Nonie (Iona 16-051)

back to Adopted Dogs

Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Posted Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 March 22, 2016 Required Yes Optional Not tested 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Iona joined the RAGOM family with a group of ten other dogs from a hoarding situation. The dogs were very underweight (starved) and spent two weeks with the Humane Society under their care. During this time, she was carefully fed to allow her body to begin to slowly regain her weight. She also spent time with staff one-on-one to get petted, treats and learn that good things come from people. She was also brought up to date on her vaccinations: rabies, bordetella, and DHPP.  Next step in her rehabilitation was to leave the kennel life and live in a home. Here’s where RAGOM came to the rescue and I became her foster.

So who is Iona? She is a petite light colored lab mix weighing about 29 pounds. The vet thinks she will be about 32 pounds when she regains all her weight. The golden color on her ears and throughout her body very likely is from a Golden retriever since there were Goldens in the group. Iona is about four years old and will need to be spayed before she is adopted. She hasn’t had puppies. She has a lovely soft coat. Her body is filling out nicely and she is gaining weight. She has beautiful brown eyes.

Hoarding dogs are often undersocialized. She appeared fearful and had to be carried to and fro from the car to the house to the vet, but that fear is disappearing quickly. She loves to ride in the car and is a very good passenger. She now likes to go out the doors on walks. She loves exploring the backyard. She is worried when she sees/meets new people. Slow introductions and reassurance especially with a treat from the new person breaks the ice and she has made a new friend.

One of the nice things about Iona, as far as a foster and possible adopter concern, is that she has not had any accidents in my house. She was housebroken from day one. She can be coaxed into her crate with treats and settles down. If she complains, it’s a lovely serenade of vocalizations/howling that she has perfected. It’s somewhat musical and sometimes humorous to hear the range of sound. She has been good using baby gates as well.

Iona is very curious and eager to explore her new world. She checked out the house thoroughly and does the same on walks. She has a lot of energy for a dog who came from a bad situation but she also calms down easily. She walks nicely on a leash and enjoys her walks around the neighborhood or a park. When she is a little scared, she will wimper. We just stop and I pet her and tell her she’s a good dog. That’s all it takes and we’re on our way again.

Iona is smart. She had no experience with toys but that changed here.  Her favorite toy is a tennis ball. She likes to chase them and after only one day, she was retrieving them. She is very fast and agile. She can jump. She is cat-like in her play with the ball. I enjoy watching her roll around on her back in the grass with a ball in her mouth and pawing at it. I’m guessing she would love catching frisbees.  Her jumping up on me has lessened as she has learned off, no and we have developed more communication. She wants to please and has shown her intelligence. She also wants to snuggle up with you in bed but will also sleep in her dog bed. One of my favorite moments was not waking her up the first morning because she was snoring and so at peace out of the kennel and in my home.

With a dog who has been in a hoarding situation, they may be more comfortable with dogs than people but they may also have suffered from more aggressive dogs and competition for food. Anyone adopting Iona will need to deal with both animal and people socialization. Currently, she is fed separately 3-4 times a day a cup of food to allow the slow weight gain needed for her body’s adjustment to food. She is also spending time one-on-one with me not my dogs because of issues with my large Golden. She may have been picked on by larger dogs and feels very insecure or she just doesn’t like her. After only a week, I’m feeling like she would do best with adults because of her under socialization and also that she would LOVE to be an only dog and have people who spoil her and make up for all the love she has missed so far in her four years of life. She is lovely. She is happy. She is smart. She and I have had many enjoyable times together already. If you are touched by Iona’s story and feel that you have the patience, kindness and a postive approach to training, please contact RAGOM or your placement advisor and check out Iona. She is going to make someone a wonderful dog.

At a Glance #16-051

Mixed Breed Born: March 2012
Female 25 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Posted Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 March 22, 2016 Required Yes Optional Not tested 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Iona joined the RAGOM family with a group of ten other dogs from a hoarding situation. The dogs were very underweight (starved) and spent two weeks with the Humane Society under their care. During this time, she was carefully fed to allow her body to begin to slowly regain her weight. She also spent time with staff one-on-one to get petted, treats and learn that good things come from people. She was also brought up to date on her vaccinations: rabies, bordetella, and DHPP.  Next step in her rehabilitation was to leave the kennel life and live in a home. Here’s where RAGOM came to the rescue and I became her foster.

