NorCal GSP Rescue

Check out Candace keeping up with her foster siblings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UrCxwB_Jtg

So skinny, and so sweet!  Her first assignment in her foster home is to eat and put on some weight.  She’s showing some improvement after only a few days! 

The shelter is no place for an oldie, and we are glad we have volunteers who have opened their hearts to her.   What Candace would really like is a home of her own to pamper her and where she can share her playfulness and affection.

My journey with Piper started in this way:
When I went to pick her up, frankly speaking, she looked like hell, like she’d been through hell. She was shell shocked, and, for lack of a better way to put it, a big piece of her was missing. She seemed hollow. I wasn’t sure how much she would change on my watch, physically or personality wise.

Therefore, her blossoming over the last couple of months has been a beautiful and unexpected, transcendent experience for me to bear witness to, and to participate in.
It has been gradual. Like her spirit, her body had no definition, and no tone.  She wasn’t thin, like a lot of dogs from the shelter, it was as if she’d had no nutrition.   We started giving her some healthy food and supplements for her skin and slowly, her hair has begun to grow back and now,there’s a light in her eyes.   She had no sense of her body or her size and she would step on everybody all the time, dogs and cats included. Now she has more awareness of where she is, who she’s around and how big she is.   The real treasure in this dog is her lovely and gentle spirit that I haven’t come across before. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.   Today, when I came home, she barked with the other dogs and I may have imagined it, but I’d swear she howled as well when I walked through the door. She raced around the house with joy.   We went outside to the back yard and she literally charged around like I’d never seen before.  It was wonderful and hilarious.

A young couple in Northern California has taken a strong liking to Piper and are going to give her the loving home that she deserves.   They’ve already bought her a coat and a rainjacket, knowing that she doesn’t like to be cold. I think it’s a perfect match and this is Piper’s just reward.

And she has been mine.

A nice update from Piper’s foster mom:

Our last time out at the St. John’s river, she stuck a toe in the water, which was a nice breakthrough for her and I was overjoyed.   Well, last Sunday on our river outing, she almost pulled me in!  The only thing stopping her was my determination to not go into the icy cold water.

All the more reason to work with her more on coming to me as I’ve been reluctant to let her off leash in such a remote, wide open area with lots of great things to smell.   Piper is such a lovely, sweetheart of a dog and her manners are much improved.  She has a stellar “sit,” knows “off,” and her “stay” is pretty good too.

She is a dog that likes her creature comforts, being a couch-loving easy-going girl, for the most part. She does well with a walk or two every day but other than that,  she is low-key and pretty low maintenance for a GSP.   The cats are 100% comfortable with her and she is gentle and respectful.  Rarely, I’ve seen her “trot” after my one timid kitty but the kitty doesn’t take her seriously, is not freaked out and it doesn’t stop her from coming around at all.  This is one of the many nice features that Piper comes with.

Piper has progressed by leaps and bounds very quickly and will continue to thrive with patient, consistent and loving guidance.

Piper is doing oh so much better - her hair is growing back in (slowly) and the vet said her skin looks very good.  She’ll continue to take her medicines and get a re-check in about a month.

Piper is coming out of her shell, turning into a happy-go-lucky and easy-going gal.  She’s easy to have around, and is mostly low key (except at dinner time or if she thinks she’s been in the crate too long).  She likes to sniff around when on walks and now puts a toe in the water when she’s down by the river.  Piper likes to greet people and other dogs, she’s friendly and curious.

Piper loves to play with dogs, puppies, and cats - she’s sweet and gentle as can be.  Her favorite things?  Being inside, being with her peeps, being warm, eating, walks, and rides in the car!

You know I don’t like to sit still for the camera!

I see you!