Puzzle

Updated 3/21/11

Updated 2/22/11

Puzzle is doing great.  She is such a happy little puppy and she brings so much laughter and joy to everyone in the home.  After meals, she plays “bitey head” with the other dogs and then cuddles up next to them, or even in their outstretched arms, for a nap.  When she wants attention, she’ll come over and put her two front paws on your leg.  She entertains herself with her own game of “fetch”: she’ll flip a tennis ball up into the air and then chase it down and bring it back.  And if you’re not careful, she’ll spin out the roll of toilet paper, shred any paper she finds lying around, or steal the freshly folded laundry.

Puzzle is growing bigger, longer, and lankier.  She’s gained about 3 pounds in the last week.  She’s also losing her fang-like puppy teeth.  And, best of all, she sleeps the whole night through without so much as a peep!

This little girl is so smart that she’s a pro at going in her crate.  When it’s time for bed, she just walks into her crate in the master bedroom and falls asleep with the gate open.  She goes in happily when she’s going to be left alone for a few hours, too. Of course, it helps that she has her toys, a stuffed Kong, and a bone to gnaw on with her in her “room.” She doesn’t like to be stuck in the crate when people are home, but she’s not yet completely trustworthy on her own.

Puzzle loves to go for adventures in the car.  She sits in the passenger seat like a pro and doesn’t even jump around.  She pulls a little on the leash, but since she’s not allowed to go for long walks, that hasn’t been a high priority.

Puzzle is a happy, outgoing girl who has bouts of high energy mixed with low energy… typical for a puppy.  It’s wonderful watching her learn about the world—this week, she discovered “up.” Balls sometimes go up.  Food is up.  Sometimes a towel or jacket is up.  The roast beef is up.   Looking up can be very, very good :-)

Stay tuned for more adventures of this happy puppy Puzzle!

Updated 2/5/11

Special Golden Heart Looking for Her Forever Valentine
 
You may have come here, attracted to her age.  Puppies are always cute.

You may have come here, entranced by her pictures. 
 
But Puzzle is not your typical Golden puppy looking for a home.
 
She's Special.  And she needs a Very Special Home.

Puzzle is 4 months young and came into care from an owner whose vet recognized her as having a heart murmur, but no further diagnostic tests were done.
 
Soon after Puzzle came into GRR care, she was seen by Dr C. Jones, a well-known veterinary cardiologist in Austin.
 
We had hoped that what Puzzle had would be fixable.
 
Sadly, it is not.
 
Puzzle was diagnosed with a severe form of Sub-Aortic Stenosis and Valvular Aortic Stenosis.   Her life expectancy will be less than that of a healthy Golden.  She will require daily heart medication.
 
She is a typical Golden puppy.  She will shred you into Swiss cheese with her puppy teeth.  She will cuddle under your neck when she's tired.  She will play bitey-head with her Golden aunts and uncle.  She is totally typical for a 4-month-old Golden puppy.
 
With the exception of her heart.
 
Puzzle's adoptive home should know and understand that she will never be able to run with you, never go for long walks, or do anything to tax her heart.  She is limited with respect to exercise and she cannot tolerate the heat nor extreme cold.
 
She loves her tennis balls.  But she can't do more than a few 10- to 12-foot rolls along the ground, so as not to tax her heart.
 
She should never go deep-water swimming.  Dipping her toes in is just fine, but nothing to cause stress to her heart.
 
Puzzle's time here may be short. She will not have a normal life expectancy.
 
Due to the severity of her problem, it's not known how much time she actually has.  Weeks.  Months.  Maybe a few years.
 
But she is a goober!  And she's a lover!  And she is the best snuggler!
 
Someone said that it's not the Quantity of Life, but the QUALITY.
 
All of us are hoping to provide her with that.
 
She will love you.
 
She will break your heart when it's time.
 
But don't they all?
 
If you have it in YOUR heart to help out this sweet girl's HEART, let us know.