Sprite 2

Original: When their owner could no longer afford to keep Sprite 2 and housemate Bubba K, these Springers were taken to a Pennsylvania shelter. MAESSER was contacted and this pair was brought into foster care.

Even with Sprite’s initial fears on his first day in foster care, he has started coming out of his shell and is very much enjoying life in the country! His favorite activities are fetching tennis balls and sticks and getting his chest scratched by anyone willing to lend a hand. The foster family’s male Springer and he get along well, but Sprite is shy and submissive to the resident so not much play activity has occurred. With time that may change.

This easy-going fellow gets along well with everyone he’s met and just wants to be loved. He is content to lie at one’s feet, his short tail thumping the floor in contentment. Offer to take him outside and he’ll run to the door and plant his bottom, waiting for the lead to be clipped on. When he gets outside, he’ll wiggle and sniff with utter joy. When the lead comes off, Sprite loves to run and bounce after whatever his human companion is willing to throw for him! Inside he’s calm, cool, and collected, seemingly knowing that indoors is no place for rough housing.

Sprite has never had an accident in the house and has been left for several hours at a time with his crate door open. This smart fellow has never chewed any of the human foster children’s toys even though he has access to many of them! He seems to enjoy his crate and took to it readily. He is now at the point where the foster family leaves his crate door open unless the people are gone for more than four hours. When Sprite first arrived, he had fleas and was confined to a limited portion of the house, but now that he is flea free, he is given full access. He still sleeps in his crate at night and enters willingly. His family makes sure to give him a little treat each time to keep the experience positive. During his first days in foster care, Sprite would howl or whine from his crate if he knew the family was home but couldn’t see them. He’s not much of a barker and shouldn’t be relied on as a guard dog. He’s too much of a love bug for that!

If invited Sprite will readily jump up and join one on the couch but that is not allowed in the foster home and this good boy jumps right down when asked. His excellent manners also include NO counter-surfing or trash picking. This very intuitive springer is very responsive to any changes in the tone of voice and will be the star of his class at obedience school as he is constantly checking back with his foster mom to see if he’s doing what he should both on and off leash. He already knows sit, come, and paw and is working on stay, down, and off. Despite his small size, this little guy is still a puller on the leash but shows much promise here as well. He will sometimes put up a paw or two for that chest scratch but is so gentle it’s hard to resist. Sprite also does well in the car and settles right down for the ride. He’d prefer to be by your side and has never tried to take the wheel!

Sweet little Sprite needs a family to call his own. Care to open your home and heart to a whole lot of sweetness and just a little bubble?

Update 08/08/09: Brief but great news for Sprite his surgery for neutering went well. He tested a high positive for Lyme disease and has begun antibiotics. The vet also found he has a yeast infection in both ears and is treating that with drops. Sprite is getting an ophthalmic ointment twice daily for some runniness in one eye. His vet says he is in great condition otherwise.

Sprite’s disposition says he is in great condition too. He’s as happy-go-lucky as ever and is ready share his bubbly outlook with a family of his own. How about you!!!!!!!