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Please consider being a foster mom and dad to a pet in need. It is a very rewarding experience and it will help save a dog's life.***
COURTESY POST
Bailey is an 8-year old girl basset. She was born March 2010. She was adopted as a 4-month old puppy from a kind woman who felt she could not properly care for a high-energy puppy. She lives in a loving home with 2 other bassets, all rescues, one male and one female, all the same age. They have all grown up together since just a few months old. Bailey is a house dog but also loves to play outdoors in a fully fenced yard. The owners have taken her and their other dogs to a fenced off-leash dog park only once. There were no issues but this is not something the owners feel comfortable doing again.
She is an otherwise sweet girl, who wants to be with you. She is microchipped, spay, weighs 54 pounds, is up-to-date on all shots and grooming, and is completely housebroken with no accidents whatsoever. She has only been crated as a puppy. Bailey is eager to go on walks. She rides well in the car. She must have a fully fenced yard. She is fed Candidae dog food, supplemented with small amounts of shredded cheese, cottage cheese or deli turkey. Her eyesight and hearing were evaluated briefly at a vet visit, and no issues were noted although a more comprehensive eye exam may be beneficial. She has been treated recently for a urinary tract infection and had her anal glands cleaned out. She has some small lumps, consistent with aging bassets. Her owners have been very proactive with her veterinary appointments and health needs. She has had blood work done over the course of routine clinic visits and there have been no issues.
She cannot be in a home that has loud football games on TV – anxiety over the impending firework noise causes panting and anxiety. Planned firework events (New Years Eve, Fourth of July) are stressful and a sedative is given in advance of the event.
Her owners have established a kind and loving home for the dogs, but the home environment is pretty relaxed and although there are daily routines, there is not enough structure or human authority for a dog like Bailey. In the past 3 months, her dominant tendencies have caused increased stress and anxiety among the other dogs in the house and her owners.
What this looks like – the other dogs will go out of their way to avoid her when moving about the house, or, in confined areas like the fenced back yard.
Each room in the home has a squirt bottle at the ready of she goes after another dog.
The other dogs have safe sleep areas, and Bailey chooses her sleep area. Lately, this is a smaller room, a guest bathroom, and she searches this spot out at night, and sleeps comfortably and through the night, on a padded floor mat.
Because of the owner’s apprehension, she is not handled up close, example – slip lead leash is used instead of a harness; she is handled by a groomer for nail trim, bathing and ear cleaning without issue; when on walks, we caution well-meaning friendly people not to pet her, and although she loves people and children, we hold her back from being petted due to the apprehension.
Following medical treatment for a bad ear infection in April 2016, Bailey has exhibited protective and defensive behavior when startled or awoken from sleep. If she is awoken suddenly, and the owner approaches her with a treat or medication, she will let out a small squeal and suddenly try to nip. She appears to want to defend herself against the “unknown”. Veterinarian medical treatment following this episode now includes daily medication with Apoquel – 16 mg (allergy) and Fluoxetine – 40 mg (Prozac).
Bailey has also recently been exhibiting a few symptoms consistent with sundowning and early onset dementia. The owner’s veterinarian has been consulted for her condition and initially prescribed **Alprazolam for anxiety – this appeared to cause the opposite effect and caused increased agitation.
Her veterinarian discontinued **Alprozolam and instead, prescribed Clomipramine, also known by brand name “Clomicalm”, 40 mg dose, an anti-anxiety medication which has definitely helped. Although she has a completely fenced yard, she is never let outside on her own at dusk or after, and functions quite well while being let out on the slip lead to conduct her business. Prior to this medication treatment, she panted and when inside, would be attached to her owners like Velcro. When let outside on her own, before her owners recognized the signs of sundowning, Bailey would disappear in the back yard and did not want to come in, even with hearing their voice. She could not be coaxed, and when attempting to put a leash on, she was disoriented to the extent that she thought her owners were trying to harm her. Since this difficult episode, the owners have been dedicated to ensuring her a safe experience in the dusk and evening hours.
When she is in the care of someone who is not apprehensive around her (our vet, our groomer) she does not appear to respond in the same way with her unpredictable behavior.
Statistics
Age – 8
Female
Weight – around 54 lbs.
Has been spay and microchipped
Medical records can be provided upon request
Food – Canidae, with mixed in deli turkey, sprinkles of cheese, tablespoon cottage cheese
Current medications:
1. Fluoxetine – 40 mg, once per day in the AM
2. Clomipramine – 80 mg tabs cut in half, for a 40-mg dose, once per day
3. Apoquel – 16 mg (allergy), once per day
4. Acepromazine – ONLY AS NEEDED for sedation due to fireworks. 12 or 25 mg (to be given only for extremely stressful situations like fireworks. Not be given with Fluoxetine).
**Do NOT give Alprazolam for anxiety – see above response in the narrative
Bailey would do best in an environment with no other dogs, or children. She needs a dedicated, patient, kind yet assertive and calm owner who is familiar with dominant and/or anxious dogs, as well as possible “sundowning” symptoms. Bailey needs an owner who can recognize the relationship of medications and behavior training, and what that right balance is.
NWIPR IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER REGISTERED NON-PROFIT 501c3 PUBLIC CHARITY
Your adoption donation is used to care for and vet the many dogs that enter into rescue from overcrowded shelters where their time is running out-ultimately they are on death row. Your adoption donation goes directly to the care of the many dogs that enter into rescue. All dogs leave rescue vaccinated, sterilized, microchipped, wormed, flea treated, and medically checked out. In some cases they receive dentals, ear flush, surgeries, and so on to ensure that they are healthy and ready to be adopted. Your adoption donation is very much appreciated and needed to help care for the many needy dogs that enter into rescue. New adopters receive a FREE exam coupon at a local veterinary clinic in Lynnwood OR a $30 care voucher to a veterinary chain (so be sure to ask about these coupons if you are interested). NOTE: Please do not email for more dog info. This is all the info available until approved application is received and then you can talk directly to that dog's foster home for further info. Thank you!
NWIPR's adoption process includes completion of an adoption application, a vet check, screening, in person meeting, a home visit and a lifetime adoption contract. NWIPR is the pet's advocate and will select the most suitably matched home for the dog's general and unique needs, therefore adoptions are not done on a first come first serve basis. We reserve the right to refuse service and adoption for any reason.
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained within this pet's biography is based on observations from the current foster home. NWIPR is very honest about the pet's behavior and needs (and provides up to date information), we cannot guarantee they will behave in the same manner in a different environment with new owners as individual household dynamics vary greatly.
CONSIDER FOSTERING A DOG
***Do you or someone you know have the desire to help a rescue dog? If you have a loving heart, dog experience, a safe and secure yard and the notion to make a difference, please consider fostering a rescue dog. There are MANY dogs that we just do not have room for and just one person can make a world of difference to a dog that needs a safe place to rest his or her weary paws.....***
'Saving just one pet won't change the world ... but, surely, the world will change for that one pet' author unknown
