Castro

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Entered: 07/23/2016

Status: Adopted

Age: 8

Color: Black/White Springer Mix

Weight: 52 lbs.

Gender: Altered Male

Location: Louisa, VA

Health: UTD, HW+ and receiving treatment, surgery to address dysplasia in both hips complete

Temperament: Good with people as young as 6 (younger unknown), good with other dogs and cats

Castro's Story . . .

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Update 05/14/2017: “This boy is as sweet as they come and a joy to be around. “

Due to no fault of his own, Castro has returned to MAESSR. This big boy is a lover, not a fighter, and there was a problem with the resident dog in his adopting home. He has returned to his foster family to await a new forever home.

This boy is as sweet as they come and a joy to be around. During the four months it took him to heal from his hip surgeries, he was always cooperative and loving. He is now ready to learn new things and explore the world.

Are you ready for a devoted companion? Then maybe you need to meet Castro…he will be happy to meet you and show how quickly he can become your very best friend!

Update 11/06/2016: "Looking for walking company, quiet times sitting under a tree with a book, or just a companion who will think of you first and always be there for you?"

Castro continues to be the perfect house guest and a sweet loveable boy. He's completely healed and ready for a new forever home. Although he may not look like your typical Springer, he has a Springer mouth and can carry on a conversation with the best of them.

His house manners continue to be perfect, with the exception of his fascination with paper; if he finds it on the floor, he will make it into confetti or just take it to his bed. That said, Castro will willingly give you anything he has in his mouth with no argument or problem. Such a good boy!

As he becomes more comfortable, he has not only started talking, but he will grin at you when he is really excited. Very cute, he is a delight and is a fun companion. Recently when his foster family was having some work done on the home, Castro took the other foster dog under his wing, keeping him busy and out of the way for the entire day. This gent has many talents.

Castro's foster mom says she has never, in all her years of fostering, had a dog that was so accommodating and easy to get along with as this one. He is open to anything you want him to do or you want to do to him. He got a new harness this week and his walks are even better; with the harness he will even walk on a loose leash.

This week MAESSR'S sweetheart went to the groomers for some trimming, a bath and nail clip. He was the perfect gentleman as always, although he was not overly fond of the hairdryer. In any event he came back looking beautiful.

Looking for walking company, quiet times sitting under a tree with a book, or just a companion who will think of you first and always be there for you? Castro is your man!

Update 09/25/2016: “Because he needs to build muscle in his rear, which he has not been able to use for years, he should always be walked on a regular harness, rather than a collar. This will help him engage his back legs and benefit greatly in his recovery. “

Castro has much to celebrate these days. He had his second hip surgery a couple of weeks ago and is recovering nicely. He is becoming much more active now that he is able to walk better. With regular exercise he will continue to gain muscle and strength, so his foster mom feels he needs a home where he will be taken for long walks daily. Because he needs to build muscle in his rear, which he has not been able to use for years, he should always be walked on a regular harness, rather than a collar. This will help him engage his back legs and benefit greatly in his recovery.

Now that he is feeling better this boy’s personality is coming out and he is becoming quite the character. Castro has found his voice and will let you know when he wants something or is excited. While not the typical springer “woo woo”, this boy can talk up a storm when he wants to.

Castro is doing well with his heartworm treatment, his coat is getting better and his appetite is good. He is now fed in a crate as he doesn’t waste any time devouring his meal…but then he wants to help the other dogs finish theirs. Once he has finished eating, he is happy to lie in the crate until everyone else is done. Sometimes he will fall asleep there (the permanent foster in his home takes a long time to eat!) while waiting and just finish off with a nice little nap.

As soon as his incision is healed Castro will be ready for a forever home, one where he will get lots of walks, lots of love and, oh yeah, don’t forget lots of things to make into piles…his favorite thing!

Original: “He is definitely SOAKING up all of the attention and love he is getting in his new environment.”

When Castro’s North Carolina owner could no longer care for him and another dog, a relative looked after them and tried to find them new homes. This caretaker soon realized that she needed help in this task and turned to a local all-breed rescue for help. They were able to take the other dog but did not have space for Castro. A volunteer from the local rescue group knew what a great boy Castro was and asked MAESSR if we could help. So, Castro became a MAESSR boy.

Castro arrived in his foster home in need of a good grooming. After his mats were cut off, he received a bath and trim. During his entire spa treatment, he was wonderful for everything the groomers did to him.

When the vet examined him, it was determined after x-rays and evaluation that Castro had severe hip dysplasia and would need surgery. He had the FHO procedure on one hip and is already walking much better. Castro will have his other hip operated on once the first hip has had sufficient time to heal.

To treat Castro’s heartworm disease, the “slow-kill” method will be used. This involves giving the infected dog monthly Heartgard tabs over the course of a year. (Doxyclycline therapy is sometimes done as part of the treatment as well.) At the end of the year, Castro will be re-tested for heartworms. MAESSR will supply the medication to his adoptive family and will pay for the follow-up vet visit and heartworm test. Although most dogs are heartworm-free after one year, MAESSR will pay for another year of treatment if Castro is still heartworm positive.

Castro was recently moved to another foster home that did not have so many dogs. He is definitely SOAKING up all of the attention and love he is getting in his new environment.

This good boy is completely housetrained and has no problem using a crate, although he has complete run of the house in his new foster home and has no need to be crated. He sleeps in the living room with the permeant foster at night, is just learning to use the dog beds, and has shown no interest in getting on the sofa.

His house manners are excellent, with the exception of liking to make piles of anything he finds in the floor--- clothes, toys, anything dropped. Castro loves stuffed toys and will make a pile just to lie in, but so far he has not actually played with them.

Castro is good on the leash but he does not seem to know many commands; he learns fast, though, and wants to please his people. So, with a little training, his repertoire will expand. The shelter staff gave him his name which he is just beginning to respond to. His new foster mom hasn’t taken him on any car rides yet, but he was a little uncomfortable during the ride between foster homes.

Although she hasn’t had Castro with her long, his foster mom finds him to be a sweet boy. She’s observed that he can get overwhelmed by attention, but he doesn’t seem to need a lot as long as he can be near his people.

Watch for more on Castro as he adjusts to life in his new foster home and as he has his second operation. By the time his other hip heals, this boy will be perfect for some lucky family.