Zane 13-171 [1]

June 29, 2013
We are so happy to welcome Zane to Ragom and are thrilled to be part of the beginning of his new life. He is 3.5 years old, only about 60 pounds, and a complete bundle of love!  Zane came to us from the same South Dakota puppy where he spent his life as many of our other RAGOM dogs - Izzy, Ruby, Jewel, Missy, Tia, Juno, Paris and at least 20 others.  When the original rescue was done in December, one of our volunteers saw Zane in a kennel nearby to some of the dogs we were able to rescue at that time.  She put her fingers through the narrow kennel bars and as he licked her fingers and wagged his tail, she said "I will be back for you.  I promise."  With incredible heartbreak, he had to be left behind.  Almost 6 months later, the promise came true and Zane is now in our care.  Luckily for him, he got to spend his first week here with Denise, the volunteer who made that promise - what an incredible reunion!!! Zane is truly the most surprising fosters we have had.  Looking at where he came from, we expected many of the typical puppy mill behaviors - fear, skittishness, etc.  Not so for our boy.  Based on his demeanor, you would never know his background.  He is a complete and total people lover - follows me everywhere; jumps on laps for some loving, and greets every visitor to the house with a smile (and  jump - which are working on!).  He just makes us smile constantly with his incredible "love of life" attitude.  He is not afraid of anything in our house or of loud noises outside (he was a little hesitant of the lawn mower, but just hung with the other resident goldens on the deck and watched me); has not had one accident, can do free roam of the house and is fine in a kennel if he needs to be.  He truly is absolutely perfect.  Perhaps his most defining characteristic at this point, is his total and complete tennis ball obsession.   Next to his humans, balls are his favorite thing (and maybe they even trump humans and we are just loved because we have the arms to throw the balls!!!)  He walks around with a ball in his mouth at all times, sleeps with one or two by him, and gathers them all around him when he takes a nap (because who knows when one his humans may feel the need to throw it for him and he wants to make sure that he is accommodating that need!)  When we do feel urge and take him out for some fetch, he is amazing - he is like an energizer bunny and will go forever - however, once we call it quits (usually when my arm is about to fall off!), he will come in right away, gulp down some water and relax for a bit.  Someone, at some point in his life (which makes me think that maybe, prior to his puppy mill days, he was a loved family member) taught him to fetch - he brings it back and drops it right away and sits, when asked, until you throw it again.I really cannot say enough great things about this boy.  He is going to make some family incredibly happy.  Please keep in mind that since he is from a puppy mill, RAGOM does have the requirements that he must go to a home with another confident dog and no young children (although he has been exposed to so many and he loves them all).  We did remove the absolute requirement of a fence, and I am still not sure about this one.  Zane loves to run, but I truly believe that it you were always armed with a tennis ball and called his name and he saw it, he would come running from anywhere!  We really love this guy are so excited to help him find his perfect forever home.