Wilson 14-026

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Sponsored by:

Anonymous
"Best Wishes to the Cutest Little Dog in Ragom Land."


 

"Best wishes." -Anonymous

"Loving fan!" -Mary R

"Greetings from your friend, Brie." -Sandy M

"With love and best wishes from Beau 14-117." -Ann M


In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 3/20/2015 Optional Age 8 +  Optional. but preferred Not tested 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

 

4/7/2015:

I would like to re-introduce you to our very special boy, who re-joined his prior RAGOM family on 3/20/15.  Wilson was adopted by an absolutely wonderful woman approximately one year ago, and she gave him the life that all foster families dream of for their foster dogs. He was loved, cherished, and spoiled absolutely rotten, and as much as she gave to him, I'm sure he gave her every single bit in return. Unfortunately, her health took a turn for the worse, and she was no longer able to care for sweet Wilson.  She and her family made the very difficult decision to return him to RAGOM, and my heart just aches, knowing how hard it was for her to do this.  I want to assure her that we love her boy as much as we ever did, and that he will remain with us until we find him the home that is just right for him.

I have so much to say about him that it's hard to know where to start!  Wilson and I have been very good for each other these past two weeks. He was very sad when he returned to my home, and I could tell he missed his mom and everything about his life with her. So many times each day, he'd look at me with that adorable little face, and seemed to be asking, "don't you know what we do now, lady?"  On my part, I was grieving the loss of my prior foster, Red 14-202, the "Old Pirate," and wasn't sure if I could open my heart to another foster dog right away. However, it didn't take long for our family to realize that if Wilson was going to come back, he was most certainly going to come back here!

Though things have really turned the corner now, Wilson did struggle when he was first returned to us, and any new family will need to know that it might take him a similar period of time to adjust to their home.   Instead of being the silly, smiley boy that I remembered, he was very sad and flat.  He didn't want to eat, and spent a lot of time quietly observing all of us - which we just let him do, until he felt safe again.   We've also learned through his adoptive family that he did struggle with some separation issues.  Wilson was not in foster care with us very long the first time around, so it's not surprising that we are learning new things about him. I work from home, and when gone, there are 3 big dogs here for company - we simply never had any issues with him feeling lonely.  His adoptive mom was retired and was with him the bulk of the time, but nobody can be home absolutely all the time, and he did have difficulties when left alone.  Though we never had any accidents in our home, he apparently had them most of the time when his mom was gone, and she chose to deal with it by providing him with a potty pad, which he totally respected.  Given that he is a very small, as well as a smart dog, that was a very workable solution for them.  When he returned to us, he also started having accidents when we left the house, which surprised me, though maybe it shouldn't have - he had gone through a lot of change.  Though I'm still on my toes about it, I'm happy to say that he has not had any for the past week.  I too am home most of the time, but I think the main difference is that he has a lot of company when we are gone, and he has bonded very tightly with my 3 dogs again.   Because of that, I do feel that not only will he need a family where someone is home more often that not, but I also feel he will need another dog in the home.  He doesn't play, but he thrives in the company of my dogs (and yes, there are 3 dogs sleeping in a row in the 2nd picture!) 

So - now for the good stuff!   Wilson returned to us completely UTD, newly groomed,  and with a car load of his personal belongings.  RAGOM dogs always go in for an initial vet check, and he passed with flying colors and was started on his seasonal preventatives. He weighed in at 40#, so still is a wee little bundle of energy. If you've read his bio from the beginning, you'll note that his age was initially stated to be 13, and we've switched it to 11.  None of us every believed he was anywhere near 13 (look at my old video above, and believe me, things haven't changed a bit!), and that was just a guess by a prior shelter.  His adoptive mom vetted him regularly, and that vet put him at 10 or 11 maximum.  When I brought him to the vet, they said he was somewhere over 9, nowhere near 13, but maybe around 10-11. Nobody knows for sure, and he can't tell us, but that is just going to be our best guess.

He is back to being what I consider the true essence of Wilson - always smiley, slightly silly, and above all else, totally devoted to his humans. Wilson still LOVES to walk, and still dances and prances when the leash comes out. We typically do about 2+ miles per day, but my husband has done 3-4 miles with him on the weekends, and he can do that just fine too.   It will be extremely important that Wilson go to a home that will consistently walk him, as that is one of his great pleasures in life - just playing outside in a fenced yard will not be enough for him.  His excitement when it's walk time just makes me laugh, and if you're someone that enjoys walking, you will totally enjoy doing it with Wilson.

Like any wonderful dog that is a bit older, once Wilson is done with his exercise, he  contentedly curls up right at my feet for a nice, long snooze.  Even better, if you happen to be on the couch, that's where he prefers to be, and he will edge as close as he possibly can be.   He sleeps like a rock all through the night, and since we get up kind of early around here, we often have to wake him up to get him moving for the day.  He came with a nice, big bed from his adoptive mom, and sleeps on that right next to my side of the bed.    This leads to Wilson's next need in his forever home - he will need to go to a family that has no problems with him being on the furniture, and he will also need to be able to sleep in the bedroom next to his people. 

