Willow 13-137 [1]

Beautiful Willow joined my household a mere 5 days ago. With her sweet disposition, trusting eyes, and playful spirit, it already feels like we’ve known each other forever. It likely won’t be long until some lucky family/person will feel like I do, like I won the Golden Retriever lottery!

Willow is a gorgeous, purebred, 8-year-old sweetie, who is reddish in color and weighs about 70 pounds. Prior to moving to the big city, Willow enjoyed many happy years as a momma dog at a farm located in a tranquil rural setting. One of her first challenges was getting acclimated to all the sounds that come with metro living. Hearing neighbors on the other side of the 6 foot fence, sirens, and most noticeably planes overhead, initially gave her a start. But now Willow takes those sounds in stride.

Willow has a general wellness vet appointment scheduled for May 31, and her spay surgery is set for June 8. Therefore it will be a few weeks before she will officially be available for adoption. Coincidentally, some of Willow’s vaccines expire in early June, so the timing is perfect for this otherwise healthy and up-to-date Golden love.

While Willow enjoyed very comfy surroundings in her former life, now that she has retired, this is her first opportunity to be a full-time house dog. Many things, like stairs and carpet, are new and different for Willow now that she lives in a house. I admire her can-do attitude, though. It usually takes just a little gentle encouragement for Willow to give something a try. In just a few days, I’ve seen Willow go from relaxing by herself in the hall, to joining me on the floor in the living room, to now seeking out her very own doggy pillow set out for her enjoyment. And I am happy to report that she receives an A- for her top-notch potty training efforts (remember, Willow did not live inside a house until now). Just one accident so far, which in hindsight was more my fault than Willow’s.

This weekend Willow had her first bath while in foster care, and she loved it. At first I had to coax her a bit, and did so simply by standing in the tub and asking her to “come by me.” Smart girl Willow jumped right in (and stayed in even after I exited the tub). I have quickly learned that affection is the driver for pretty much everything in Willow’s life. If she can get close enough to you to be petted/scratched/caressed, she is a happy girl.

This first week has been all about getting to know Willow and helping her acclimate to her new life. We have been taking it slow, and I do not have the most complete sense of the ideal adoption situation for Miss Willow yet. She has done really well adjusting to the basics at my quiet, one-person household, and I have a feeling that she would thrive in multi-person and multi-dog households as well. Willow has been around children and other dogs at her previous residence. She is super easygoing, affectionate with a capital A, and a very good listener. Willow will be available for adoption a few weeks AFTER her spay surgery scheduled for June 8.