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Three years ago, we made the best decision in
deciding to adopt another ESS. Zoey then came to us and is the BEST dog
ever. She is not only beautiful but so well behaved and is loved by
everyone. We can't thank MAESSR and Debbie enough for giving us Zoey. Judy Minnick, NJ
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Bertie 2
Entered: 06/27/2015 Status: Adopted Age: 11 Color: Black/White/Tan Setter Mix Weight: 55.4 lbs. Gender: Altered Male Location: Columbia, MD Health: UTD, HW-, treatment for systemic yeast infection complete, receiving a special diet and supplements Health Cont.: to benefit kidney and joint health, Grade 3 heart murmur and trachea irregularity detected, dental Health Contd.: and cyst removal deferred, treatment for UTI, ear infection and Lyme disease complete, deaf, has Health Conts.: gained to a healthy weight Temperament: Good with people as old as 92, good with children as young as 5, good with dogs, good with cats
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Bertie 2's Story . . .
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Update 10/09/2015: “Unfortunately, the pictures also showed that someone had
shot him with a pellet gun at one point in time
... Who would do that to such a sweet boy?”
Months back Mr. Bertie likely never
envisioned that the kindness of a stranger could so turn his life around.
Since becoming a MAESSR boy, he’s responded so well to attentive health
care and a loving home life...indeed, the “stuff” of rescue.
With basic health gains in place,
Bertie recently went to the vet to get some x-rays done. While he was pretty scared, he stayed
still. Good boy! The film showed the reason for his occasional “coughing”/retching...his
trachea is irregularly shaped and easily irritated. His lungs are clear
and the trachea doesn’t slow him down one bit.
His “cough” minimally impacts his quality of life and never happens when
he’s up and about, only after lying down a bit, so no treatment was
recommended. Unfortunately, the
pictures also showed that someone had shot him with a pellet gun at one point
in time. There is still one pellet visible, but it doesn’t pose any
threat to his health. Who would do that to such a sweet boy?
Because of the heart murmur, MAESSR
decided to leave the cyst and teeth cleaning alone too. Bertie
would have to be anesthetized for cosmetic reasons, and that is simply not
important enough to risk his life. Thankfully, neither cyst nor
teeth are bothering him.
Bertie is ready for his forever
family now! Will you be the one to give an old man a good home in his
golden years? He really is a super good boy and very spry for his age. He
loves long brisk walks and car rides, but most of all he loves to be with his
person. Ask about meeting him...he’ll impress!
Update 09/21/2015: “Seniors
don’t bounce back as quickly as younger pups, but Bertie and his foster family
are making their best effort to help him feel better.”
Bertie’s foster mom
reports that restoring his health has been slow going for him. He still battles a systemic yeast infection,
but it is improving slowly but surely.
His ear infections are now under control, requiring just a daily
cleaning. Seniors don’t bounce back as
quickly as younger pups, but Bertie and his foster family are making their best
effort to help him feel better.
Another concern is a
strange “cough” which Bertie has developed.
He seems to be hacking up phlegm and will be visiting the vet for an
x-ray to determine its cause. His dental
cleaning and cyst removal have been put on hold pending those results.
Keep Bertie and his
foster family in your thoughts as this sweet senior boy continues his journey
to better health.
Update
08/24/2015: “So,
in summary, I have to watch what I eat, need pain medication and some
supplements…sounds like every human (and dog) in my age group, don’t you
agree?”
Hi all, Bertie here…
The good MAESSR folks are
calling me “Bertie,” but that’s not really my name. Not that it matters…my ears have stopped
working and I can’t hear what they are calling me anyway! You can give me any name you want and I won’t
respond to it at all (a little deaf joke…don’t worry, I have my thoughtful
moments, too.) Nobody is taking my
deafness too seriously, including me, and neither should you! I am REALLY good at interpreting body
language and hand signals. I also know
to look for you if the lights are being turned on and off. See, I told you I’m not hindered in the least
by my “condition.”
If you read my prior
write-ups, you know that I have a few health issues, but who doesn’t at my age. You’ll get there, too! I’ve been feeling better in the past several
weeks; I’m not so very thin anymore, I have put on some muscle mass, my hair is
growing back, and I’m almost back to my former HANDSOME self. Once those issues improved, I was able to tell
my foster mom about my arthritis and that it was bothering me. She’s put me on some pain medication and
supplements, and voila! I’m able to be
goofy and hop around her when it’s time for our walk. Oh, did I mention that I LOVE to take walks? And car rides? Don’t get me started! Whenever we leave the house I run to the car
and hop, hop, hop, so she knows to lift me in.
We have an SUV, so I can’t do it by myself; with a ramp I would have no
problem. Unfortunately, my foster mom doesn’t
open the car EVERY time, but then it turns out we are going for a walk…and
that’s very fine as well.
I still drink a lot,
though, which means I have to pee more often than other dogs, I’m embarrassed
to say. That’s because I am in the early stages of kidney disease. They put me
on a “kidney diet” prescription dog food which is no more expensive than a good
store bought kibble. This is going to
manage the situation; I don’t need any other medication for this, just some
inexpensive supplements that support kidney health…that’s it. Already, in the past 10 days, my thirst (and
peeing) has lessened and I sleep through the night. During the day, because I do not like to soil
the house, I pace and huff and generally pester my foster mom until she catches
on (sometimes she’s a little slow, you know).
Then I go straight out, pee, and come right back in. No trouble at all. Don’t let the kidney disease frighten
you! There is no reason why I should not
live and enjoy life to the fullest until it’s my time to go to the Rainbow Bridge
anyway. It just needs monitoring.