His manners are terrific, and he is as obedient as they come.  He's also a very bright dog, and you'll immediately notice his intelligent, sparkling eyes - they're a real attention grabber. He knows how to sit, lie down, and shake, and for all I know, there might be a few more tricks out there. I do think he might be a bit hard of hearing, but I'm not sure whether that is selective hearing yet or not.  He loves car rides, and he loves treats! As stated above, he is awesome with other dogs, and we've had no trouble with big, small, or all sizes in between on all of our walks.  I do not know how he is around cats, and will get him cat tested.  Kids are still a bit of an open area for me, and I will need to explore that a bit further. He lived a fairly quiet life for the past year, and lives a relatively quiet one here, so I'm just not sure how much commotion he would be comfortable with, but we'll try to get that figured out.

Wilson will be making his return appearance at Brooklyn Park this upcoming Saturday 4/11  from 11-1! If you're free, please come out to meet him, as well as all the other great RAGOM dogs that will be at the event!   He'll be the adorable little guy that is more than happy to offer you his paw for a treat!

Original Bio (2/8/2014):

Meet Wilson, the petite golden mix who doesn’t know he’s 13 years old! We’ve discovered so many positives about this guy. He loves to go for a walk or ride in the car and is always ready for either one. I walk him with a flat collar and he sets a good pace. We’ve only been walking ½-1 mile. I think he can do more. He loves to be outside and isn’t bothered by the snow and cold. An excellent car passenger, he sits in the back seat and looks out the window and jumps in and out of the car on his own. Wilson goes up and down stairs without problem. Meeting the two smallish dogs next door at the 4-foot chain link fence is fun, he says. Our small resident dog (RD) and Wilson get along just fine and will share a dog bed. Wilson respects her signals that she doesn’t play. Wilson knows sit (he sits quickly), shake and down and takes treats gently. No inappropriate chewing or counter surfing. He’s taken a Kleenex out of a small wastebasket and dropped it when asked: solution – wastebasket no longer in reach. He follows me room to room and will lie nearby until we move elsewhere. In the morning, if he wakes up before I’m ready he puts his chin on my bed, and then goes back to his bed with a sigh and waits. Wilson got a clean bill of health from the vet, except for a mild-moderate elevation of one liver enzyme. The vet says this is non-specific and often seen in older dogs, no further testing needed. His other liver enzymes, kidney function and the rest of his blood work were all normal. Wilson takes no medications. He’s not shown interest in any toys or balls.

Wilson had 2 pee accidents within 24 hours of arriving. I figure any dog that traveled 11 hours in 6 or 7 cars gets a free pass at first! He didn’t eliminate in the house for the first few days (we were home with him), then for several days he did pee and left 2 poos when we started leaving him and RD home alone. This stopped after those few days – seems he was adapting to our schedule and the changes in his life. So I’d say he’s housebroken but may revert to some accidents with stress and change. He ‘holds it’ overnight for 8-10 hours and goes to the back door when he wants to go out. He’s had free roam here. We’re acclimating him to a kennel so that can be an option also.

Wilson was surrendered to a shelter in Missouri when his owner was unable to care for him due to her own health issues. She’d had him for 5 weeks after getting him from a family member’s friend. He waited in a foster home in Missouri until he got a ride to MN. (A big THANKS to RAGOM and PAWS transporters!)

Wilson will do best in an adult only (or maybe older teens) home and with “mellow’ dogs. His paperwork said he “doesn’t like energetic dogs in his face, but not aggressive”. We’ve not seen him with such a dog. When he meets the neighbor dogs nose to nose through the fence all tails are wagging, no barking. Our RD mostly “co-exists” with any other dog in our house so she and Wilson are getting along. At the vet he did not like being held/restrained around his face for procedures. Vet reported no nipping or snapping, but he was skittish and wanted to be released. It will be best for him not to receive sudden hugs or squeezes to his face and to be in a home where other dogs respect his “face space”. We regularly care for our infant granddaughter and Wilson gets excited and bouncy at the sound of her cries. He’s approached with tail wagging and soft mouth and wanted to ‘mouth’ her. While we can manage this, it’s not his ideal situation, and we don’t want to stress him. So Wilson will be moving soon to another RAGOM foster home – more to come as his journey continues.

   

At a Glance #14-026

Mixed Breed Born: January 2004
Male Weight not specified

Status: Adopted

Profile

Sponsored by:

Anonymous
"Best Wishes to the Cutest Little Dog in Ragom Land."


 

"Best wishes." -Anonymous

"Loving fan!" -Mary R

"Greetings from your friend, Brie." -Sandy M

"With love and best wishes from Beau 14-117." -Ann M


In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 3/20/2015 Optional Age 8 +  Optional. but preferred Not tested 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

 

4/7/2015:

I would like to re-introduce you to our very special boy, who re-joined his prior RAGOM family on 3/20/15.  Wilson was adopted by an absolutely wonderful woman approximately one year ago, and she gave him the life that all foster families dream of for their foster dogs. He was loved, cherished, and spoiled absolutely rotten, and as much as she gave to him, I'm sure he gave her every single bit in return. Unfortunately, her health took a turn for the worse, and she was no longer able to care for sweet Wilson.  She and her family made the very difficult decision to return him to RAGOM, and my heart just aches, knowing how hard it was for her to do this.  I want to assure her that we love her boy as much as we ever did, and that he will remain with us until we find him the home that is just right for him.

