FROSTY
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| *FROSTY* IN A NUTSHELL: Shy little boy, approximately 16 weeks old. We're just getting to know him. | |||||||||||
| What do you do when a picture like this appears in your in-box? Well, if you're a rescue person, you get in your vehicle and drive to Casa Grande as quickly as possible ... and that's exactly what we did!
We decided he did not deserve the name "Frosty," since we wanted to warm his personality up, so we have temporarily dubbed him "Pup Tent." We'll give his new family the option of naming this little boy. "PT" is dirty, but no fleas or ticks and no fly strikes on his ears so we have to wonder where he has spent the last few months of his life. The shelter reported that other dogs had come in during the same period of time covered in ticks, but this little boy, other than being dusty, is relatively clean. We got him back to Phoenix as soon as we could. The first order of business upon arriving at his temporary foster home with one of our staff members was a BATH -- probably the first one he's had in his entire life. Pup Tent protested at first, but our staff member held him tight and talked to him and he soon settled down and even seemed to enjoy the scrubbing and the towel drying afterwards.
After a bath, Pup Tent and his temporary foster mom sat on the sofa to enjoy a little bonding time and the resident cats just HAD to come up to introduce themselves to the newcomer!  PROGRESS REPORT: When we first brought PT in, he had himself pushed against the back wall of his temporary pen as far and as tight as he could manage, avoiding all eye and physical contact. After just a few hours, he's now in a more relaxed position, no longer avoiding our touch, but not coming up for it either. We offered him a treat, which he would not take from our hands, but once we left him alone with it, it was gone in a matter of minutes.
 Sleeping baby This little boy needs a gentle, understanding foster family to help him realize that people can be good and loving. Make no mistake, this is one frightened little boy, but with time, patience and a lot of TLC, we believe he will be a wonderful addition to any family. Please email us if you'd like to help Pup Tent on his way to forever.
FOSTER UPDATE 8/8: "This is one confusing little guy! Having been in GSD's (specifically whites) since 1978, this one is not like any I have come across. Here's an example of our day: Up around 8am and let Pup Tent and his favorite adult (Thelma) out of their adjoining crates for the morning potty break. Thelma heads right for the potty area; however, Pup Tent does not like that area and squeezes himself through the wrought iron bars to the grassy area and does his business, after which he comes back through the bars onto the patio. He does all of this alone, as long as I stay clear of his path. I will usually insist that he goes into the run for some exercise with Thelma before letting him in the house, and he goes into the doggie area simply to avoid me, not because that's what he wants to do!
After a while, when Thelma comes inside, Pup Tent will follow her as long as he doesn't see me, but I have to go out, corner him, pick him up and carry him into the house, where he spends the rest of the day curled up in my office pretending I don't exist. He has a bed in my office, which he initially loved (see photo above) but which he is now refusing to lay on because I put 2 of my well worn shirts onto the bed!
I insist that he spend a couple of hours on my lap watching TV with me each afternoon getting lots of love, ear scratching and pets. He's not happy, but it's not an option. If I have a piece of bacon in my hand and offer it to him, he will not take it until I put it down and then he gobbles it right up. He will not eat if I am anywhere near his food, but waits until he thinks I can't see him or I'm out of his line of sight. He is warming up to all of the adult dogs and goes by each one's crate with a wagging tail when he goes out in the morning, so at least that's one good thing. So, other dogs, yes. People not so much, at least so far FOSTER UPDATE 8/15: "We've changed the routine around a little bit and are seeing some improvement. Pup Tent now spends all of his spare time (and night time) in his foster mom's office. He is allowed out with his favorite dog, Thelma, each morning and he is SO happy to see her -- he just wiggles and wiggles. After his morning outside time, Thelma retires to her crate and Pup Tent comes back into his foster mom's office for breakfast. He spends the entire day inside, with his foster mom coming and going as needed. He still is NOT thrilled for people to touch him, but he's not completely avoiding human touch as he was before.
When it's dinner time, Pup Tent goes outside with his favorite dog friend, Thelma, for a short break, then comes back into the house for dinner. He does not immediately attack his food bowl, either at breakfast or at dinner, but waits to make sure no one is looking before he eats. His foster mom has been stuffing a dog bone with peanut butter and he's really enjoying digging for it. After dinner, it's one more time out with Thelma before back into the office for the night. He's clean in his puppy pen all night and lets you know immediately if he needs to go out and potty.
We're seeing baby steps, but we'll take it
FOSTER UPDATE 8/20: "We have discovered that if we go out and sit on the patio with Thelma and Pup Tent, he will walk around us, wagging his tail and vocalizing his excitement to be around us. He will come in with a wagging tail to an outstretched hand for touches, but is not quite ready to jump in our laps. He has no hesitation in mouthing our slippers if we happen to wear them out to the patio! He's so close to figuring it out."
We think Pup Tent would be fantastic with another dog, coming and going in and out of the house and learning from the other dog that people are wonderful, kind and loving ... something he has obviously not learned from whatever environment he's been in for the first 16 weeks of his life. He is pretty much a typical puppy when outside, but he shuts down and becomes very leery and cautious as soon as he's brought into the house.
FOSTER UPDATE 8/26: "Our little boy had a wonderful afternoon. We decided to change things up a bit and instead of bringing him into the house alone, we decided to bring his surrogate mom, Thelma, inside with him to spend the afternoon. Pup Tent was delighted with the change! He shared a peanut butter stuffed bone with her, and even took a treat from our hand (something he has NEVER done before) after he watched Thelma gobble treat after treat."
Frosty Pup Tent is scheduled to be neutered at the end of September, after which he will be available for adoption. He would do best in a home with a friendly, outgoing female dog to show him the ropes. He is housebroken, crate trained, dog and cat friendly -- people are his main nemesis. UPDATE 9/22: Frosty Pup Tent was neutered today. He weighed in at 35.5 pounds and came through the surgery like a champ. He gave us a bit of a scare when he started to bleed profusely several hours post-surgery, but thanks to the work and dedication of vet tech, Alvin, Frosty has made a quick recovery and is doing fine as of Sunday. He will be recovering at the home of one of our staff members and then going into a foster home around October 8th, after which he will be available for adoption.
Adoption fee $325.00.
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