My name is LENA!

UPDATED BIO 10/26/2013: Lena/Cocoa is 8 years old and weighs 7 lbs 6 ozs; she is being fostered in St. Petersburg, FL.



Halloween Greetings From Cocoa (FKA:Lena):



I am waiting here in sunny Florida for that Special Person & Family who is looking for a very special little lady. Yep, that would be me ~ the funny, happy, loving little Silky Terrier with pale champaign-colored hair, almost a white face, with "cocoa" highlights & the hair on my back is white with silver roots (go figure?), & almost black tips on the very ends. I am absolutely Bee-U-T-ful!



I am a very young & active 8 yr old who is starting to plan for my 9th Birthday Party. Woo Hoooo! I love holidays 'cause I get to be dressed up pretty; like today…… I got to wear a Lil’ Witch dress...I don't seem to scare anyone because I smile so much & am such a friendly little gal :)



I make loads of friends everywhere I go & I do love to GO! FM calls me one of her "Go Bye-Bye Girls"! I am also a wonderful little "trotter" when we go on walks, to the park, or baseball games & I love to shop til’ you drop! Can you keep up with me?? Oh! I am a super squirrel chaser, too! But I am learning it is bad manners to chase the cat.......darn.*^#(^ it wasn't me

On top of all of my attributes, I adore being with my special person & snuggling. I am a regular "velcro" pup. I'm wherever FM/FD are! Please understand that I love everyone here, including my "dog" sisters, but I really want my very own special home to call my own.



I came into UYR as an owner surrender because my previous owners were no longer able to take care of me......sigh. I have been re-homed more times than I like to remember; my FM says no pup should have to go through all that I have been through in the past. I have fought battles with fleas & ticks (& had a nasty staph infection from that infestation!), bilateral yeast infections in my ears ...(really now, I would like to know how hard is it to take proper care of my gorgeous Butterfly ears?);

a skin fungal infection; and a urinary tract infection. All of these maladies are far behind me now! I do have a cataract in one eye, but it hinders me in no way at all. My previous health problems have been cleared up by my dogtor, who has also made sure that I have NO bladder or kidney stones, because I had poor potty manners indoors. I eat a special diet for doggie urinary tracts to keep it healthy. Now, please don't let that worry you, this is good eatin's & no more expensive than any other regular “high quality" American made dog food! I love apples, an occasional carrot, pumpkin (I get 1/2 tsp in my food...mmmm,yum), and every single time I do the "Good Go Potty Outdoors" routine I get my favorite chicken jerky treat (that has to be made in America, too – none of those made in other countries that are killing doggies - no!no!)



My dogtor & FM says I was most likely never house-trained to do my wee wee outside, I sometimes use a potty pad ...or (oops!)

the floor....BUT... I am really much more motivated lately because "I finally got thru to FM" how much I love "Mr B's CHICKEN JERKY"! (Made in the USA, of course!) I watch her pocket and hands "like a hawk" as soon as I get outside. I am showing signs of great things to come. Yippee for Me! See, I'm very smart, too! I am doing much better with "my separation anxiety"; who wouldn't have that if they were me? I personally dislike "crates", but love my bed and especially...a nice warm & loving lap. And, I also love bedtime snacks & scritches!



I hope you find me soon, so I can be "home" for the holidays. I am waiting patiently for you. I will love you forever and ever if you adopt me.

Love, Cocoa :)


UPDATED BIO 9/10/13: Lena (Cocoa) is an 8 1/2 year old Silky Terrier that weighs a healthy 7.5 lbs, being fostered in St Petersburg, FL.



Lena has recovered from a recent UTI (urinary tract infection). Today Lena was re checked by her dogtor who has chg'd her diet to one that is better for her urinary tract pH. Xrays were taken & we recv'd good news: No stones!! Hip Hip Hurray!! We are continuing to work on her potty skills...she goes outside very well, we are continuing to work on learning we must not go indoors, with patience & positive reinforcement (treats). We are seeing some improvement on that part, too! *:) happy

Please keep in mind that she very likely has never been fully housebroken in the past, no consistency, with frequent rehoming (previous owners giving her away), it has been extra hard on her making these unfair readjustments...which has also caused some separation anxiety, which is also improving. Consistency & patience is a must right now on these 2 issues. She's so willing to please, it will happen with patience & understanding.

Her fungal infection in both ears has been treated & is all better now! Her skin infection is also much improved! We are so happy that she is doing so much better. Lena here: "I am feeling so much better now! I got my haircut & am one happy girl!, looking for my special forever family. Should I "pack my bags"???