I have so much to say about him that it's hard to know where to start!  Wilson and I have been very good for each other these past two weeks. He was very sad when he returned to my home, and I could tell he missed his mom and everything about his life with her. So many times each day, he'd look at me with that adorable little face, and seemed to be asking, "don't you know what we do now, lady?"  On my part, I was grieving the loss of my prior foster, Red 14-202, the "Old Pirate," and wasn't sure if I could open my heart to another foster dog right away. However, it didn't take long for our family to realize that if Wilson was going to come back, he was most certainly going to come back here!

Though things have really turned the corner now, Wilson did struggle when he was first returned to us, and any new family will need to know that it might take him a similar period of time to adjust to their home.   Instead of being the silly, smiley boy that I remembered, he was very sad and flat.  He didn't want to eat, and spent a lot of time quietly observing all of us - which we just let him do, until he felt safe again.   We've also learned through his adoptive family that he did struggle with some separation issues.  Wilson was not in foster care with us very long the first time around, so it's not surprising that we are learning new things about him. I work from home, and when gone, there are 3 big dogs here for company - we simply never had any issues with him feeling lonely.  His adoptive mom was retired and was with him the bulk of the time, but nobody can be home absolutely all the time, and he did have difficulties when left alone.  Though we never had any accidents in our home, he apparently had them most of the time when his mom was gone, and she chose to deal with it by providing him with a potty pad, which he totally respected.  Given that he is a very small, as well as a smart dog, that was a very workable solution for them.  When he returned to us, he also started having accidents when we left the house, which surprised me, though maybe it shouldn't have - he had gone through a lot of change.  Though I'm still on my toes about it, I'm happy to say that he has not had any for the past week.  I too am home most of the time, but I think the main difference is that he has a lot of company when we are gone, and he has bonded very tightly with my 3 dogs again.   Because of that, I do feel that not only will he need a family where someone is home more often that not, but I also feel he will need another dog in the home.  He doesn't play, but he thrives in the company of my dogs (and yes, there are 3 dogs sleeping in a row in the 2nd picture!) 

So - now for the good stuff!   Wilson returned to us completely UTD, newly groomed,  and with a car load of his personal belongings.  RAGOM dogs always go in for an initial vet check, and he passed with flying colors and was started on his seasonal preventatives. He weighed in at 40#, so still is a wee little bundle of energy. If you've read his bio from the beginning, you'll note that his age was initially stated to be 13, and we've switched it to 11.  None of us every believed he was anywhere near 13 (look at my old video above, and believe me, things haven't changed a bit!), and that was just a guess by a prior shelter.  His adoptive mom vetted him regularly, and that vet put him at 10 or 11 maximum.  When I brought him to the vet, they said he was somewhere over 9, nowhere near 13, but maybe around 10-11. Nobody knows for sure, and he can't tell us, but that is just going to be our best guess.

He is back to being what I consider the true essence of Wilson - always smiley, slightly silly, and above all else, totally devoted to his humans. Wilson still LOVES to walk, and still dances and prances when the leash comes out. We typically do about 2+ miles per day, but my husband has done 3-4 miles with him on the weekends, and he can do that just fine too.   It will be extremely important that Wilson go to a home that will consistently walk him, as that is one of his great pleasures in life - just playing outside in a fenced yard will not be enough for him.  His excitement when it's walk time just makes me laugh, and if you're someone that enjoys walking, you will totally enjoy doing it with Wilson.

Like any wonderful dog that is a bit older, once Wilson is done with his exercise, he  contentedly curls up right at my feet for a nice, long snooze.  Even better, if you happen to be on the couch, that's where he prefers to be, and he will edge as close as he possibly can be.   He sleeps like a rock all through the night, and since we get up kind of early around here, we often have to wake him up to get him moving for the day.  He came with a nice, big bed from his adoptive mom, and sleeps on that right next to my side of the bed.    This leads to Wilson's next need in his forever home - he will need to go to a family that has no problems with him being on the furniture, and he will also need to be able to sleep in the bedroom next to his people. 

His manners are terrific, and he is as obedient as they come.  He's also a very bright dog, and you'll immediately notice his intelligent, sparkling eyes - they're a real attention grabber. He knows how to sit, lie down, and shake, and for all I know, there might be a few more tricks out there. I do think he might be a bit hard of hearing, but I'm not sure whether that is selective hearing yet or not.  He loves car rides, and he loves treats! As stated above, he is awesome with other dogs, and we've had no trouble with big, small, or all sizes in between on all of our walks.  I do not know how he is around cats, and will get him cat tested.  Kids are still a bit of an open area for me, and I will need to explore that a bit further. He lived a fairly quiet life for the past year, and lives a relatively quiet one here, so I'm just not sure how much commotion he would be comfortable with, but we'll try to get that figured out.

Wilson will be making his return appearance at Brooklyn Park this upcoming Saturday 4/11  from 11-1! If you're free, please come out to meet him, as well as all the other great RAGOM dogs that will be at the event!   He'll be the adorable little guy that is more than happy to offer you his paw for a treat!

