10/4/05: Jessie is an 8-10 year old Golden Retriever mix. We think that she has some Irish Setter in her as she looks like a tall, skinny Golden. She came to us Friday evening from the Hurricane Katrina region - hitching a ride with a fantastic RAGOM volunteer. Down south Jessie had been taken in by a Golden Retriever rescue a couple of months ago. She came to them neglected -- underweight and with a severe flea infestation/flea allergies. She was in foster care and starting to recover when her foster family had to evacuate and couldn't take her along. The rescue organization felt that she might do better in a northern climate given her flea allergies.

Jessie is recovering from her previous situation. She is still skinny and lethargic (low red blood cell count from the fleas), but she is improving every day with a little TLC. She is currently taking Benadryl for allergies and buffered asprin for some joint stiffness - she takes her pills nicely in a small piece of cheese. We are also treating her for an ear infection and some lingering skin irritation from the flea infestation - but both of these should be cleared up within a week.

She is completely housebroken and gets along well with our resident small dog and two cats. Her original foster down south was a single man, so while she likes all people, she has a special fondness for men (she loooves my husband). We have been taking it easy this weekend, but we know that she walks nicely on a leash and knows sit and come. She also knows that you get more treats if you sit pretty and wait patiently. Jessie is a true Southern Belle who just needs a few weeks to rest up and recuperate. Because Jessie came to us from another rescue group, she is ready for adoption, so there is no reason that she couldn't do this in her new forever home. She is ready to live the Golden life! If you'd like to open your home to this Katrina survivor, please contact placementragom [dot] org.