So who is Iona? She is a petite light colored lab mix weighing about 29 pounds. The vet thinks she will be about 32 pounds when she regains all her weight. The golden color on her ears and throughout her body very likely is from a Golden retriever since there were Goldens in the group. Iona is about four years old and will need to be spayed before she is adopted. She hasn’t had puppies. She has a lovely soft coat. Her body is filling out nicely and she is gaining weight. She has beautiful brown eyes.

Hoarding dogs are often undersocialized. She appeared fearful and had to be carried to and fro from the car to the house to the vet, but that fear is disappearing quickly. She loves to ride in the car and is a very good passenger. She now likes to go out the doors on walks. She loves exploring the backyard. She is worried when she sees/meets new people. Slow introductions and reassurance especially with a treat from the new person breaks the ice and she has made a new friend.

One of the nice things about Iona, as far as a foster and possible adopter concern, is that she has not had any accidents in my house. She was housebroken from day one. She can be coaxed into her crate with treats and settles down. If she complains, it’s a lovely serenade of vocalizations/howling that she has perfected. It’s somewhat musical and sometimes humorous to hear the range of sound. She has been good using baby gates as well.

Iona is very curious and eager to explore her new world. She checked out the house thoroughly and does the same on walks. She has a lot of energy for a dog who came from a bad situation but she also calms down easily. She walks nicely on a leash and enjoys her walks around the neighborhood or a park. When she is a little scared, she will wimper. We just stop and I pet her and tell her she’s a good dog. That’s all it takes and we’re on our way again.

Iona is smart. She had no experience with toys but that changed here.  Her favorite toy is a tennis ball. She likes to chase them and after only one day, she was retrieving them. She is very fast and agile. She can jump. She is cat-like in her play with the ball. I enjoy watching her roll around on her back in the grass with a ball in her mouth and pawing at it. I’m guessing she would love catching frisbees.  Her jumping up on me has lessened as she has learned off, no and we have developed more communication. She wants to please and has shown her intelligence. She also wants to snuggle up with you in bed but will also sleep in her dog bed. One of my favorite moments was not waking her up the first morning because she was snoring and so at peace out of the kennel and in my home.

With a dog who has been in a hoarding situation, they may be more comfortable with dogs than people but they may also have suffered from more aggressive dogs and competition for food. Anyone adopting Iona will need to deal with both animal and people socialization. Currently, she is fed separately 3-4 times a day a cup of food to allow the slow weight gain needed for her body’s adjustment to food. She is also spending time one-on-one with me not my dogs because of issues with my large Golden. She may have been picked on by larger dogs and feels very insecure or she just doesn’t like her. After only a week, I’m feeling like she would do best with adults because of her under socialization and also that she would LOVE to be an only dog and have people who spoil her and make up for all the love she has missed so far in her four years of life. She is lovely. She is happy. She is smart. She and I have had many enjoyable times together already. If you are touched by Iona’s story and feel that you have the patience, kindness and a postive approach to training, please contact RAGOM or your placement advisor and check out Iona. She is going to make someone a wonderful dog.

Updates

Saturday, August 20, 2016

In the last two weeks we’ve been waiting for a home visit and possible adopters to return from vacation. We spent some time at the lake and then were back in Sioux Falls playing in the backyard and just waiting, waiting. Yesterday was the big day when Iona, now called Nonie, met Troy and Rebecca. She immediately took to Rebecca but wanted Troy to work hard at winning her over. Strange men have always been a little frightening for Nonie. Troy had the treats and was willing to throw her ball and be patient. It paid off. On Sunday they all got in the car and were off to West St. Paul to play in a big yard and get used to the new home and extended family. Her adoptive family has a cabin in Wisconsin so Nonie can continue to swim and enjoy being Up North in the Woods. Her family loves that she is a Lab mix and small. They had Labs before and miss them. They are also willing to give her time to adjust and become safe at their house. She hasn’t had the best life so far, but between her foster home and theirs, she certanly will have one now. Congratulations, Nonie, you have found your forever family.

Iona16051n1.jpg

Iona16051n2.jpg      Iona16051n3.jpg

Thursday, July 28, 2016

We have a lot to update on Nonie this time. She has been to her first Meet ‘n Greet at Shop Dog in Sioux Falls. She liked meeting all the RAGOM pack and dog customers and even let many strange adults, both men, women and children pet her. She found a safe spot in a corner and watched the whole affair for awhile but then ventured out into the store to shop around, taking in all the sights and smells. Many people remarked on her petite size and she was showing her very submissive, paws crossed, gentile lady side.  Meanwhile back at home, she is Miss Energy! Playing hard with both my dogs, chewing on toys to burn off more of her energy but then snoring away once she’s tired.

