Mae

Here's a quick update on Mae, No pictures yet...hard to get her to stand still for any!

She is completely enveloped in her new surroundings, and acts like she has been here forever. She has her own routine... she likes to sleep late, go outside for a while, sit under a dwarf maple so she can see out but she is somewhat camouflaged. She comes in for treats and maybe for a nap or two during the day, but seems to like to be outside with the rest of her family. She will take a couple of spins around the property during the day, sniffing and just checking stuff out. Then around 6:00 is dinner time and she has a nice big bowl of Wellness Senior with about a cup of ground beef, vegetable and broth mix that the rest of the dogs get daily. Then it's back outside for another lap around the yard. She's pretty much ready for bed at 8:00 pm and we can find her in her bed in our bedroom when it's time to give her the medication she is taking for her cough. Then she always wants one more trip to the front yard before sleep.

She has access to our deck at night..think she likes the cool night air, but she also has a bed that she swiped from Mr. Bear. She prefers his bed to her bed for some reason which we cannot figure out.. her own bed is much nicer than his.

She gets along with all of the dogs but she especially likes to hang out with Charlie, who is part chow and part golden retriever. He is a charming one and she seems to like him very much... when he runs she chases after him like a puppy. When there is a "call to the fence" because of a car or kids or anything thing else, she joins the rest of the gang in the run to the gate... She lives with 6 other dogs who all seem to know she is a senior citizen so are kind of careful not to knock her over....

1 male Great Pyrenees - Mr. Bear
1 female Great Pyrenees - Birdie
1 gigantic yellow lab - Duke
1 very small black lab - Snookie
1 chow - golden mix - Charlie
1 heinz 57 - Ralphie.

She has developed a liking for flip chips and had her first big frozen knuckle bone.... When Chuck gave it to her, she looked at him like she was saying "for me?" she worked on it all day, and it seems to do wonders for her teeth.

She has been a gift and a joy to us.... her spirit is boundless as is her sweetness... We love her and thank you for saving her ...

We never, ever thought it would happen, but Mae has been adopted! She is now living on a beautiful farm in the Snohomish area, sharing her life with a fantastic couple and the rest of their blissfully happy doggy pack. We have received our first update from her new adopters (who promise to send photos soon); we will be linking this page to Mae's photo on our Adopted page soon, and you will be able to follow her progress there after we remove her photo from our Dogs page.

"she is doing just great. she went to the vet on tues...got some antibiotics and cough medication - she has a little upper respiratory infection but she is fine.... he cannot believe she is more than 8 years old and told us we must be mistaken about her age! he said her heart sounded very good and she was in great shape (hot spot and cough will go away easily) and the blood work was good too... all the regular girls at the vet and our own Dr. John loved her on sight....

she (and we) has been in the downstairs because we had the floor refinished upstairs and thought the fumes would not be good for any of us especially her... i came home tonite and when she saw me she immediately went into the "play bow" posture and continued to do that and prance around "teasing" me. her tail is up and and her eyes are bright and she was playing chasing me around and then waiting for me to chase her.... it is amazing ...

she sends xxxxxx00000 to you all"

Amazing. We know Mae's age is definitely 13 1/2, but she seems to be getting YOUNGER with every day! Thank you so much to all her sponsors; without your help and care, Mae would never have made it to her final, and forever, home.

UPDATE MARCH 22, 2007

Mae continues to enjoy life, and has even managed to slip away from her foster home once and go on "walkabout" visiting the neighbors! Luckily, she had her ID tags and collar on, and the neighbors knew right where she belonged (just a reminder to always have identification on your pets). Here are some photos of her frolicking this winter - she even tries to keep up with her foster mom's other dogs (who luckily have very short legs, so Mae never feels like she's falling behind, HA). Thanks to all who have helped with her care; Forget Me Not will continue to provide all her food, treats, and medical care for the rest of her life. Although we had not planned to spay Mae, due to her advanced age, she developed a uterine infection that required a hysterectomy anyway! Luckily, she was healthy enough by then that she came through the operation beautifully, and had almost enough sponsor dollars in her account to cover the expense. Things are just working out perfectly for this beautiful girl, thanks to you!

Mae is doing just beautifully! She is mainly fostering with Jan now, where she is very comfortable. She has lost some of the gray on her muzzle. The fur she has now is glossy and healthy. Her tail, which had been bent in half by a tangle of burrs (for who knows how many years), is still straightening out, and isn't nearly as sensitive to touch or brushing as it was when we first got her (at which time the vet had to cut the matted fur and burrs with scissors, to unbend her tail). She has a permanent hump on her back from sitting in the same position for twelve years. When she first arrived, her shoulders had built up muscle from pulling on the chain, and her hips and back legs had atrophied. Her shoulders were twice as wide as her hips! Initially she could just barely drag her back toes over the 1" lip of her dog igloo. Now her shoulders and hips are similar in width, and her back legs are strong enough that she likes to stand up on them, with her front paws on the fence, and get a better look at the world. She actually runs up and down the deck steps. Her run is a strong but a little stiff, sort of like a rocking horse motion. She enjoys her foster mom's home and yard tremendously, with a doggie door (she's enjoyed the air conditioning this summer), a covered deck, and a big fenced yard.

The most rewarding thing is the constant look of happiness and glee on her face. Also, she initially didn't even know her name, or when someone was talking to her--nor did she know how to keep out from underfoot. Now she knows her name, to which she responds cheerfully, and she has developed a great sense of space, both her own and that of people around her. She is a great dog, and she owes the new spring in her step to you, her sponsors! THANK YOU! (Yes, we need new photos... I promise to send some soon).

Mae says thank you so much for your support - there are now 8 of you helping us to care for her, from all around Washington state! She is now being team-fostered, part time in a lovely home with an older gentleman who dotes on her and takes her lots of new and exciting places, and part time (while he is away for the summer) with a delightful woman who treats her like a beloved friend. Mae adores them both! She continues to take medication and joint supplements for arthritis, and is eating her special Science Diet senior diet along with occasional treats of Pedigree canned dog food (she used to pretend she would only take her pills if they were hidden in canned food, but we have since learned that was a con job - she happily takes her pills from her foster parents' fingers, no bribery required! Maybe she can tell they help).

Since we first brought her into the program, we have seen the cloudiness in her vision improve, and her movement has become much less pained. Her fur is even growing darker! She has a Dogloo dog house with a padded cushioned bottom, and for hotter days, she has a comfy bed in a breezy, shady area of her foster mom's deck. She seems to prefer being outside, where she revels in the freedom to lie where she wants, run when she wants, and move her toys from spot to spot any time she chooses. She absolutely adores her chewy toys and her cuddly toys, but she is scared of squeaky toys! One thing we plan to use some of your (combined) sponsorship funds for is a professional summertime grooming; her coat is shiny and healthy on top now, but we think there are some grass seeds that are irritating her skin deep down beneath her undercoat, and she will love having a groomer take the time to pick those out, and thin her coat as needed (we've been told she should NOT be shaved, as her coat provides insulation against the summertime heat). Your sponsorship fees also go toward her special senior diet, because although we have a partnership with Science Diet, the specialized formulations are not included in the shelter feeding program. We are all just thrilled at how well Mae is doing with good nutrition and some old fashioned TLC - I know each one of us will always be able to carry Mae's happy "grin" inside and know that we DID make a huge difference in this beautiful dog's life. Thank you for caring; we will keep you updated as often as we can, and please feel free to ask about Mae if it has been too long since we last wrote you about her!