UPDATED BIO 08/28/2013: LENA is a 8 ½ year old Silky Terrier that weighs 8 lbs; she is being fostered in St. Petersburg, FL.
Lena (who responds well to Cocoa which apparently was her previous name) has had her dental done, passing with flying colors! Dogtor confirmed FM's suspicions that Lena has an urinary tract infection (UTI) & has put her on medication to treat this. We are working on improving her potty skills, exacerbated by the UTI, so for now she needs to be taken outdoors more frequently. She sometimes uses a potty pad indoors during this season of rainy thunderstorms. Having been crated so much in her past, she has had to begin learning her potty skills as if she was a puppy.

Due to Lena's age, it has been dogtor recommended she be placed on a special diet to help take the stress off her kidneys. (Lena Here: "Now please don't let this scare you away from us mature dogs! It is no more expensive than any of the better quality dog foods & much better for dogs over 7 yrs of age, when that common ailment with the kidneys can begin to set in. Lena has regained some lost weight, now a bit plump @ 8 lbs 1 oz! She is currently on a special RX shampoo for a skin infection, as well asl ear drops to clear up a fungal infection in both ears that she came into rescue with.



She is doing well on a leash & learning how she must sit quietly, like a lady, as she gets leashed up. We are also progressing with her anxiety issues, not resolved, but improving & not being reinforced. The whole staff at the dogtor’s office have fallen in love with this precious little gal! She is so willing to learn & please ~ a pure delight to have in our home!



Lena here: "Before I came to UYR I had lots of fleas & ticks which gave me a nasty skin infection and I lost lots of hair, but now that it is cleared up, my hair is starting to grow back in! Once this other skin thingy is gone I will be even more bee-u-T-ful! I do not like the really loud & rumbling 'boom booms' when it rains, so FM says I need to snuggle in my bed or sometimes I get to keep sitting on laps if I am already there, but my fear is NOT reinforced, so now I am doing much better. Yippee for me!



Foster Mama is also telling me I cannot play "chase the kitty", even if he is lots bigger than I am! Darn! That was sooo fun, too!, humphh! FM says I will need very good manners in my furever home, so I am working on that 'cause it seems like a very good idea. I have never had a 'furever home' before, but FM makes it sound like a wonderful thing to have, so I am all for that!! Now, don't get me wrong….I am one happy girl & love my foster family, but every furkid needs to have their very own special furever home & family!



One of my favorite things in the world?...to chase da pesky flocks of squirrels in da yard, & even tho I am bigger than them...for some odd reason they always seem to find a tree or fence to climb on just as I am about to catch the little boogers...then they look down at me & my foster sisters, taunting & screaming nasty obscenities at us. Go figure! Isn't it bad enough that they bomb us with cones from up in the magnolia tree? At first I wasn't too sure about that stuff they call grass, but now I like to roll in the nice cool, thick grass ...but FM says no rolling in da mulch or dirt. Ya win some, ya lose some. I love to keep up with FM all day, I keeps my eye on her all da time; I love going for walks, & to go wherever my family goes...they call me da Good 'Bye Bye Girl'!



I'm such a Social Butterfly, maybe that is why my ears are so beautiful ! I like people & make new friends easily. I get to sleep with FM & my foster sisters in da people bed plus they have lots of furbeds here which I am happy to share with a fursister. I don't like being crated, FM thinks I spent a lot of my time in them in my past..... I keep trying to tell her it was way TOO much time! She must get what I am saying, ‘cause no crating here! WooHoo! I love to: snuggle up & be petted, comb & brushed, scratched & loved.... I give freely of all my love right back! I will even give hugs & kisses when ya least expect one! Are you ready for some? Are you looking for a sweet, happy, loving girl? I think I could be your forever girl, everyone here says I am a definite 'keeper'  !" Be sure to check out my new pictures, too!



PS: My vetting costs are getting higher as UYR gets me back into Tip-Top shape for you...If anyone can help me & UYR out with any donations, we would be oh SO grateful! (((HUGS))) & KISSES! Love LENA


UPDATED BIO 07/16/2013: LENA is a 8 ½ year old Silky Terrier that weighs 7.5 lbs; she is being fostered in St. Petersburg, FL. (Note: UYR was given conflicting information when Lena came into rescue as to her age, so we did some investigation and not only found her true age, but also discovered that she is a purebred Silky Terrier!)


Lena gets along well with other dogs and is very people-friendly. She is a sweet and calm little girl who has had at least 3 prior owners that we know of, perhaps more.  Lena has received her vaccinations, is microchipped, spayed and is waiting to have a dental – she will then be ready for adoption. Lena does have a cataract in one of her eyes and has no vision in that eye, but can see good enough to get around and have a happy life.


Because sweet Lena has been re-homed frequently in her lifetime, she does have some separation anxiety, so a home where there is at least one stay-at-home parent would be perfect for her. She could be placed with older, mature children – no children under 12 years old, please! Lena loves to be with her person, so if you want an adorable and loyal companion, please consider adopting this sweetheart.