Bubbles

Updated 8/23/10

On July 2, 2010, a petite senior Golden arrived at a local shelter. Since nobody came looking for her, GRR was called—and this little girl, given the name “Bubbles,” became part of the GRR family on July 6.  First stop was the vet clinic, where Bubbles had a bath, a check-up, and, on July 9, surgery to remove a small growth on one eyelid and to repair entropion in both eyes (entropion is a condition in which the lower lids turn inward, so that the lashes scratch painfully at the eyeball). On Saturday, July 10, she headed to her foster home, wearing an Elizabethan collar.  She was always sweet and patient, but her foster parents could tell she was in pain despite her pain meds; they were worried, too, about a pink discharge from her left eye. So, first thing Monday, another vet date was set; and on  Tuesday,  Bubbles ( by then affectionately known as “Phoebe” to her family) underwent emergency surgery. It turned out that a loose suture was scraping at her cornea, and the vet stitched Bubbles’s third eyelid down to aid healing and keep the eye protected. For the next 3 weeks, this darling, patient lady had to keep on wearing that hard E-collar to keep her from scratching at her eyes. 

Besides her eye troubles, Bubbles/Phoebe had a severe skin condition; she itched so badly that she’d chewed at her front paws until they were bleeding from just behind the pads to about 2 inches up her legs. To treat the sores, we covered them with Neosporin and Bandguard, then pulled white socks up over her feet and legs and secured them with butcher’s twine.  She was so relieved to be free of the pain and itching that for a full week, until her feet healed, she never pulled off the socks. We were the only ones who removed them—for cleaning and re-treating her feet, and for walks.

She couldn’t be bathed and groomed until her sutures came out and she was finally free of the E-collar.  Whoever had her before she went stray had hacked at her fur in a most inappropriate way—she looked like someone had “groomed” her with dull garden shears. As soon as she got the go-ahead from the vet, she was treated to a professional bath and groom.   She came home smelling and looking like a different dog.  

Throughout her difficult experience, Bubbles/Phoebe has been patient, kind, sweet and lovable.  In addition to Abby, our 11-year-old Golden,  we had two canine houseguests for 3 weeks—a 6-year-old Collie/Golden mix  and a 7-month-old Bichon.  She was wonderful with all the dogs at all times.

She has some hip issues and walks very slowly, but greets all humans and other dogs on her many walks with quiet graciousness.  She is gradually gaining muscle and is just beginning to walk a bit faster.

She came to GRR at 48.6 pounds and now weighs in at 50 pounds.  Her age is estimated at about 11.  Her eyesight is pretty good, but her hearing is not the best.  She has a wonderful voice that she uses only when happy or when someone comes to the door.  She is dependable in all respects and obedient at all times. 

She looks forward to a forever home with a patient, understanding, compassionate family who will take the time to understand the idiosyncrasies of this gorgeous senior lady.