Next in her busy life was a visit to a new RAGOM vet who is removing a broken tooth today. It’s a long surgery because of a deep root so I’ll be glad when she comes home tonight with that health issue resolved. She will be eating soft food for awhile. She won’t mind that. Any food makes her very happy. We tried out the canned stuff on top of her kibble last night and she licked her chops!

Iona16051m1.jpg           Iona16051m2.jpg

Nonie was referred to a vet dermatologist who comes to Sioux Falls once a month to see patients. Because she was a rescue we were able to come early and be seen this week instead of waiting another month. Her exam showed no signs of the pelodera parasite so that was a huge relief but she definitely is itching and chewing and licking herself and has some hair loss. As the vet said, looking at her from above she has a nice coat and looks fine but her tummy, legs and thighs have some bad spots. As it turns out, when a dog is starved like Nonie was, their body systems shut down and only the most essential things work. Once healthy, all systems are go. I saw this with her hormones when she went into heat as soon as she got healthy. That’s what’s happened with her allergies, too. We’re starting out with antihistimines and will see how that helps her.

Thanks so much to RAGOM for approving all these treatments and services for her. They will all help to get her on a path to health and a good life. Speaking of that, we are now excited to be working with a couple who are interested in her. Keeping our paws crossed that they will become her forever family.

That’s all for now. Off to the lake again and lots of swimming and retrieving.

Iona16051m3.jpg

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Hello, this is Nonie’s Foster Mom. She has had her spay surgery and is now recovered. Today she can go swimming and resume life without going into heat or having puppies. And she is available for adoption.

It’s hard writing this with Nonie resting on my left hand and Maggie pawing my right hand. Life with three dogs can make writing updates difficult but I need to get this written and posted. We have been working with a possible adopter for the last few weeks and yesterday that ended. We are located too far away for them to travel to meet her. We are moving back and forth between SD and WI a lot this summer and willing to meet in either location. SD is best with a fenced yard and because Nonie has lived there nearly all her time with us but the lake home is not too far from the Twin Cities.

Nonie has been lucky to have visitors the last few weekends. Over the 4th of July, my nephew, his wife and their 7 year old son and 11 year old daughter visited. They love dogs and in no time I looked in the living room and James, the 7 year old, was sitting beside Nonie on the sofa petting her. I think it is safe to say she would do fine with children now. She used to be so afraid of my neighbor boys who are about the same age. She just needs to be able to watch at first and then she sees that the kids are alright. This last weekend at the lake she had more guests and was fine.  She has really come a long way from her fear of new people. On our walk to the boat landing, a guy walked across the parking lot. A few months ago, she would have wimpered and turned to me looking worried or barked at him. She didn’t pay him any attention.

Iona is still eager to eat but no longer wakes me early in the morning for her breakfast. She reset her clock after her surgery and now waits until we all wake to have breakfast. She used to ring the bell at the door to wake me. I’d jump out of bed thinking she needed to go outside and she would be headed down the hall to the kitchen for her breakfast.

So now we are back looking for Nonie’s forever home. Please consider her if you want an energetic velcro dog still learning about all the good things life has to offer. The longer she is with me the more I  need to provide some basic training. She knows sit, lie down, come, wait and how to take treats nicely. She still jumps up and is mouthy when she wants to communicate a need. She pulls on her leash but is much better when I am walking all three dogs at once rather than when she is alone. She is super playful with my dogs and very strong and fast.  Nonie is a lap dog and snuggler in bed or with the other dogs. She has learned to be part of a pack and take the lowest position but still pushes her way to get plenty of food and attention.  Please fill out an inquiry form if you are interested in Iona.

Iona16051l1.jpg      Iona16051l2.jpg

Iona16051l3.jpg      Iona16051l4.jpg

Iona16051l5.jpg      Iona16051l6.jpg

 

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Hello again from me, Nonie. Just got back from another trip to Wisconsin. This time we left the lake and drove north of Hayward to visit Foster Mom’s friend’s family at their lake place. I got to go swimming in their lake, take treats from two year old Ben and meet alot of new people and a dog named Otis. I stood real still and let Otis, a big yellow Lab, check me out. We accepted each other and I had a good time visiting them. On the way home, we stopped for treats and we got puppy cups at DQ. Yum!