What else is there? Let me think… NOTHING! Other than what I described, I’m doing well,
and will have my teeth cleaned and a cyst on my back removed in the very near
future. So, in summary, I have to watch what I eat, need pain medication and
some supplements…sounds like every human (and dog) in my age group, don’t you
agree?
I’m really excited to meet
my new forever parent(s)! My foster home
is okay, but I would love to have a home to call my own…with my own bed, food
bowls, and yard (which needs to be fenced; remember, because I can’t hear you
calling and I might find a squirrel to chase…no guarantees!). Oh, and a family,
of course! I’m always in a good mood,
even when my arthritis is bothering me, and I have sooooo much love to
give! Do you want to meet me and take me
home when I’m ready? I promise…you will
not regret it!
Best Regards,
Bertie
Update 07/23/2015:
“In
Bertie’s words,
‘Joggers and hikers need not apply, but if you enjoy a good cuddle on the couch
and lazy summer days, count me in!’"
MAESSR’s
honorary Springer, Bertie, has been with his new foster mom for two weeks and
settled in without a problem. He is very
polite with everyone, human or canine, and loves attention. Nothing is better than being cuddled and
petted and given kisses!
At
the vet’s office, Bertie behaved like a champ.
No problems with being prodded and poked. Even drawing blood did not elicit a response
other than a “help me” look at his foster mom.
Because of his overall poor condition, the vet was hesitant to put an
age on him, but this will be revisited at a future appointment.
Since
his vet visit, Bertie’s condition is slowly improving. He has gained some weight, is able to hold
eliminations for approximately eight hours now, his ear infection has almost
cleared up, his energy levels are rising, his skin is much improved, and his
hair is growing back. It’s obvious that
this poor boy was out on his own for quite a while. But, despite his poor
condition, he is such a happy boy! With
a loving foster home and MAESSR’s care, he’s grateful for all the attention and
help he’s receiving.
By the
way, Bertie is the best dog ever when it comes to having his ears treated for
infection. He just stays on his bed and
lets his foster mom do what she needs to do.
No flinching or trying to get away.
Taking a bath? No problem! He just stands still and endures. Good boy, Bertie!
Bertie
signals when he needs or wants something…be it water, food, or having to
eliminate…by pacing, prodding/pestering his foster mom, and doggie telepathy
(that deep, intense look into his human’s eyes that goes on and on, where he’s
certainly thinking, “Why is she not getting it?
I’m giving her my best stuff!”).
Not
one for the crate, Bertie is allowed free access to the house, and is absolutely
trustworthy. Being an older gentleman he
just follows his foster mom around and plops down for a nap wherever she
settles. He loves dog beds, but is not adverse
to a couch. However, he knows the “off”
command and will climb down immediately.
Although
Bertie is able to go up and down the steps, ideally he would find a forever
home with few. He has some arthritis in
his hind legs, which could present a problem in the future. Being older, it would also be best if he
could find a new home with a more mature mom or dad, preferably without puppies
or small children that might pester him.
He enjoys his walks greatly, but does not have the stamina for long
hikes. In Bertie’s words, “Joggers and
hikers need not apply, but if you enjoy a good cuddle on the couch and lazy
summer days, count me in!”
Stay
tuned for updates on Bertie’s condition.
If he continues to improve at this rate, he will be looking for his
forever home soon! Will you be the one
to give it to him?
Original: “As an older gent, Bertie is not much for playing with toys, but does trot around the yard after the resident dogs when they're playing.”
Bertie was found trotting down the median of a busy road in New Jersey by friends of a MAESSR volunteer. They called to him and he came, jumping into their car. Not having the resources to keep him, they took him to a nearby shelter. Though he seems more English Setter than Springer Spaniel, he was soon given honorary Springer status and brought into MAESSR foster care.
Completely housetrained, Bertie will walk over and put his head in his foster mom's lap if he wants to go out during the day. Preferring not to soil his fenced yard, he likes to do his business on leash walks but will make do if need be. Because the resident dogs use most of the available crates in the house and Bertie is trustworthy, he just sleeps on a dog bed under the table at night or hangs out on a different bed during the day.
This sweet, polite guy has no bad habits at all. He doesn't counter-surf, trash dive, or even beg at the table. He does sit if there is the possibility of a treat. Although he is mellow indoors, if a leash is picked up, he's always ready to go. His car manners are great; he just flops in the back making himself comfortable. In fact, he loves the car and seems to want to go inside if he is anywhere near it.
As an older gent, Bertie is not much for playing with toys, but does trot around the yard after the resident dogs when they're playing. He's alert for birds but not obsessed with them. There is no guarding of anything with Bertie; he doesn't even mind sharing beds, food bowls, or walking in tandem with his house mates. On leash walks, he's always more willing to be outbound. Once headed back towards the house, he goes into a loose leash slow mode, showing no hurry to go back. Bertie likes his walks!
When he first came to his foster home, his foster mom gave him a good bath and grooming that helped start him down the road to healthier skin-- but he still has some issues with scabs and sores from his days as a stray. With dry skin and some scabbing from prior neglect and flea issues, Bertie loves to be brushed, twitching away happily.
A really good-natured guy, Bertie would love to be the center of attention in his low key way. His full tail wags away, responding to tone of voice and seeming to want to tell his foster folks all the commands that he probably knows but they don't. “Sit” and “Who wants to go for a walk?” are definitely two things he understands.
Bertie is ready to be someone’s best buddy and love them forever. He knows that senior dogs rule! And Bertie’s right!
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