Adopted Dogs · Happy Endings · Rainbow Bridge Memorials
Sponsored by:
Rhonda V. and RAGOM Andy (07-406)
Hello . . . Are you out there? Have you been looking for me? I'm here....
Let me introduce to you ...Sukie! Miss Sukie is a beautiful purebred (with AKC papers) Golden girl. She is about as happy as she can be. For a girl who has spent all her years in an outside kennel, she has done remarkably well in our house. She was funny at first, when we put her on the tie-out. She would immediately lay down in the doorway and we would have to really work to get her to step outside. It only took 2 days for her to figure out the system. She has only had 2 accidents in the house, and one was FM's fault for not paying attention to her. We were a little concerned how she would handle bedtime. What a pro, the best we have ever had. She loves her kennel with the nice soft bed. If you leave the door open she will go in and make herself comfortable during the day. She doesn't seem to be afraid or needing to find a safe spot, she just seems to really like the bed. She doesn't even make a sound during the night.
She loves, loves, LOVES to be pet. We have decided she has PMADD (pet me a lot deficit disorder). She is learning how to settle down and relax, we have been so amazed by her progress in just 4 short days. Sukie went for her first walk last night and will never need a gentle leader, she did great! She is not a fast walker, but I think that's because she has had very little exercise. She will happily retrieve a ball for you, but she's not so great about giving the ball back. I started "give" training with her and after three times of trading a treat for the ball, she knew what to do. I think she is very smart! We have already worked on sit, down, give and stay. She does sit and down very well, and is getting the idea of give and stay.
Okay, now for the important stuff. Sukie is 7 years old with tons of love to give. She gets along great with our two resident girls. She was raised around cats, so that's no big deal for her. She does not get on your furniture. She is totally kennel trained. We allow her free roam while we are home, but we kennel her if we leave. If you give her a hard bone while she's in her kennel, she is as happy as can be. She has done wonderful with the housetraining. I really don't think she needs a fence or a tie-out, she doesn't go far from your side and she listens very well.
When we first got her the smell was overwhelming. She got her first bath and did fine. I took the clipper to her dreadlocks and she didn't even move. She is headed to the groomer on Tuesday for the full treatment (she deserves it). She has the prettiest hair with a small white patch on her chest and little curls down her sides. She will be visiting the vet in another week for a full work up. She has not had any shots for many years and will need to be spayed. I am curious how much she weighs. She was allowed to self-feed, which this foster mom doesn't believe in. Surprisingly though, she's not hugely overweight.
We will let you know more as we spend more time with Sukie. If you are interested in a wonderfully loving, happy go-lucky girl, please contact your Placement Advisor today!
It has been almost 2 weeks since we brought Sukie home and we have noticed some differences in this girl we would like to share with you.
First, Sukie has been a challenge to figure out what type of food she is willing to eat. She does not like our "good for you" dry dog food, so we added some canned to it. Well, she is very clever and was able to pick out the canned and leave the dry behind. We have tried mixing more canned than dry and slowly working her over to the good dog food. Not this girl. If she gets any of the good dog food in her mouth she will spit everything out. When I asked her previous owner what kind of food she was given, the reply was "round". I guess we didn't have the right "round" dog food. Have no fear, Sukie is not going hungry. We would never allow that. We continue to search for the food she will like to eat.
Second, Sukie did not get a lot of exercise prior to coming here. On her first walk, she was ready to stop before we made it all the way around the block. Now that she has gone on several walks, she not only keeps up with you but she's happy when you take the leash off the hook. In time, she will be a great walking companion. I don't think she will ever be a runner, at least not a long distance runner.