Original Bio (2/8/2014):

Meet Wilson, the petite golden mix who doesn’t know he’s 13 years old! We’ve discovered so many positives about this guy. He loves to go for a walk or ride in the car and is always ready for either one. I walk him with a flat collar and he sets a good pace. We’ve only been walking ½-1 mile. I think he can do more. He loves to be outside and isn’t bothered by the snow and cold. An excellent car passenger, he sits in the back seat and looks out the window and jumps in and out of the car on his own. Wilson goes up and down stairs without problem. Meeting the two smallish dogs next door at the 4-foot chain link fence is fun, he says. Our small resident dog (RD) and Wilson get along just fine and will share a dog bed. Wilson respects her signals that she doesn’t play. Wilson knows sit (he sits quickly), shake and down and takes treats gently. No inappropriate chewing or counter surfing. He’s taken a Kleenex out of a small wastebasket and dropped it when asked: solution – wastebasket no longer in reach. He follows me room to room and will lie nearby until we move elsewhere. In the morning, if he wakes up before I’m ready he puts his chin on my bed, and then goes back to his bed with a sigh and waits. Wilson got a clean bill of health from the vet, except for a mild-moderate elevation of one liver enzyme. The vet says this is non-specific and often seen in older dogs, no further testing needed. His other liver enzymes, kidney function and the rest of his blood work were all normal. Wilson takes no medications. He’s not shown interest in any toys or balls.

Wilson had 2 pee accidents within 24 hours of arriving. I figure any dog that traveled 11 hours in 6 or 7 cars gets a free pass at first! He didn’t eliminate in the house for the first few days (we were home with him), then for several days he did pee and left 2 poos when we started leaving him and RD home alone. This stopped after those few days – seems he was adapting to our schedule and the changes in his life. So I’d say he’s housebroken but may revert to some accidents with stress and change. He ‘holds it’ overnight for 8-10 hours and goes to the back door when he wants to go out. He’s had free roam here. We’re acclimating him to a kennel so that can be an option also.

Wilson was surrendered to a shelter in Missouri when his owner was unable to care for him due to her own health issues. She’d had him for 5 weeks after getting him from a family member’s friend. He waited in a foster home in Missouri until he got a ride to MN. (A big THANKS to RAGOM and PAWS transporters!)

Wilson will do best in an adult only (or maybe older teens) home and with “mellow’ dogs. His paperwork said he “doesn’t like energetic dogs in his face, but not aggressive”. We’ve not seen him with such a dog. When he meets the neighbor dogs nose to nose through the fence all tails are wagging, no barking. Our RD mostly “co-exists” with any other dog in our house so she and Wilson are getting along. At the vet he did not like being held/restrained around his face for procedures. Vet reported no nipping or snapping, but he was skittish and wanted to be released. It will be best for him not to receive sudden hugs or squeezes to his face and to be in a home where other dogs respect his “face space”. We regularly care for our infant granddaughter and Wilson gets excited and bouncy at the sound of her cries. He’s approached with tail wagging and soft mouth and wanted to ‘mouth’ her. While we can manage this, it’s not his ideal situation, and we don’t want to stress him. So Wilson will be moving soon to another RAGOM foster home – more to come as his journey continues.

   

Updates

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

It is with tremendous regret that I share the news of the passing of my little Wilson. As I am unable to say those words without tears rolling down my face, I was going to keep this short, and share only one last beautiful picture of him. But then I realized what an incredible last week he had, and I know that he has many admirers who would love to share in his final days.

On Saturday 9/12, Wilson and many other RAGOM dogs were on the KARE 11 morning show to publicize Goldzilla the very next day. He seemed to know how important this was, as he was even bouncier that morning, and his eyes had an extra special twinkle in them. His foster brother, Bear, attended with him, and he got to meet a darling little RAGOM adopted girl, who actually made him look big, and she seriously could have been his twin. It was then time to show our stuff on local news, and he and the rest of the dogs just had a ball! This was just a fabulous opportunity, and we were thrilled to be a part of it!

 

Sunday 9/13 was the big event - GOLDZILLA! Wilson had a great time meeting and greeting all the dogs and special admirers, and also spent some quality time with his sponsor. He did a fantastic job bouncing along the parade route, though he did decide to stop in the middle for a very LONG drink of water! He was also thrilled to receive some pawprints on the Fan Board, and I'd like to extend my deepest thanks to the following for thinking about him: Anonymous; His loving fan, Mary R.; His friend Brie, from Sandy M (thank you, first foster mom!); and finally Beau 14-117, by Ann M.

 

The following week was really no different than most, other than I was having increasing concerns that he really wasn't eating very much. He was still his normal perky self, however, so I tried to not over-fuss, and usually could find something that could get him through the day. On Friday, I loaded up on a ton of different people and dog foods, ready to start the process of finding something that he would truly love to eat. Sadly, we never had the chance to try any of those things.

