Gus (Christian 09-254) [1]

Sponsored by: Dennis & Joanne M.

We welcomed Christian to our family late on a Sunday.  He came a long way to be with us and thanks once again to JH and SG for all they do for transporting these great fosters to us safely here in Sioux Falls, SD! 

First on this boy:

v  Christian is a Puppy Mill dog

v  Christian is approximately 8 years old

v  Christian is a male, un-neutered breeding dog (until  this Friday)

v  Christian is heart worm positive

v  Christian is a Purebred Golden Retriever who weighs about 77#

v  Christian is a beautiful golden in color

What Christian will need:

v  Christian will need a home with a fence

v  Christian will need a home with another dog(s)

v  Lots of love and patience

The Story so far:

Christian traveled good coming to us (for several hours and with another dog).  Christian from the beginning is a sweetheart.  Again, he is a breeding stud dog from a puppy mill who is heartworm positive.  A very sad and terrible situation.  Christian came in with a breeding female, Sinda 09-253 (PM of course as well) from this mill place.  So now this magnificent dog is here with us for foster-care and heartworm treatment.  When he came he smelled horrible.  Of course he was an outside dog, not bathed, very dirty ears, bad mouth (which really adds to the smell) so all around, pew.  Christian has symptoms of a PM dog but not horrible.  He does want to ‘pace and pace’ which makes sense from his past.  We are already getting better with that.  He and our pack, which included 3 resident dogs (golden, corgi and border collie) and 3 cats, are just fine.  Total harmony.  Christian is perfect and respecting of the animals.  So there really has not had to be adjustment(s) in that area at all.  Even at feeding time.  Amazing.  So yes, Christian will definitely need “pals’ in his forever home.  They are very comforting to him.  He totally ignores the cats and the cats are not scared at all.  Bonus points in ‘this’ home!  He enjoys of course being outside and we walk around the backyard, sniff but he will make sure you are not far away.  The little bit I have walked with this boy, he is a total dream.  Stays right next to you on your left side.  This is the sad part of course once we get the HW treatment this Friday the 27th then he will not be able to be walked for a while due to the way this disease is treated. 

I have to say this is one magnificent boy.  Totally beautiful, gentle, dependant, sweet, perfect golden size.  I cannot say enough what a grand boy he is.  Yes, you can tell he is a PM boy, again not severe, but you can also tell he is your typical golden retriever, (I want to be by you all the time!). He is insecure of course.  He has a very gentle mouth and demeanor.  We are now learning, probably for the first time ever, in a home learning all the new sounds and things that are in a home.  He had fun looking in a floor-length mirror, that was so cute.  Didn’t quite get it but thought it was someone he knew and he just stared for a few seconds.  Went back to see if it looked the same a few seconds later.  Funny.  He is doing very well with the doorways, again, that is where another dog is huge of course.  Follow the leader.  He is not sure what to do once he is out there, so I go with him and he really loves the outside.  Again, you will see pacing along the fence in wondering what he is to do next.  There are no potty training issues that we have experienced at all.  He goes outside just fine.  He follows you everywhere inside.  Making sure he is right by you.  He is just today, relaxing and laying by me.  This behavior I feel in him will come easy in time, it will be the trust part he will really need to learn and that is just patience and schedule.  Currently, Christian is in a large (big) crate in our kitchen (right by where all the traffic is---kitchen and family room, library and front door) so a good central place.  He is in his crate while I go to work (4-5 hours) and then is always out by us.  He does sleep in there at night as well.  He feels secure once he is in the crate.  He is not really interested in toy or bones yet as I do not think he knows what they are.  He seems fine when I return from work and happy in the morning.  Crate stays clean.  He is quiet all night.  He goes out in the morning with the troops and potties, comes back in and eats fine with everyone. 

We had an initial vet check and GROOM yesterday.  Wow, we really needed the grooming!!  Talk about a total change!  Our groomer did a super job and this boy has one wonderful coat, perfect size and just awesome.  The groomer said he was scared (worried) in the tub and wanted to just lay down and soak (which they did).  He does not growl (I cannot imagine he does at all) nor bark. He was just worried more than anything.  Got through just fine.  As I sit here and type, he is sure curious about the ‘sounds’ which come out of the TV, again, so cute.........time and patience.  I think it is actually becoming comforting for him. (sounds).   He has no problems with flooring or sudden noises.  Just curious.  Sometimes there may be a sound or noise which can startle him for a second, and then he is fine.  Now at the vet.  He weighed in at 77#, just right.  His teeth are horrible, we did do a HW test and X-ray.  Christian is not neutered yet either.  He behaves great with the vet.  No bad panting or drooling.  He did the HW test and turned positive right away; the chest X-ray did not look bad.  So we are not talking a real severe case of heart worm which was great news.  His teeth really need help....a lot of bacteria, tartar, chipping and bad breath.  Christian is current on all shots and is microchipped.  Again, he behaved great.  He did not want to take a soft treat as I feel he was still ‘worried’ and unsure.  His mouth is sore and now he is on clavomox antibiotic for  infection.  We have otomax for his ears but they were not horrible......really bad outside but way inside, not bad.  His hips and everything else are great.  This dog does not act nor certainly does not look 8.  Not sure that is accurate but what we are told, born in 2001.  All other tests are good for him.  Christian is not sure about getting into a vehicle.  I first lift his front feet on the floor followed by lifting the rear.  He is fine once he is in but this is totally unfamiliar to him.  This will take practice and confident once again so he knows it is safe and a good thing!  

This Friday the June 27th, Christian is scheduled for the following: 

A dental, neuter and HW injection/treatment.  So Friday will be a real tough day for our boy.  He will go in the morning and with no complication(s) will come home that evening.  He will require a lot of rest of course and monitoring for any side effects from treatments.  I have fostered previous HW positive goldens with great results.  Vet will do this first injection while under anesthesia (nice for Christian) and in 4 weeks, will get a second one.  This is a disease where a lot of down time, quiet time, no walking or excitement for a few weeks so that the ‘worms’ can break down and pass through the blood stream.  So our job will be to continue to keep him quiet and calm and of course, just continue to love him!  He is in good shape otherwise, and a good blood panel.  Christian will do well I think through all of this.

What is so very difficult is WHY this great boy is the way he is.  First, a ‘mill’ dog which is horrible; second he has heartworm, and third-- so hungry for love and just kept outside for a ‘reason’ as a stud dog.  So Christian, thank goodness, is in rescue and will get the care and treatment he needs.  Again this is huge a team effort with Ragom and also with DONATIONS from you wonderful people out there to help us help these wonderful animals from a horrible, unsafe, dirty, sad life and to get the veterinary care so desperately needed, as well and emotional/physical rescue.  We really need and appreciate that help and generosity. We can’t do it without your help too.

We are hoping for this Friday to be behind us and get on the road for recovery, once and for all.  It is always difficult to be foster mom and know you need to put a magnificent dog through some of these very difficult procedures/tests just after you get them --- you want them to be safe and happy.  It is a real blessing that these goldens don’t base the rest of their ‘stay’ with us on some of the procedures/treatments we need to put the dogs through.  They absorb the love, nurturing and care so much, they move on quickly.  That is why we love what we do.  There will of course be a new update after our surgery and treatment this Friday.  Such a magnificent beautiful boy!!!  He will be fun to photograph a lot.