Pumpkin

#13-031 Pumpkin, update 3/21

AVAILABLE SOON

You can’t stop a Pumpkin from rolling right along! After her time on the road and in the shelter, Miss P. developed a cough (not unusual for travelin’ dogs who have stopped in at the pound), so it was off to the vet for a check-up. The diagnosis: tonsillitis/bronchitis, and medication should clear that right up. “A week’s worth of antibiotics and plenty of fluids and I’ll be back to full speed, no problem!” promises Pumpkin.

Never one to waste an opportunity for socializing, however, Pumpkin happily took a detour  on the way home from the clinic to visit foster mom’s sister-in-law and—very important!—the resident kitty. Foster mom reports that Pumpkin passed her Cat Test with flying colors.  “Took a sniff of recently vacated kitty bed on front porch, ho-hum reaction. We then located “Spot,” owner of said kitty bed, hanging out under a tree in the sideyard & holding his ground. “Yawn!” said Pumpkin. Zero interest. Family cat #2, “Bob,” was under an auto in driveway & took flight when he spotted the canine intruder, but NO inclination to chase by Pumpkin. I’d say Pumpkin is cat tolerant & has a low prey drive—or even a non-existent one! At home, she doesn’t even show interest in the squirrels who come to raid the bird feeder.”

Pumpkin is an easy, fun girl to have around! She would be a good addition to a family with calm children, ages 8 and up—she was wonderful with the 8- and 10-year-old kids at the house where she stayed for a few weeks after she was found. Another relaxed, well-mannered, medium to large dog would be just fine, too. And note: she’s not all that pumpkin-shaped, after all! At her most recent  vet visit she tipped the scales at 73 pounds and was pronounced a tall and big-boned gal.

#13-031 Pumpkin, age 5 1/2

Weight: 75 pounds

AVAILABLE

“Nothing like planning ahead!” says Pumpkin. “It’s only March, but I’m all set for trick-or-treating with my forever family when Hallowe’en rolls around. Why, I already have the right name (Pumpkin), the right color scheme (orange fur,  black nose), AND that all-important costume—I have a natural-born harlequin-style mask, just like you see at masquerade balls. I plan to enhance it with a touch of washable glitter, wear a glamorous feather boa, and be the hit of the neighborhood!”

Yes, it’s true—Miss Pumpkin DOES have a stylish fringe of long, feathery fur around her eyes. We don’t see it a lot, but some Goldens do have it, and Pumpkin’s is especially dramatic. And as for being the hit of the neighborhood—also true, with or without a costume! This friendly girl has already been making the rounds in our little corner of Central Texas, and charming everyone she meets.

Towards the end of February, we got a Hotline call asking for help: “A really sweet Golden wandered into our garage on a Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. Nobody in the area recognizes her, and we even took her to PetSmart to be scanned for a chip –nothing. She clearly belonged to someone… she’s housebroken and very comfortable coming indoors. Great with the kids, very playful.” A few days after Pumpkin showed up, a neighbor saw the children out romping with their new “boarder” and revealed that she’d seen a car slow up, push Pumpkin out the passenger door, and drive away. “This area seems to be a magnet for dumped dogs,” said the Hotline caller ruefully. “I have three dogs of my own and every single one of them was abandoned near my home.” How distressing and confusing for Pumpkin to be left all on her own—but with typical Golden optimism & trust, she’d approached another person for help.

And that’s just what she got! A GRR volunteer arrived the next day—and, “She’s adorable. She can foster with me!” After a stray hold at a local shelter (just in case somebody WAS out there looking), the cheerful girl moved into her temporary home. Boy, was she happy to get out of jail and settle into a real household at last! “So sweet and friendly,” says foster mom. “She’s fitting right in with our pack of three. Very cordial with the girl dogs, but she let our younger male, Becker, know he’s not the boss of her with a stern face and a little rumble. He didn’t take the hint right away, so she repeated herself and convinced him that boys need to respect a grown-up lady such as herself!”

On the health front, Pumpkin is slightly pumpkin-shaped, but only by a pound or two. She’s a sturdy girl by nature! We were delighted to find that she’s heartworm negative, and though she’s clearly had a litter or two, she was also spayed at some point in the past. In short, this gal is all ready to end her traveling ways and settle in with some lucky family—preferably with folks who like to dress up for Hallowe’en!