In what seemed like the passage of a heartbeat, everything changed. On Saturday, he went from simply "not being himself" to being critically ill, all within the course of a few hours. He became even worse during the ride to the vet, and they took one look at him, and immediately shuttled him into a room, putting him on oxygen. His blood levels were precariously low and they were able to determine that once again he had fluid pooling in his abdomen. Then there were those words that we all hate to hear....probable lymphoma or cancer...and my heart just stopped. Though the vet and 2-3 vet techs were with him at all times, there was absolutely nothing that could be done. It was time to say good bye to my precious little boy. I think we all have things we say to our dogs as we are holding them tightly for that last good bye, and there several things I remember whispering to Wilson. I told him that he was truly my boy, that he was "Wilson Nelson," that I'd love him forever, and that I would never forget him. I told him that the next time I saw him, that he'd actually be able to hear my voice. And finally....I told him to go and find that old pirate, Red, as I knew my sweet Red would take care of him and show him the ropes. And with that, he was gone.

It will take time to get over the loss of this precious little boy, as he simply was an unforgettable dog. As a closing note, I'd like to share the picture I mentioned early in this final good bye, as this is how I will always remember Wilson. I can't thank Cindy G. enough for capturing everything this beautiful boy was, all in one single picture. Run free and run with joy, my little one - we'll meet again some day.

 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wilson here!

I know all sorts of people have been worried about me, but I want to let you all know that I'm feeling much better in regards to my tummy issues. I'm still being a bit picky about my food, but it's kind of fun to act not interested, and see what foster mom will try to entice me with next! The other dogs all think it's pretty cool too, because of course she's not going to leave anyone out from at least getting a nibble. I did promise her, however, that I would start eating better soon, as she does seem pretty worried about how skinny I am.

Though my tummy is better, my joints are causing me a bit more of a problem, and I'm pretty stiff, especially when getting up and down. Mom called the vet, and they agreed it was time to increase my pain meds, so hopefully we'll all start seeing a difference soon.

A couple of weeks ago, we went up to this really cool place called "The Farm" that the resident dogs, and some other foster dogs, have been to many times. Wow, was it fun! We got to go for nice, slow walks in the field, and got to just hang out outside more than I ever really get to do. I was really tired by the end of the night, so FM pulled me up on her lap, and we had a nice, long cuddle. The next day, I spent a lot of time just crashed out on the floor napping, but that was fun too!

 

 

  

 

I also went to an event in Edina this past weekend, and there were so many nice people and dogs there! Though I don't think I found my forever home, I'm hoping that some of my other friends maybe did, as they sure were a nice group. My new favorite friend's name is Nina....she's right next to me on the Available Dogs page, and believe me, she's just a really nice dog and very pretty too! She's in the picture below with me, and we enjoyed a good nap together.

 

Foster mom and I will be at Goldzilla this upcoming Sunday, so we'd sure love it if you'd come by to meet us, as well as all of the other wonderful dogs that will be there! It's supposed to be a beautiful day, and we're all getting pretty excited about it around here! Until then....have a great week!

Love, Wilson

 

Friday, August 28, 2015

We've had a lot of questions about how Wilson is doing, so he just wanted to let everyone know that he is doing just great, and regaining a lot of his spunk. He's such a wee little thing and lost even more weight, so we will be doing our best to put some of that back on him. He wasn't wild about his hospital stay, and is much happier being back home, snuggled up against and being taken care of by one of his foster brothers.

Love these boys!

 

Sunday, August 23, 2015

The morning after Wilson wrote his previous update, things changed drastically for him. He seemed "off" almost immediately - he wouldn't eat and he wasn't following me around at all, which is very unusual for Wilson. The next thing I knew, he was vomiting large clumps of blood. I frantically called the vet, and we were on our way in just a few minutes. He was much worse by the time we got there (and it isn't very far away), and I had to carry him into the clinic as well as around for all of his procedures. As little as he is, he isn't a dog that really ever wanted to be carried before, and his limpness was frightening.

To make a very long day short, he was x-rayed, labs were performed, and he was given IV fluids and various meds for the remainder of the day. He was to stay at the vet clinic overnight, as I was leaving town the very next morning (of course). The next morning, his labs had worsened, so he was immediately transferred (thank you, Maria H.!) to another vet clinic for further care, including an ultrasound, and a battery of additional labs. He remained hospitalized for an additional 3 nights, until I was able to spring him this Saturday morning.

He is home now - very quiet and absolutely all big eyes. His working diagnosis is hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Though there can be numerous causes for this, none have seemed to fit him, so it is listed as currently undetermined. It simply could be his age. His x-rays were negative as was his ultrasound. (Though on an interesting side note, he has no spleen...another part of this little guy's past that we'll never learn about.)

He is currently treating with Tramadol, Doxycycline, Sucralfate and straight OTC Omeprazole for his stomach. His prognosis is good and we are relieved beyond belief to have him home.

As you can imagine, his care has been very expensive, and has always been my experience with my senior fosters with RAGOM, nothing was denied him - I am very grateful for that. I'd also like to thank his very generous sponsor, who knew what was going on with him, and jumped right in to donate to help pay for his care. You continue to touch my heart with your non-stop generosity towards our dogs, and I'm honored to have gotten to know you over the past several years. Please come and find us at Goldzilla!

So that's it for now. I'll update as soon as I have more news, but in the meantime, will leave you with a few pictures of my "big-eyed" boy today.

Thank you for following Wilson's story!