Iona16051k3.jpg

I am now wearing a new harness on walks and trying to pull less. Not sure how much better I am yet but I am very good at ‘sit.’ I do that for treats and before getting leashed. Foster Mom also asks me to ‘wait’ at the door before she opens it. Training, training, training. There is so much to learn when you are new to living with people in houses and all their expectations for how a dog should behave. I am a work in progress. Foster Mom is pretty patient most of the time and keeps trying different approaches.

Iona16051k2.jpg

I loved retrieving sticks from the lake. I stick my head under water and just love the lake! Maggie and I chewed up a cattail that got stuck by the dock. That kept us entertained for a long time.

I am scheduled for my spay surgery on Tuesday. Then I am really ready for a new home. And I am finally having some people interested in me.

Ok, I need a fence because it is so much more fun for me to run around and chase balls and not be tethered with a lead or leash. I am safer that way as well. I need someone who likes a snuggler because I really like to be close. I’m getting hugs when I sit nice in front of Foster Mom and she scratches my chest and belly. I am a bit spoiled. Hope that continues. I seem to be alright with men now and small children who are dog smart. I definitely like other dogs. I love snuggling with Bella and Maggie. They have been great helping me adjust to life here and letting me know that there is no competion for food or toys or even attention.

Well, that’s all I can think about to share for now. Keep me in your thoughts as I have my surgery this week. Foster Mom is squeamish so I must be brave and be a good patient. I know the people at the vet really like me and will be nice to me. They always are. Bye for now. Nonie.

Iona16051k1.jpg

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Iona, also known as Nonie, here! We’ve been busy at this foster home so no updates for awhile. No time for the computer. Foster Mom had two Golden puppies for a week in addition to the three of us big dogs. They were a big distraction to her. I was really curious about them and sniffed noses with them a few times to say hi. When they got loose in the yard or house and came running to me, I jumped up on the bed or ran for the door to get away from them. Funny little guys. I just didn’t know what to do so I just made a quick escape.

Once they left, Foster Mom got excited because there were some people interested in meeting me. They live a few blocks from us but they aren’t able to adopt now.

I really like it here. I’m happy but Foster Mom says I need to find a forever home. She is my temporary mom who feeds me, loves me and makes me healthy. She’s got some great dogs for me to play with and snuggle with and I’ve learned a lot about living here from them. She says I need a forever home where someone will train me and give me lots of exercise. I love to go for walks and chase my tennis balls. I like having a fenced yard because I can run around and sniff if any squirrels or bunnies have been visiting. I can be safe chasing my balls, too.

I met some kids today. I sniffed their hands. I also visited with a guy who works at the Humane Society where we were taken when we were rescued. He’s been following my progress. He lives behind us and sees me playing with toys and running around. I look a lot better now. I’m healthy and happy. I already said that. Thanks to RAGOM and the Humane Society, I am rescued. Now I just need to find that forever home Foster Mom says I need. I wonder where it is? Hopefully somewhere where I can snuggle with someone-person or dog. I need that kind of love. I’d also like to be fed a lot. I like to eat. I also like treats. I will sit for treats. I even sit to be leashed now. I’m learning some good behaviors. I still need someone who will continue my training.

Where are you? Who are you?

Iona16051j1.jpg

Iona16051j2.jpg           Iona16051j3.jpg

Iona16051j4.jpg

Iona16051j5.jpg

Iona16051j6.jpg

Sunday, June 19, 2016

 

Happy Spring!  Happy Spring Iona from your fur sister Cait 16-045!

Happy Spring!  Happy Spring! So glad you are a Ragom Rescue now! Thank you SFHS for your efforts! From RD in SD

 

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Hello Iona followers! This is Nonie. That’s what FM calls me. We’re at the lake in Wisconsin and I love the water. I fell off the dock first time in but now I go in to find sticks and follow Bella. I even found a dead fish and brought it out for FM. She had to pick it up in her hand and toss it back in the lake.

Iona16051i1.jpg

I am so excited here. I chase tennis balls in the big front yard by the lake. I go for walks with FM and the other two dogs. I have to be on a long lead because I think I should go potty in the neighbor’s yard and I took off to find a good spot. Luckily, I have good recall and came running back when I was done with that business. The neighbor’s grills are also very interesting to check out. As you can guess, I’m pretty busy and curious about new things. I was a very good traveller coming out here. I like to sleep in the car.

