HW POSITIVE

Abby’s foster mom sends this report about her long-legged, peppy houseguest:

Abby has been with me for just over a week now and she's doing great! We've been taking neighborhood walks and everyone's talking about her. The most common comments are about her demeanor and physique:

1) "She's so gentle and well-behaved! I can't believe she's so young"; and

2) "What a beautiful dog!"

Here's what I've learned about her so far:

* She's sweet and gentle—with adults, children, and other animals. She loves to be close to people and is very affectionate. Kisses galore! She gets a serious case of the wiggles when I pull out the leash and when she sees the grooming brush.

* She's energetic and playful! No matter how many walks we take, the girl still has energy to bring me her ball in hopes that I'll spontaneously start a game with her. However, this smartie has already learned to sit in order to calm herself down. She sits (unprompted) when I put the leash on her, before she is fed, and when she realizes that she is *really* excited. AND, can you believe it, she even sits at crosswalks (!!). She's a good walker and only pulls a little on the leash.

* She's house-trained (no accidents as of yet), eats well and calmly, takes treats gently, and I haven't heard her bark yet.

So, what are Abby’s bad habits? She hates to be alone, and when she is, she gets bored and looks for things to chew. She can sometimes get really excited and will start to jump. Most times she catches herself and will sit back down on her own.

Abby will be thrilled to join her forever family. I think she'd do very well in a home that provides just what every Golden puppy needs: love, affection, attention, exercise, structure, and training. I think she'd love a home with another dog. I haven't seen her interact with cats, yet. But she's definitely curious about them. She seems to be good with children but I'd probably say older children would be better because she might topple younger ones over—all that energy bubbles over!

NOTE: AT her intake vet visit, Abby tested heartworm positive. However, she is such a young dog that we are hoping the heartworms’ life cycle isn’t too far advanced. The plan: Abby will continue to take monthly Heartgard. She will also take 30 days’ worth of doxycycline (an antibiotic), as is typically done for HW+ dogs before treatment. Once the doxycycline is completed, around mid-April, we’ll repeat the heartworm test. If she still tests HW positive, we’ll discuss starting heartworm treatment. If she tests HW negative, yippee!

#13-033 Abby, age 1.5 years

AVAILABLE TBA

HEARTWORM POSITIVE

“We’re running out of room here. Bursting at the seams. Can you please pick this red-headed golden up as soon as you can?”

And with that one message from the local animal shelter, Gold Ribbon Rescue volunteers raced into action to save one more precious golden.

And precious she is. Abby, with her grateful grin and swishing tail, smiled back at the GRR volunteer from her kennel at the shelter as if to say, “Thank you for rescuing me. I can’t wait to meet my forever family.”

Originally found off of Craigslist, her owner listed “separation anxiety” as the cause for bringing her in to the shelter.

Immediately after loading Abby into her vehicle, the GRR volunteer found this young pup bares all the characteristics of the breed we love so much. As they traveled on their way to Austin, Abby made herself at home sitting peacefully in the backseat, patiently waiting for the new life GRR has in store for her.

After further evaluation, this long and lanky golden girl with silky fur and “lion paws” is the purest definition of a young pup. GRR’s intake volunteer commented that Abby “needs no winding up as she is already wild, happy, and energetic. She jumps on me occasionally and cannot get close enough. She cries when separated from us.” Though she does obey when she is told to “sit,” Abby is bursting with energy as she constantly wants to play, bounding after her ball and retrieving it for the next round.

Abby has shown to be friendly with other dogs, but her heart belongs to humans; GRR’s intake volunteer states, “She wants to be with us at all times. She’s a real love, very affectionate, but will be a great dog” with some work.

Since Abby is such a young girl, her new family will need to commit time and energy to transform Abby into their ideal family member. She will need lots of exercise, attention, and training, but most importantly, she will need their love.

Though her bouncy behavior and boundless energy does not accurately reflect her health, Abby has heartworms, and she will need to be taken through heartworm treatment. She will also undergo spay surgery as well.

Adoption Procedures

Hotline: (512) 659-GOLD

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