Thursday, September 20, 2007

He's finally home!!!


Zipon/Warren/Jake/Levi/Dash is finally home - and finally has a name! Dash it is! Ann called me to let me know how well he was doing. I guess he and Otis took only a few minutes and then all was well between them. She said they played chase for a long time in the yard.


Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Foster Home Update!


I thought I'd let everyone know the HUGE progress Warren has been making. He still pulls on the leash, but not all that badly anymore. I have even occasionally rewarded him with some leash time on a limited-slip collar instead of gentle leader. He sits at street corners with only a quiet reminder. Even though he wants to go full steam ahead, if we stop for something ( e.g. to talk to a neighbor), he stands still and will even back up to ease the tension on the leash - if I remind him. It's still a work in progress.
We went back to the dog park today for a short visit, and he did NOT jump the fence this time (Yay!). He ran a lot, but came whizzing past several times (this is progress). He also came when called 2 or 3 times. Very nice progress!

He spends some time in the crate every day now. If I leave the house, I put him in the crate with a treat. He doesn't want to be there, but I have found that he tolerates the crate better if the radio or some music is on. My daughter discovered that he seems to like reggae music, and will lay down in the crate if reggae is playing. Otherwise, he stands the entire time he is in the crate. I have sneaked back home after being gone, and -- no barking. However, if he hears me, or recognizes the sound of the car, then he starts whining and barking.
He eats well, and is filling out a bit. He no longer tests the back gate - the one he opened for himself on his first day here. I think he'd be happy to go roaming the neighborhood by himself, but he no longer acts like he is desperate to get out of here. He watches the neighbors' bird feeder a lot, and stands up at their fence, but has made no efforts to jump it. Maybe the dog park thing was a fluke. He is a VERY birdy boy.
He still shows considerable separation anxiety. Remember he was dropped and left at the shelter twice. He's really afraid of being left behind. He always joins me in every room, even the bathroom. Just checking to be sure I don't get flushed away, I guess! At his previous home, the tub faucet must have dripped. When he first came here, he kept hopping into the tub to check out the faucet, and then hopping out. My non-leaking faucet must have been a dissapointment for him.


He is a real lovey boy, and has never shown a single shred of aggression. My girls may pick on him, but he just puts his head down and either tries to get away, or comes to me to protect him. And then in a heartbeat, he's back out there, wanting to play again. Savanna is more willing to play with him than Caleigh is. And she is more willing to share things like dog beds or toys with him, too. He has learned how to invite Caleigh to play. Outside, he often prefers to do the loner thing at the bird feeder, or running the fenceline, so he's happy to let the girls play together while he patrols.

He is totally cat safe. Even when the girls decide to pick on the kitties, he never joins in. The kitties are always welcome on his dog bed with him. He sleeps on a cushy dog bed in the bedroom, and it's common for one of the cats to join him for a bit. Sometimes, though, in the early morning after we get up and the dogs go out to relieve themselves, I like to go back to bed with a book. Then everyone, including Warren, piles onto the bed for some good cuddling. He never presumes, though, always requesting to join us, never assuming. Some adopters may prefer not to allow access to the furniture the way many of us allow. Warren would be great for an adopter like that, as he rarely gets onto furniture without being invited.

He likes children, but I don't have children, and have to rely on observing him when we stop to talk to neighbors with kids. He is a very busy boy, though, and can get pretty excitable, so he might be better with children over 6 or 8.
All in all, some very good progress.
Debby

Yard Adventures



I have to take a break and watch some birds
I'm a really happy boy - I'd love to be YOUR happy boy

Warren checking out the new yard at his foster home in St. Paul



Notice that I'm still closest to the bird feeder on the other side of the fence
If I stand up at the fence, I get a different view of the bird feeder
Those birds are always taunting me!

Waiting for....you?

Is my furever family out there?
Maybe they're down the street this direction? I'll keep watching...Surely they will be coming to get me soon!

I'm learning stuff!!

This is me (Warren) and Kent. Kent is teaching me about walking nicely using an e-collar
Here I am learning to Whoa

I learn fast. Kent said to Whoa, so I Whoa'd
Whoa

Resting up...