 

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Wilson here! As seems to be the case lately, FM is very slow about posting updates for me, so some things a guy just has to do for himself. I am doing great in my foster home, even if I do say so myself, and I think FM and FD would have to agree. No "nips", no accidents, no nothing...I'm just about the easiest little thing ever to have around!

I recently went to the groomer again, and look absolutely tip-top handsome, as you can see in the picture below. The one thing the groomer thought, however, was that I was having a lot of pain in my rear joints, especially my left hip. FM initially wasn't sure, as I've never had any difficulty bouncing up and down the steps at our house, but then she started to think I was being kind of slow about getting up and down from the floor. That - and I just wasn't enjoying my walks the way I used to. So she brought me to the vet the next day, and sure enough, the vet did a thorough exam (can you say ouch?) and thinks I have arthritis, which isn't all that uncommon for a guy of my "unstated" age. She put me on Tramadol two times per day, and I already seem to be feeling a lot better! Plus, I now get to have a pill in peanut butter like the rest of the oldsters in the house, so I feel pretty special.

  

Though I'm definitely a bit perkier, I've changed in regards to my walks. I still get very excited for them and spin in circles and then sit and give my paw (I like doing that, because it makes FM smile every single time), but then I really only like to go for a short stroll up and down the block. The vet suggested that it would be best to have several short walks each day versus longer ones, and that fits right in with the rest of the geriatric crew around here.

I am still the most loyal of boys and am completely FM's shadow - wherever she is, I'm absolutely right there beside her. Even though I'm completely deaf, I absolutely know when she is moving around as she needs me to protect her at all times. All of that being said, though I am a total Velcro dog, I am not needy at all, and really demand nothing other than to be with you. I really don't like being handled or cuddled or overly coddled, and I don't think I'll ever like my collar being messed with. Only I know why that is and I guess I'm just not able to tell you why, but FM thinks it's because something bad happened to me long ago in my past. She gets kind of sad when she says that and I wish I could let her know that it's ok, that things are so much better since I became a RAGOM boy. Just know that all I want is to be loved, and to be right next to my person.

FM still thinks the best for me would be a home with someone there more often than not, maybe a nice retired family, and one that will bring me on a couple of short walks per day, to keep my joints limber. I also probably should not be in a home with young children as permanent residents, as I do startle rather easily due to my deafness. I will let you know, however, that I sure like meeting the little ones though when I come across them on walks! Finally, though FM will consider someone without dogs, they really seem to be important to me, and I do love being a pack member - not a leader, but just a member that happily follows the rest of the crew.

 

I would still love more than anything to find my very own family, and FM says that we will patiently look until we find one. She does want to keep me, and has told me that many times, but she has also said that she wouldn't be able to help any more dogs if she did that...and she really has a thing for helping RAGOM's senior dogs. Though I wish I could stay, I do understand, and I hope you do too. Sure, I have some quirks, but who doesn't, and if you're patient with me, I'll be all the dog that FM knows that I can be. If you're interested in me, please get a hold of your placement advisor and say you'd like to meet little Wilson - I promise you won't be disappointed. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy the rest of this beautiful summer, and the time spent with my foster family in Apple Valley! 

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Happy Spring to the Golden Seniors from Anonymous  Happy Spring to the Golden Seniors from Anonymous

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July! May you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

With love,

Wilson

 

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Wilson gently reminded me with his cute little paw that we were way past due in providing an update, and he's of course absolutely correct!

He did great with his sitter, Bill M., the early part of June, and acquired a new nickname during his stay - "Sparky." He settled right into their home and immediately became Bill's shadow, following him absolutely everywhere that he could. I laughed when I was told that Wilson even would have gone into the shower had the door been left cracked open, and that is no doubt true, as being a human shadow is absolutely the thing he does best! Bill and his wife do not have another dog, and do feel that he would do fine without one, if the person was home more often than not, and felt that perhaps a retired person or family would be ideal for him. We both also continue to feel, however, that if he is left alone, he needs to be gated into an area (such a mudroom, kitchen, etc) where potential accidents would not be a problem, and he does respect baby gates. A crate does not work for him. My preference would still be for another dog in his forever home, as he is such a pack animal, but will seriously consider a home without another pet, if the situation is the right one for him.

Bill took some beautiful pictures of Wilson, and since they're better than anything I've ever taken, I'd like to share - thank you! 

 

 

Will seems to be over all his bugs and is back to his old perky, goofy self. He still loves his walks, but has now taken on the ways of the other senior boys in the family....they like to dawdle, daydream, and sniff every single piece of grass along the way. The boys now get to walk separately from Princess Belle, and we all seem to be much happier that way. Our neighborhood is fairly busy, and he thrives with any sort of attention, and I've yet to see him meet any person or dog with anything other than a tail wag. Good boy, Wilson!

Though Wilson loves it in his foster home, he really would love to find his own forever home. He's unfortunately been bounced around a lot in his little life, but he has come through all of that still as sweet and as loyal as could be. He does not have the typical golden "demanding" personality, and asks for very little other than that he can be by your side, literally at all times. Though we (dogs and people alike) will miss him terribly when he leaves, we all know the best thing for this smiley little guy is to have a family to call his very own. If you're interested in meeting little Will (not to mention the rest of the pack), please contact your placement advisor! We also will be attending upcoming events, so keep an eye on the website!