Iona16051i2.jpg        Iona16051i3.jpg

Well, so long from Wisconsin. Our vacation is ending soon and I will be back in Sioux Falls. FM is expecting puppies so we’ll be busy playing ‘auntie’ to some little ones. If you’d like to meet me, I’m still looking for my forever home. I’ve grown a lot, not just by gaining weight but by meeting new people and learning that people are nice to me now. I’m really a snuggler. I love my FM a lot but I can learn to love someone else as well. I just want to be somebody’s special dog.

Iona16051i4.jpg

 

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Iona is well traveled now. We took off for the lake in Wisconsin and spent a week there. She is a great traveler. She curled up and slept for the seven hour trip.

She loved the walks and all the new places she got to go to. The weather was pretty lousy so we didn’t try swimming. She retrieved a few sticks near the shore and once went in up to her elbows. She learns from the other dogs so she may follow Bella and go for a swim when it warms up.   She would go out on the dock on her own and seems very curious about the water. Her tick treatment worked. I saw one on her and with her light coat it was easy to find and hadn’t taken ahold of her.

Iona16051h1.jpg

My sons arrived with a male Golden and Iona didn’t bark at the guys and got along well with the dog. She growled a tiny bit at strange men filling up at gas stations or working on road crews when we stopped for construction but otherwise meets men much better than before. It was just a matter of getting more experience with people and gaining more confidence. She now approaches new people and takes a sniff and then will let them pet her.

Iona shed her winter coat recently and she sheds like a Golden! She has had a few baths at home and is very cooperative.

Iona16051h2.jpg

The move to a different house brought Iona back to sleeping with me. She seems to need to be close. Now that we’re back in Sioux Falls, she is sleeping in her dog bed again. She was trying my patience as I changed the sheets on my bed at the cottage. I took pictures as she hopped on the bed every step of the way.

Iona16051h3.jpg           Iona16051h4.jpg

The time at the lake and then on our return home showed me that Iona is happiest in a fenced yard and safer. She has alot of energy and needs to run around. She has good recall but is very fast and could be gone in a flash. At home in the fenced yard she can wrestle with the other dogs and chase and just sniff around. She has her favorite potty spot. Even with a long lead, she didn’t have that much freedom at the lake. Exercise was mostly on walks. I noticed everybody was happy to be turned loose in the yard when we got home.

Iona16051h5.jpg

Iona liked the long walks to the boat landing and I was able to walk all three dogs at once.. She did pretty well with this.

Iona wants lots of attention but is happy in a pack especially with easy going dogs who will play with her. She is learning ‘sit’ but definitely knows ‘go lay down’ which I tell her when she’s getting too demanding or in the early morning when she wakes me and wants to eat.

Iona is ready to meet possible adopters with the understanding that her spay is still a few weeks off due to being in heat.   She is healthy and as my son noted she isn’t the same dog he met a couple months ago. To quote him, ‘she seems normal now.’ She will be going back and forth with us from Sioux Falls to the lake in Wisconsin (two hours east of the Twin Cities) so visitation can be arranged for either location.  Please contact your placement advisor or fill out an interest form online. Her new life awaits her.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Great news at our vet visit this week. Iona has been struggling with a rare parasite on her coat and then a staph infection. She has been going for treatments twice a week, taking antibiotics and more to try to rid her of this pest. It is an external parasite acquired from filthy bedding. This is just another piece of her past and now it is finally IN THE PAST. She is healthy weightwise, now holding at forty pounds and her immune system is restored. She is so healthy now that her hormones are working and she is in heat! That will delay her spay awhile and keep her status unavailable until she is spayed.

She had visitors this week and made a new friend. She would sit with her head in Judy’s lap. She is shy with new people but this showed me that she can bond with others. She now sleeps in her dog bed. Another sign that she is less dependent on her foster mom.

Iona16051g1.jpg

We are working on learning ‘heel’ as she wants to lead and pull on the leash. She is very responsive to training.

ENERGY. HAPPY. Those are two words that best describe her. She is strong and loves to play with the other dogs. She is so docile at the vet that they don’t believe me when I describe her energy at home.

Iona16051g2.jpg

Howling and barking have dropped off. She is more comfortable living in the city now.