I was invited up onto this chair. Honest.
If I am not invited onto the furniture, I usually lay on the floor



My doggie bed is another nice way to rest my head...

Cats Anyone?

I am cat safe!!
This kitty takes up a lot of space on my dog bed, but I like her

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Warren is the name...

Warren-formerly Zibon- has arrived in foster care. His foster mom reports: He appears to be an English Pointer - English Setter cross. His tail is a little feathered, and his fur is longer than most pointers, and is very silky to touch, like a setter. He's a bit skinny from his time in the shelter, but is eating well. He had a boil between two toes, with a pretty serious Staph infection. When I took him to the vet, it was lanced, and I have been soaking it 2x/day and applying betadine, and he is on antibiotics to help clear it up. He started coming to Warren on the first day, so he apparently approves of his new name. He is VERY adoptable, but needs a fence with a lockable gate, and he needs to be taken to the dog park where he can RUN. He will benefit from work on leash skills, as apparently no one has ever taught him how to walk on a leash. Even so, he loves his walks. I think we are going to try the dog park soon. He could use a really good run.

A Letter from Warren!


Hi, my name is Warren, and I am an energetic boy, about 3 years old. I am SO SO happy to be out of that stinky old shelter!!! I've been there two times, and I don't understand why my families have taken me back there. I was very scared when Carla (my angel) took me out of the shelter and put me in a crate in a van. I was taken to a place called a foster home, but I was afraid, and didn't understand what was happening. I tried to run away, but my foster mom found me somehow, and brought me back.
Now I think it's ok here, and maybe I don't have to run away. I am very afraid of being kept in a crate. My foster mom understands now, and she is not making me stay in the crate. She feeds me in the crate, but does not close the crate door. I'm ok with that. She made me a bed on the floor next to her bed, and I sleep there at night. I like being near her.
My foster mom says that I'm a really loving boy, and I behave very well in the house. I don't go to the bathroom in the house (ok, I had one accident when I first got here, but none since). I don't chew on stuff that is not mine. I don't even tear up the stuffie toys. I don't get on the furniture unless my foster mom invites me. I like to follow her around and I lay near her feet while she is working on the computer. My foster sisters say that she does this a lot.
At first, my foster sisters wouldn't play with me. They were very bossy, and I was a little scared. But now they are starting to let me be part of the family, and when they get treats, so do I!! One of my foster sisters is even starting to play with me. They say I don't smell like shelter anymore - now that I had a bath.
My foster mom says I have to work on learning not to pull on the leash. I find that SO HARD, because I want to go so fast. I spent way too much time in the shelter to want to go slowly! My foster mom says I am very smart, so I will learn.


I hope I get a furever home soon. I've had homes before, but they were not furever. I want someone who will always love me. I've heard homes like that are out there. My foster mom says I need to be patient. Please tell everyone you know that needs a loving dog in their lives, because I could be that dog, and they wouldn't have to be lonely anymore!
love,
Warren

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Zibon needs your help


Zibon is a sweet 2-year old pointer boy---actually we see a bit of feathering on his tail, so maybe he's a pointer/setter mix? Zibon found himself at the shelter one day, having come in as a stray. His owner did come to look for him, but when hearing there would be a fee to retrieve him, he decided to rather turn his vet information into the shelter and leave Zibon to an uncertain future, as he had gotten away from his unfenced home several times already.

Zibon was adopted from the shelter, however, he was unfortunately returned AGAIN by the second owners, who were also not familiar with the energy level a pointer displays and stated they had not enough time to spend with him.

Well, it's being said that "third time is charm" and we sure hope so for this cute boy. Zibon is looking for a foster home, so that he can find the perfect family that can keep him safely in their yard and care for him. Looking to adopt? Even better!! Would you like to call this boy your own?

Zibon is reportedly housebroken, good with other dogs, cats and kids. He's neutered already and knows the "sit" command. He loves to play with squeaky toys---and would love a securely fenced in yard to run in. His previous homes did not have a fence and this boy will go wandering if not leashed outside a fenced yard. Would you give his boy a chance to finally be truly "home"? Please contact Illinois Birddog Rescue immediately if you can help.