 

Friday, June 5, 2015

Wilson here! I figured it was time to update you, since my FM sure is taking her good old time about doing it!

First off, she and I would like to thank the wonderful person that donated to the senior dogs of RAGOM. FM thinks we seniors are particularly special, so she was very touched and grateful for the gift - and so am I! Even though we are obviously the best dogs out there, we sometimes require a great deal of medical care, and it's due to the generosity of people like our anonymous donor that allows RAGOM to keep taking us in and caring for us!

I totally recovered from my nasty kennel cough, but then came down with a tummy bug that made me not feel very good - FM and my favorite brother, Nugget, felt so sorry for me! Off we went to that nice vet again, and I was down to 36#, which is even small for a little guy like me! After some medicines and a whole lot of burger and rice, I can now say that I am 100% recovered (but please don't tell FM that, as I'm afraid she's going to cut off the good stuff and put me back on kibble!)

I still spend my days and nights glued to FM or the other dogs, and I especially love it when she works, as I just hang out under her desk, keeping her company. It's my job to make sure she doesn't get lonely, plus I do a really good job of keeping her feet warm. When I get tired of just sitting around, I let her know I want something by looking at her just like this, and it sure does work!

I still love my walks, though I'm a bit slower after my recent "bugs." It's ok, though, as the other 2 senior dudes in the house like to sniff every blade of grass too, and we clearly outnumber our pack leader, Belle, who'd prefer to pull FM's arm off. FM still gets an incredible amount of pleasure out of how I sit and give her my little paw when the leash comes out, so I'll keep doing that, just to keep her happy.

I've also become quite adept at taking pictures in my spare time, so thought I'd share my recent "selfie" with Nugget! We've decided that we're a whole lot better looking than the typical "goldens" in the house - don't you agree?

FM and FD are going on a vacation next week, so I get to stay with a terrific RAGOM foster, and am sure that I will have a ton of stories when they return home! Thanks for continuing to read up on me, and please remember that I continue to look for my very own forever home. I am a really happy boy here, and am very loved, but I do really want a special place to call my own. I still have a whole lot of life and love in me, and if you think you're the family for me, please let your placement advisor know, and we can talk when FM gets back into town!

Love, Wilson

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Time just seems to pass so quickly, and I realized that I hadn't posted an update on our sweet boy for quite some time - so sorry! Wilson is such an easy little dog to care for and love, and we've totally enjoyed having him back in our home. He's a quiet, but very social dog, and has loved meeting people and other dogs at our foster events. Below are pictures of him hanging out with his new friend, Chandler 14-292, and also sporting his nifty little red kerchief!

 

Another dog continues to be a necessity in Wilson's forever home, as we see every single day how important a "pack" is to him. He's not the leader by any means, and happily follows the lead of the other dogs in the house. Any anxiety he might have felt upon being left alone has totally disappeared, as he's never truly alone.

   

Wilson sadly spent the past few weeks fighting a nasty case of kennel cough, and the poor little guy was pretty miserable. I'm thrilled to say (for more reasons than one!) that he is now completely over it, and is getting back to being the spunky little Willie that we know and love. We had to be out of town for a weekend during the period when he was sick, and I'd really like to thank MJ for the loving care she provided him while we were gone. He went on lots of little walks, and she shared a picture below of him enjoying some well deserved rest after helping with yard work!

Though I would love to keep Wilson in our home forever, he really deserves a family of his own, and I've promised him that he won't leave until his perfect match is found - and I know it will be. He's sweet, gentle, beyond loyal, and is also a terrific size (38#) for someone who would perhaps love to have a smaller dog. He does need a family where someone his home more often than not, though he can definitely tolerate extended periods on an occasional basis. He doesn't need a fenced yard, and does great on a tether while outside. He does get jittery around the movements of very young children, so it would be best if he were in a home with kids that are a bit older. I do think he also might be deaf (though sometimes I think it might just be selective!) so care will always need to be taken not to startle him. A dog of any size is a must, and every single dog we've met has immediately become his best friend. I love this little dog with my whole heart, and it will be so hard to let him go, but I know there is a family out there looking for a dog exactly like him.

Thank you for following his story!

 

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Hi, everyone! Wilson here, though I have to tell you, I sure seem to have a lot of different names! FM calls me Willie all the time, as that's what my adoptive mom called me, so that makes me feel kind of good! FD is kind of a funny guy, and he has now taken to calling me William. William? Well, it's a very nice name and I don't really mind at all, since all I have to do is come to him when he calls me that, and he'll give me a treat and act all proud of himself! And today, I got to go and play at this really neat doggy daycare place, just in case I ever need to go there, and they called me Willie Nelson, and wow, did they think they were funny!