I wish we had been able to get a good before and after picture of Sukie . . . . before groomer - after groomer (see attached). Can you tell the difference? She is a beautiful girl. Sukie got to attend a family get together yesterday and everyone commented on what a nice girl she is. Since we were in the country we decided to see how she would react off her tie-out, but still on a leash. She did go off and explore a little but when we called her she came running right back. Her commands are coming along, but "stay" seems to be difficult for her. Personally, I don't think it's that she can't do it, it's more that she can't stand to be very far away from you. She is just a wonderful, loving, gentle girl. Oh, quiet too. She rarely barks and does not make a sound at bedtime. She's great at keeping your feet warm too.
She goes to the vet on Tuesday, so we will know more about her overall health. We will let you know what we find out. She does have a family interested in meeting her, so we will see how that goes.
Sukie's last update left off waiting for the results from her vet visit. As you can see, she is now unavailable. When I sit down to write an update about our foster kids, I try to make it interesting and fun to read. I can't do that this time. It is with great sadness that I report Sukie was diagnosed positive for heartworm. Although Sukie is slowly recovering from her spay procedure, as soon as she is recuperated she will start her heartworm treatment. Once she has completed her treatment she will need 6 weeks of total rest.
As other foster moms and dads have said before me . . . this treatment is ugly and is so easy to prevent. Keep your kids safe, keep them healthy and give them all the love they deserve. We will keep you updated during her recovery. Please say a special prayer for her and keep her in your thoughts.
If there is anyone out there who has been waiting to sponsor a wonderful, deserving furkid, please consider this one. Sukie is so wonderful, she just wants her people to love her. Thank you.
Did you see! Did you hear!
I have a sponsor mom Rhonda and her wonderful RAGOM boy Andy. Thank You . . . Thank You . . . THANK YOU! I feel very special now.
Have you been wondering about me? Want to know what I have been up to? Okay - here goes. Foster mom has had a heck of a time trying to get me to eat. Believe me, she has tried everything (even food she wouldn't normally feed to her furkids). Foster dad was real nice about buying all those different kinds of dog food for me to try. She consulted her friendly vet and did a lot of research and they figured out I probably had a really bad upset tummy. Foster mom's not sure if it was the big change in my life, coming to live here, or, if I ate something funny (you never know what you can find in someone's yard). But, guess what, I ate my breakfast (the good stuff) this morning and almost finished the whole bowl. Foster mom was sure happy, she even gave me a treat in my dog bowl for good measure. Mom isn't sure if I ever ate out of a bowl before because I eat better if she holds it in her hand, but she says she's not doing that forever.
We have been going for lots of walks and I am really good. I can go around the big block now and I don't fall behind. Once that heartworm treatment starts foster mom says I can't go for a while. Yesterday Foster mom and dad took Josie on a home visit, so Pepper Anne and I got to stay home and play with toys. I guess Josie gets real jealous if you play with her toys...mom says Josie is learning. My foster boy stayed home with us and we all played outside - we had a blast!! I am really enjoying living in a home, it sure beats being outside all the time. I have not had an accident all week. If I really need to go outside I start to pace and I will even stand at the door and look outside sometimes. I surprised my family this week when I climbed on the couch to snuggle with foster mom. I have never tried to get on the furniture before. Josie and Pepper Anne always snuggle with mom, so I thought I would give it a try....it sure is soft. I got to spend some "me" time with mom and that was great. When I was told to hop down I did and got lots of pets and kisses for being so good. After I figured out how nice a couch is, I climbed on FM and FD's bed so I could sit on my foster boy (that's me sitting on Chandler with Josie).
Just a quick update on Sukie's treatment progress. As you have read, Sukie's biggest challenge has been eating. In my last update I was so happy Sukie ate her breakfast and she even finished most of her supper. Unfortunately, following supper, she vomited and everything came up. On Monday, I was on the phone again with our vet to discuss delaying her treatment until I could get her to eat on a more regular basis. The vet agreed it would be too difficult for her to start this treatment until she can hold down her food. We discussed all possibilities, both physical and mental, and I now have her on an OTC antacid twice a day. I hate to say it out loud, but, so far so good. Assuming everything goes well, eating her breakfast and supper without incident, Sukie will start her treatment in another week or two. Because Sukie's overall health is good, she is not displaying any heart distress, delaying the treatment should not be an issue. Our concern was more that she really needed to have no other problems before the treatment was started.
