Louie

Louie, age 6 1/2

AVAILABLE SOON HW POSITIVE

Louie will begin treatment for Heartworms soon.  Watch this space for his availability date.

Updated 8/22/11

Louie is continuing on his road to good health. He is gaining some weight and feeling frisky. His heartworm treatment is still on hold as he gets stronger (and due to a nationwide shortage of the drug used to treat heartworms), so he’s just enjoying himself living the good life. That includes a backyard with a pool, wow! Here you see lanky Louie enjoying himself & getting ready to make a splash with his best pal, GRR Golden Alex.

Foster dad says, “Louie is somewhat darker in color than Alex, but they are two-peas-in-a-pod. They look similar in the face, they stay & play together all the time, they sleep together, they both are ball nuts, they are about the same size, and they are similar in personality = one hundred percent friendly

Updated 8/2/11

Louie appeared on the Rescue Radar on July 22, when we got this e-mail:

“I am an animal advocate here in San Antonio.  A friend of mine found a very malnourished Golden Retriever and my sister, who fosters dogs, is taking him in for the night.  She can’t keep him because she is at full capacity with 4 dogs of her own and 4 foster dogs, yet this poor Retriever needs a home. We can transport him to anywhere in Texas this weekend. Please this is an S.O.S. for extreme help!!!  Thanks a lot.”

A quick phone call  revealed more about Louie—he’d been seen wandering stray in the neighborhood for several weeks, and was in very rough shape, so weak and skinny he even had a hard time standing up. “But when he sees you he really tries to get up and wag his tail. He’s a true gentleman! He has such a nice personality but he really needs help NOW.”

It was a scramble, but by afternoon Louie was safe at the clinic. His GRR chauffeur pronounced him wonderful in the car, sweet, compliant, and yes, VERY skinny, with ribs and hips poking out. “He’ll be a big boy when he hits the right weight.” And Louie really did need help right away: he had a bladder infection & kennel cough, he’s heartworm positive, and his bloodwork showed that his kidneys are stressed, we hope just from starvation. Heartworm treatment and neuter surgery are on hold until Louie gets healthier. And he is on his way!—he’s started on a course of antibiotics, and he’s safe and sound indoors and getting  plenty to eat and drink. 

Foster dad says, “He sure seems happy, very happy. He fit right into the household. He’ll even play a little bit with a tennis ball. His appetite is just fine and he takes his antibiotic, fish oil caps and vitamins with no problem. I am amazed at how resilient these dogs are! They just want a nice loving home… well, don’t we all?”

More news to come as Louie continues to get stronger!