Anyway, I went to the event in Brooklyn Park last weekend, and it sure was fun! I was kind of quiet at times, as there were really a lot of people and everyone wanted to pet me. Well who wouldn't - have you seen how cute I am? But then I decided it pretty fun and I got to meet all sorts of nice people and dogs! As you know, I'm a very smart dog, so I am including several pictures of my adventures at the meet and greet. In the first one, I'm meeting a really nice dog who was looking for a sister. Well, I'm obviously not a sister, but it was still fun giving her a kiss! In the second picture, a really nice little girl made blankets for our boarded dogs, and I was so appreciative of that, that I gave her a kiss too! Next, there's just a picture of ME, looking as cute as ever - now can you see why everybody wanted to pet me? Finally, the last picture is of me, meeting almost 15 year old Yukon, who was just coming back into RAGOM. I let him know that everything would be ok, and that he was going to be fostered by just a super foster dad! I was almost afraid that FM would steal him and bring him home with us, but luckily I pulled her away before she could do that.

 

  

FM says it's her turn to talk, but I very sweetly told her that she could wait until next time. Until then, I'll be attending the event in Edina this upcoming Saturday, 4/18 from 12-2, and would just love to meet you!!

 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Wilson wants everyone to know that he is resting up in preparation for the big event at the Brooklyn Park Petco today!  Come out to meet Wilson and all the other great dogs from 11-1 pm! see you there! 

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Wilson here! I'd like to thank all the wonderful people that came out to the Chuck and Don's in Edina last weekend! It was my premier performance, and if I have to say so myself, I did absolutely great!  I was great with adults, I was great with kids, I was great with dogs, and I was especially great when people wanted to give me treats!  I can hardly wait until the next event!

So, the first question that a lot of people asked me at the event was "what type of dog are you?"  I think it's pretty obvious - I'm a cute dog.  Any more questions?  Well, I suppose if you want to know a bit more, the groomer thought I was maybe a mixture of Golden Retriever,  American Eskimo, and maybe something else.  I don't know if that's much help, but it's the best I can give you, unless foster mom quits being a cheapskate and gets me a DNA test. 

The next question was "how old are you?"  Well, that's not as easy of a question to answer as you'd think.  It took me quite a few steps to come into RAGOM, and somewhere along the way, someone said I was 13. WHAT???  And even worse, do you want to know what was reported by some  other person in my paperwork? They said I was "inconclusively old."   All right, now I'm really offended. New foster mom says that I'm about the youngest 13 year old she has ever had the pleasure to meet, and old foster mom said that my name was "Wilson - my age is just a number", and they both know exactly what they are talking about. I am full of bounce and life, I LOVE my daily walks, and I hop up and down from foster mom's SUV with no problem whatsoever.  Foster mom took this little video of me, just to give you an idea of how revved up I get for walks!  Watch it and enjoy, and then new foster mom says it's her turn to talk!

Wilson's video

Wilson's new foster mom here, and we are enjoying every single second with this boy!  He is fun, he is sweet, and he ranks right up there as the easiest foster I've ever had.  I label him as "move in ready", as he settled in here with barely a blink of an eye. His favorite thing to do is go for walks, and he literally starts spinning in circles when the leash comes out.  However, though he has more than enough energy to spare, he does that one lovely thing that only senior dogs seem to do...when the day is done, he cuddles up into a little ball by the side of my bed, and sleeps soundly through the night.  He's also great about cuddling up into that little ball when you want to watch TV, read, get some work done, etc., and you simply have to tell him to "lie down."  He's a delight, this one!  

He has had no accidents in our house, though I do work from home, and send all the dogs out several times during the day.  We do not have a fence, but he is doing great on a long lead, and I would have expect that this smart little boy could be taught boundaries very easily.  He has free roam, and frankly, I do not want to see him in a situation where he would have to be in a crate.

Though the main purpose of the video was to give you an idea as to how "young" our boy is, my other purpose was to show you how well he gets along with other dogs.  His prior paperwork indicated that he did not like larger dogs getting into his face, and though maybe somebody saw something that I haven't seen,  there was a whole lot of crashing and bashing going on in that video, and he had no problems whatsoever. He also did great with dogs at the event, has done well with other dogs that we meet on walks, and is getting along fabulously with his 3 foster siblings, Belle, Bear, and Nugget. 

Look for my sweet boy at upcoming events, as he had a blast at his first event, and really loves the treats, kisses, and attention. I'm already completely in love with this boy, which is no great surprise to those who know me, as I just can't seem to help but provide a home for senior male dogs. His forever home needs someone who is willing to bring him on walks (as he loves them!), someone who maybe wouldn't mind bringing him on errands, as he does love car rides, and most importantly, he needs someone who just wants a whole lot of love and companionship. Wilson has a whole lot to give, and deserves his very own forever family.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Hi, everyone!  It's me, Wilson!  I didn't want everyone to forget about me, so wanted to let you all know that I'm now living in my new foster home in Apple Valley!  The beauty of a senior dog like me is that I literally settled into my new home  in no time flat! I now have 3 large-sized foster siblings to play with, and my new foster mom works from home, so she is here with me almost all the time!   I miss my old foster family so much, and thank them for taking such awesome care of me, but it's much better for me to be in a place without young children around.  New foster mom is going to write a more detailed update in a couple of days (she's kind of wordy, so look out) , but I wanted to let everyone know that I will be at Chuck and Don's in Edina from 1-3 this Saturday 3/8!  Please come out to see me, as I'm fresh off a new grooming job, and I look FABULOUS!!   I love people, and I love to give kisses, and if you're not careful, all 38# of me will more than likely end up on your lap!  Hope to see you there!

Love and kisses,