resident dog, they are switching over to normal wrestling and play.

Spot grew up with a child who is the same age he is, and was reported by his previous owner to be good with children. He has not been exposed to children or cats in his foster home. He has shown no issues with being handled by his foster mom. Spot is a very helpful dog, too. He likes to help his foster mom in the garden by chasing butterflies and trying to visit the neighbor’s ducklings.

Spot could help you garden, too. Surely you must have some squirrels and butterflies that need chasing? He will need to be a quiet boy during his heartworm treatment and then will be back to his normal pace. Updates coming.