Shepp

Shepp (nicknamed Buddy)

June 12 , 2008 Shepp aka Buddy has made it through ANOTHER year - what an amazing dog! If he was really 15 in 2006 when he was rescued, as estimated by the vet at that time, he would be 17 now! His muzzle grows whiter, and he wheezes and coughs from time to time, but he is still enjoying a high quality of life. This spring, it became clear the growth on his leg was beginning to hurt, so we took him to a geriatric specialist in another county, where with the help of sponsor funds, the growth was removed. Shepp was neutered while under for the leg operation, which gives us the ability to "adopt" him to someone should they so desire. Since the operation, he has increased the length of his daily romps through field and forest, and you can tell he feels better!

Here are some other photos of Shepp from August and December 2007; he continues to act as the "old man" for the puppies that come into his foster home, and he greets all the visitors happily.

June 14 , 2007 Shepp loves to show new puppies in foster care "the ropes" - sometimes literally, HA. He is slowing down some, but still makes sure to amble over and greet anyone visiting his foster home... it just takes him a while to get there.

April 20, 2007 - Just a new photo taken today; you'll note his leg growth continues to enlarge, but it still doesn't seem to cause him pain. He's such a good ol' boy!

UPDATE MARCH 22, 2007

Shepp continues to do well in his "temporary" foster home (which has now stretched to 8 months, hmmmmm). He has had quite a few medical issues, including a growth on his leg (visible in the middle photo below) that the vet is monitoring (right now, the risks of surgery do not outweigh the benefits, and it does not appear to be causing him any discomfort). He marches around like he owns the house, and lets all incoming foster dogs know who is boss; everyone just winks and lets him think he's a tough guy, but as you can see from his blankie-lined basket photo, he is really a softy at heart. These photos are from this past winter; thanks to all who have helped us with Shepp's ongoing medical and food bills, we are committed to this boy for the rest of his life and will continue to let you know how he is doing. He could still benefit from a permanent foster home (doesn't necessarily have to be local), where there would be less frequent influx of "new" dogs to challenge his ideas of who's in charge (grin). If you have a little space for Shepp to spend his golden years, let us know!

Shepp was rescued in July, 2006; he had been abandoned, chained in his former owner's yard when they moved away. Something - whether another dog, or a coyote, or some other unknown critter - apparently attacked him while he was chained and unable to properly defend himself, and when he was rescued he had large, infected abscesses, which have healed well now after extensive treatment. The vet estimates that Shepp is about 15 years old. He has the typical difficulties of old dogs who did not receive optimal care; his liver is possibly damaged from starving, his gall bladder is enlarged, he has prostate difficulties (he is not neutered, and is now too old to risk the anaesthetic). Shepp will be in permanent foster care until the end, and we are seeking sponsorship to assist with the costs of his geriatric care. Right now he is fostering with our dog intake director, but we would love to find a foster home - need not be local - where he could live out his life without the endless ins-and-outs of other dogs that happen within the intake director's environment. He would be a great dog to lie at your feet on the porch. He will even bark a few times if you have a visitor drive up... sort of like a breathing doorbell. Shepp gets around pretty well for an old guy, accompanying the intake director and the rest of the "pack" at least partway on their daily walks through the countryside. If you would like to foster Shepp for the rest of his life, you need not worry about expensive care; that is why we are seeking sponsorship for Shepp, and we will provide whatever medical care and food he needs for the rest of his life. He would like someplace warm for the winter, but because he is unneutered, he may engage in some marking behavior, so he would do best either kenneled inside at night, or perhaps in a heated garage, when you would be unable to supervise him.

If you have paypal, you can

now!

Just put Shepp in the subject. No paypal? Mail your sponsorship donation to
Forget Me Not Animal Shelter, PO Box 602, Republic WA 99166 - attn: Shepp

See his photos below; if you are interested in fostering Shepp, please leave us a message at 509-775-2308, or email us at

Shepp says thanks for your support!

If Shepp's sponsorship donations exceed the cost of his care, FMNAS will use the balance to fund care of other rescued shelter pets.