3/30/07
>> Just a note to tell you
that we had to put my dear sweet Miss Molly to
>> rest. The cancer had spread to her entire body.
>>
>> She had a good life especially the last year. I don't need to tell you
>> how much I loved her.
>>
>>
>> John
Molly... It has been a... tough first week for Molly, whom we rescued from Town Lake Animal Shelter last Saturday, January 21. She was covered with huge mats, her beautiful coat was filthy, her nails were much too long, and she panted with anxiety—yet never barked nor tried to get away. She walked quietly around the shelter yard and rewarded us by promptly relieving herself (always a hopeful sign that a shelter dog might be housebroken!). She even put her front paws up on the back deck of the SUV, as if to help us load her into the vehicle. We immediately took her to the clinic for a quick once-over—whew! She was free of the upper respiratory infection so many shelter dogs have been contracting lately. The vet cut her toenails to a manageable length, removed the very worst of the huge mats hanging below her ears and under her tail, and sent her home with us.
We decided not to stress Molly with a bath, so once home, she went straight into her crate. Despite the dirty coat, she had no body odor, ear odor, or mouth odor. A real plus. And from the very beginning, she’s been sweet and loveable. She responds readily to hugs and pets—in fact, demands them when she is with you. We have heard her lovely voice a few times, mostly in response to a barking dog in the neighborhood. She does not bark when someone comes to the door.
It took her a day or so to become accustomed to our own Golden Retriever, Missy, but with careful monitoring, the two dogs now get along quite well. They will soon both be lying at my feet as Goldens love to do.
The one concern we had during her first few days here concerned her water consumption; she drank bowl after bowl, and then, of course, had an almost uncontrollable need to urinate. She never had an accident in the crate, though, nor in the larger space where we confined her after the first 48 hours. Still, we needed to understand what was going on, so we took her to our own vet for a thorough check-up, blood tests, and a bath (hooray!!). Much to our relief, Molly’s “drinking problem” proved to be due to anxiety and stress, not any medical issue. We’re now limiting her water intake to no more than several cups a day, and as she becomes more comfortable, she’s no longer as thirsty.
She is beginning to be totally relaxed here in our home, and her overt signs of stress are gone. Her constant panting has ceased, she needs to go out only a few times each day—and if she does need to go, she lets us know with a gentle squealing noise. We have not yet given her free run of the house, but we are gradually giving her more time out of her special place.
Molly will be a wonderful pet for a family with a large, fenced yard where she can run and play as much as she would like. She walks on a leash with a little tugging, but not too badly, and she could use some obedience training. She is quiet and loving, a wonderful and beautiful Golden Retriever.
Update 02/02/06:
Molly hasn’t even lived with us for 2 full weeks, but she has already become a
model guest and pet. She and our Golden Missy share all the toys, but Molly’s
favorites are the variety of Kongs we have around. One little treat bone inside
a Kong will keep her occupied for a very long time. One other thing we’ve
learned about her—she “purrs” when being petted!
She is reliable in the house, eats and drinks like a lady, and sleeps quietly
through the night. She loves to hug and be hugged and allows her food, water,
and Kongs to be taken from her without protest.
Molly does not bark often, but she has a beautiful voice We have heard her
respond once in a while, when the situation warranted, usually in response to
Missy’s barks at passersby. She is not aggressive, but she did manage to
frighten a tiny Yorkie when she tried to make friends while out for a walk. A
little more training will take care of that. Just give her another day or so and
she’ll have “friendly” down pat.
Though we haven’t yet seen Molly around children, I am quite sure she will be
wonderful with them. She’s a big girl, but so gentle. Keeping a firm hand on the
leash while walking is a must, but only to curb her exuberance (and she’s
learning to walk better on a leash all the time). She is very enthusiastic about
her exercise and will walk great distances without tiring.
We just took Molly to a neighbor's huge fenced yard to observe how she behaves
off leash in a fenced environment. She was great. She walked the entire
perimeter of the yard and then, when satisfied that everything checked out OK,
returned to the porch to visit with the humans. She was very interested in the
dogs in the next yard, but contented herself with just observing them—she didn’t
bark or get excited. She DID pose for a few more pictures!
When it was time to leave, she ran to her host and hostess and asked for one
last pat—and then trotted off happily, on leash, with us. Let's face it, it was
getting close to supper time, and she was ready to head for home.
Molly may be an official “senior,” but she’s quite peppy, not at all a “couch
potato.” She’ll make a perfect family dog.
Update Feb 12, 2006:
We have enjoyed having Molly with us for the past 3 1/2 weeks. She has already become a lovely, quiet, happy member of our household. Last weekend, while we had houseguests, she spent four days with another GRR family and did wonderfully there as well, settling right in with two new dog friends.
Molly is learning some simple commands such as “come” and “sit,” and she is behaving like a pro on the leash. We have just completed a grooming session in which she, with a little help, climbed on top of our patio table and stood or sat as she was asked to do. Her fur, which was so matted and dirty when we picked her up, is becoming soft and silky. She is a dream to groom! No complaints even when I picked up her tail or her feet for grooming.
Molly is also learning to be a reliable housebroken dog. We are still taking her out frequently, but less so each day—and no mistakes for more than 2 weeks. In another week or so, she’ll be ready to be left in the house without supervision for several hours at a stretch. While we are out of the house, we’re still confining her to a large area that is closed off. She naps in this area on a lovely soft rug–and also sleeps quietly through the night, never asking to go out until morning. Once we are sure she is reliable, we will be ready to give her the run of the house, even at night, although I suspect she’ll spend the night on her rug, where ever it is placed.
She will be a wonderful, loving forever pet for someone who will give her lots of love in return. She is not a demanding dog—but she does like her meals served regularly, and lots of treats!
Update 03/28/2006:
Well, it has been almost a month
since Miss Molly Brown came to the household and what a month of joy and
laughter it has been. When we brought her home for the first time, what did she
do??? She ran and jumped into the pool, not to swim but to get a drink. Well, we
knew we had a name for her that was more than just Molly. She was officially
christened 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown" after the Titanic.- Molly Brown for
short.
Anyway she has done so well. After about 6 hours of sniffing, grunting and some
more sniffing, she made herself at home. She has absolutely flourished. She
loves to go out into the yard and explore, running after the birds. She follows
our other golden around like a shadow and I know that Wrinkles is simply in pure
awe of her. Molly has really begun to come out of her shell and with her reduced
stressed, she is panting less and less and less. She is a late riser and can
often be found sound asleep an hour or so after the rest of the dogs in the
house have been fed and exercised. Then she wakes up, takes a big stretch and
then has a leisurely breakfast.
She had a complete physical and was found to be fit as a fiddle and the vet is
questioning her actual age. In fact she may be less than the 8 years that we
think. She had her first spa treatment the other day and she really looks like a
new dog. Her coat is even, shinny and so soft. The amazing thing is that the
white muzzle and 'boots' she had appear to be reverting to their original color.
The vet said that with continued proper nutrition, reduced stress and unending
hugs and kisses, it is likely she will have a uniform coat. That was quite a
surprise.
She and the resident cat are not overly thrilled with each other but both are
making adjustments. Molly is inside and the cat is outside….and both seem to be
pleased with that simple arrangement.
Molly loves to talk and grunt and sits for hours at dad's feet. She is his
companion, protector and foot warmer. No complaints from either side.
So folks, in a nutshell, she is doing great. She is so loved its hard to believe
she is the same dog we welcomed a month ago. We are looking forward to years of
grunts, playtime and kisses from out 'Miss Molly Brown".
Oh she is saying something as I type…. "Woof….woof". That means "Thank You
GRR for making me so happy."