My name is Shelby!

MY NAME IS SHELBY, AND I AM A LITTLE GIRLIE WITH A BIG PROBLEM. I CANNOT WALK STRAIGHT. THE DOGTOR THINKS THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY BRAIN (ISN'T THAT SAD?). WOULD YOU PLEASE A SMALL DONATION TO SEE IF MY FOSTER MOMMY CAN HELP ME FEEL BETTER FOR THE HOLIDAYS? WOBBLY YORKIE KISSES, LOVE SHELBY

UPDATED BIO 1/30/2010: My name is Shelby! I am a 4 year old 5 lb little girlie. The nice people at UYR rescued me from a high-kill shelter. They worked real hard to find out why I sometimes walk in circles. I saw a specialist (a doggy-neurologist) and I even had an MRI and another special test on my spinal fluid. It turns out that at some point a long time ago, I may have been hit in the head or I had an infection that caused a small part of my brain to be smaller than the rest. Because of that, my left side is a little weaker than the right and I sometimes walk in circles. While this all sounds so bad, believe me, I am not all that different than 'normal' dogs.... and this is actually FANTASTIC news! It's fantastic because it means my condition will not get worse. So what if when you walk me you have to walk a little slower so that I can keep up? So what if when I twirl (and look like a pretty ballerina by the way) sometimes I don't walk in straight lines? I give kisses! I am housetrained to use a wee wee pad or go potty outside! I love my fur-brother Ricky, and I LOVE to play with other dogs. I told my FM to PLEASE find me a home where there was another small furkid for me to play with. If you take me to a fenced-in backyard, I run around! I just love to be outside in the sun. Please take me home. If you do, I promise to love you FURever!

Shelby's foster mom here! Shelby is an absolute doll and is a pleasure to take care of. She has the most loving personality and loves to play with other dogs. She would really benefit from a home with another pup who won't mind Shelby occasionally biting at his or her legs to play or chasing them around the house. She uses a wee wee pad but also will go outside when on a walk. She will have accidents on carpets and really shouldn't go to a home with them. She loves cats and isn't much of a barker either. She's just got so much love in her. I would love to adopt her myself, but I know there is a family out there who would just love this little princess and will love to give her a wonderful, caring, patient, FURever home. I think that all of these descriptions of Shelby I've written don't show her justice, as she's surprisingly normal. The spinning does happen, but I'm used to it. I don't notice it too much anymore. She's just a sweet little girl who had a rough start to life. Whoever adopts her will be pleasantly surprised at how wonderful she really is.

Shelby was just spayed this past week and had a dental cleaning under anesthesia. She is patiently waiting for her FURever family. Thanks for considering this little girl!

UPDATED BIO 1/13/2010: Hi there! My name is Shelby. I am 4 years old and weigh 5.2 lbs. I am cutie-patootie and love other dogs. I love to play and run (sometimes in circles!). I am housetrained to use a wee wee pad. Have I mentioned I'm cute?

Well, my Dogtor was concerned about my spinning and was worried that I may have something serious and may never be adoptable. She recommended some fancy tests... so, I asked Auntie M, UYR's President, if I could have the very s'pensive test on my brain to see if I was going to be able to be adopted. I asked reeeally nice and said that I'd be a good girlie if UYR would let me have the tests. Boy was I happy when she said OK because that meant I could maybe go to a FURever home of my own!

Earlier this week I had an MRI and a spinal tap and I have great news :). I'm adoptable! See, a long time ago I either had an infection or an injury to my head (like, if someone hit me or if I got hit by a car) which gave me brain injury on my right side. That has caused my brain to be a little smaller on the right and has caused me to be weak on the left side. That's why I walk in circles to the right. It's not very likely that I will ever be spin-free, but I shouldn't get any worse. I can go for walks and walk straight. I can play with my foster fur-brother Ricky and run straight. Sometimes I circle. As long as my new FURever mommy and daddy know that and don't mind (my FM doesn't notice it much anymore), I'll be good to go! I'm getting fixed shortly, getting my toofers cleaned, and then I'm gonna try some medicine the Dogtor thinks might help me spin a little less. If all goes well, I'm hoping to be ready for my FURever home soon!

Please consider giving me a new home. I'll love you FURever! Oh, P.S., those tests were REEEEALLLY s'pensive and I promised UYR that some nice people would help me out so that we didn't make them break their piggy bank. Can you spare a few dollars to help me?


UPDATED BIO 12/13/2009: Shelby is an adorable 4 year old 5.6 lb little princess. When we first rescued Shelby from the shelter, it was an emergency situation. Shelby was having difficulty standing and walking and was walking in circles to the right. We were all very nervous for this sweet girl, as she was having difficulty even staying awake. Well, things have changed for the better!

Shelby has had an extensive panel of labwork tested. Her values are all acceptable to our rescue vet. She is very alert, gives lots of kisses, and loves other dogs. When she meets a new dog, she twirls around and gets on her back in a submissive position. She is housetrained to go on wee wee pads, but Shelby will also potty outside. I'v heard her bark twice. I am beginning to think that part of her twirling is a learned behavior. It's almost comforting to her, like a pacifier would be to an infant. When we walk on a leash outside, I am trying to correct her. Honestly, I think it is already working as she is circling less and less. (I call her my little ballerina!)

I think that Shelby will make a wonderful companion to a patient, loving person who is willing to work with her circling in an effort to make her feel more secure. She is a sweet little princess who is just waiting for the right home to dance around in! Shelby will hopefully be getting spayed soon and have her baby tooth extracted.

ORIGINAL BIO 12/7/2009: My name is Shelby. I am only 4 years old and weigh 5.6 pounds. FM doesn't know much about my history, because I was brought to the shelter as a stray. When I was there, the shelter workers noticed that something was very wrong with me. :( They noticed that I was weak and that I walked in circles to the right. (That's not good!). So, FM got me outta there ASAP and rushed me to UYR's rescue vet. I am showing some signs of improvement, but things still aren't 100% right. However, I am more alert than I was at the shelter. Also, I give lots of kisses and love tummy rubs. My FM says I am ADORABLE!

I'm still being worked up for lots of things. FM thinks I might have been a puppymill dog (in a cage for a long time) and that that could be part of why I spin so much. There are other things I'm having checked too, since some of my lab numbers are wacky. Unfortunately, all that stuff costs lots of money. FM said not to worry, though. She said that if I asked reeeeally nice, that maybe some nice people would help me out. Would you help me out so that my FM can help me stop spinning?