A huge thank you to our wonderful vet, Dr. Tom. He really loves Goldens too.
Sukie's heartworm treatment is now complete and she is on her 6 weeks of rest. Sukie will need to be retested in January to make sure she is clear. We are so proud of her, she is doing fantastic. I was able to bring her home from the vet on Thursday afternoon and she has been her usual happy, smiling self. I'm not sure which vet tech was more sad to see her go, she sure was loved. You can tell she is a little sore and we are trying to keep her quiet, but she loves to be in the middle of everything. It has been hardest keeping her from playing with her buddy, Pepper Anne. Sukie has really become a big love bug. Last night she decided she was a lap dog and joined me on the recliner. It's hard to believe this girl has only been in a house for little over a month. She has not had an accident in a couple weeks, but you really have to keep an eye on her. Sukie will start to pace and seem to wander, that's her sign. As soon as you see her pace, she needs to get outside right away. Sukie likes to sun bathe on the patio steps, quite the bathing beauty. We have learned that soft toys, although lots of fun, will not last long with Sukie. She has that true Golden behavior of holding a stuffed toy down with her front paws and tearing the living daylights out it . . . leaving stuffing all over the floor and nothing left of the toy. Needless to say, all soft toys have been put away for now. There are still sooo many toys . . . sooo little time. Sukie seems to have taught our girl Josie (adopted RAGOM girl) how to share. We are still trying to figure that one out. Josie has struggled with sharing her toys until Sukie came into our house. You can typically find Sukie walking around with the knotted rope or a ball in her mouth.
Sukie's eating problems seem to have disappeared. We have been able to stop giving her the OTC antacid twice a day. She is eating her breakfast and supper with the rest of the pack with no special diet. I no longer have to hold her food in my hand either. Sukie will even lick out her bowl. We are even able to get Sukie to sit in front of her bowl and wait her turn. Each of the girls must sit and stay, then I set their bowl down, and they must wait until I say "eat". Sukie has made great progress.
If Sukie continues to feel well she will be at the Rochester Leashes and Leads event on Saturday, October 24. Please stop by to say hello to this wonderful girl. If her sponsor mom Rhonda and Andy could come that would be GReat! Even though Sukie needs to rest for 6 weeks, if you are interested in this wonderful girl please contact your Placement Advisor. Sukie would LOVE to meet you!!
EXCITING NEWS!
Sukie met a wonderful lady on Saturday while attending the event in Rochester. She drove all the way from Hermantown, near Duluth, just so she and her girl Hanna could see Sukie. Isn't that something!! Speaking for Sukie . . . it was a perfect match. We will be making plans to meet the whole family soon. Sukie is still on rest from her HW treatment, but so far so good. She is just an amazing girl. Can you tell we love her to pieces?! If all goes well, it's possible Sukie could be in her forever home for the holidays.
It's like a dream come true -
The very nice lady who came to meet me at the Rochester event is going to bring her family to my foster house on Saturday, November 21. I will be done with my HW rest time and foster mom says if everything goes good I could be home for the holidays. Can you believe it!!! RAGOM is so great, they make a lot of dreams come true.
Just think ... a little over 2 months ago I lived in a kennel outside - now I live in the lap of luxury.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Our darling Sukie has gone home, and just in time for the holidays. This foster stole our hearts, but we knew she was going to a family who would love her as much as we do. We are so happy for them. Sukie went from an outside kennel dog to a full fledge family member in less than 3 months. She is just an amazing, loving girl.
Sukie's transformation was greatly helped by her generous sponsor mom Rhonda and RAGOM pal Andy - THANK YOU!
We will miss you and love you always,
Your forever foster family
P.S. Sukie's family will have her retested in January to make sure she is Heartworm free.