Next week is a trip to Wisconsin to the lake. We’ll see if she is a water dog. She got her Lyme booster this week for extra tick protection. She’s ready to travel. Stay tuned for her next update.

Iona16051g3.jpg

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

A quick update on Iona. She is now almost 40 pounds and her vet wants her to stay at that weight. She’s looking good. We are still treating her with antibiotics and will return to the vet next week for a Lyme booster before she travels to Wisconsin.

Yesterday we had a female visitor with a Golden and Iona was very comfortable with meeting her and her dog. More new people arrive this weekend so she will continue to get used to meeting new people. She still is very uncomfortable around children, especially when they are bouncing balls and noisy. This might change over time as she gains more confidence but for now, a home with no young children would be best.

Iona16051f1.JPG                Iona16051f2.JPG

Tennis balls used to be her favorite toys and she still likes to retrieve them but she has discovered the toy box and regularly takes several toys out to chew on. Her spot in the backyard usually has three tennis balls nearby. It’s so wonderful to see her relaxed either in her favorite spot under a bush or on a dog bed or beside me on the sofa. She loves her life now.  She is high energy but can also rest and settle down. She runs along the fence but rarely barks at my neighbor now. He’s been bringing her treats and trying to become a friend.

It’s bath time now for Iona so I’ll keep this short. She has a lovely soft short haired coat which will be even softer after her bath. Sweet, cuddly and healthier are the best way to describe Iona now. Please keep reading her progress and watching for her status change.

Iona16051f3.JPG      Iona16051f4.JPG

 

Monday, April 18, 2016

Sorry Foster Mom has been busy replacing carpet and other home projects so Iona’s update is late.

Iona has really been changing and having new experiences. A strange man came to the house several days to replace carpet with new dog friendly floors and she barked at him. Another strange man, my son, visited over the weekend and she barked at him. Her tail wags but she is scared and barks. Not so much with my son’s girlfriend so I’ve come to the conclusion that Iona is more fearful of men. Her visits to the vet have been with an all female staff including the vet so she really hasn’t met many men. My son gave her lots of treats and took her for a walk to win her over. She let him sit with her on the sofa and pet her. Her confidence is growing along with having more good experiences with people. The male painter is coming this week so more opportunities to meet friendly, kind men. Other visitors are coming right after that so she will have to adjust to new people living with her. In her adoptive home, slow introductions with lots of treats will help her to meet new people.

Iona had been sleeping alone with me from the beginning but this past week with all the upheaval all the dogs climbed into bed. They are all getting along so well that this isn’t a problem anymore. Who gets to sleep up near me is interesting to watch. Iona is given alot of leeway here by the two resident dogs. I can’t believe how much they let her have her way. She seems to need to be snuggled next to me most of the time. She also likes to snuggle with the other dogs.

I no longer think she wants to be an only dog. In the month here, she has become buddies with both dogs. She plays chase and wrestles with them. I have never had a foster who played this much and with all my dogs. They have all come to be good buddies after a rocky start with the big dog. She used to be a tennis ball only dog but now loves to squeak the stuffed animals and run around with it in her mouth. It is so wonderful to see her joyfully playing in the backyard. She runs out to do her business and will have a roll in the grass and grab a toy. She greets the yellow lab behind us at the fence with no barking and her tag wagging.

She took a ride with the other dogs the other day. Most of her trips have been alone and to the vet. She settled into the back seat without any problems and went on errands with us. I did catch her chewing on a leash while I was in the bank. Going out for car rides has become routine. She has to be happy that the destination is no longer the vet.

Her weight is now 35 pounds so we are transitioning to regular dog food and fewer meals. She still wakes me at 6:30 am for her breakfast. She looks good and has so much energy. Her skin health continues to be an issue. She’s on an antibiotic now and taking Benedryl. The itchiness seems to occur at night. Her new food is grain free so hopefully that will help. Otherwise she seems to be doing very well. I’ll take her to the vet for a weigh-in and recheck and hope for a good report. She certainly doesn’t resemble the dog of a month ago. Iona has really changed from a very skinny fearful dog to a nice looking and very happy dog.

We are taking walks in pairs now. She loves going around the neighborhood and out to various parks. The one beside a nature area was a delight to watch her excitement sniffing around where various animals have been. I wonder how new that whole experience is for her. Being a lab mix, she has a good nose.

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Iona is continuing to gain weight and now weighs 33 pounds. All the fosters for these dogs are focused on their weight gain which we are carefully monitoring. She is looking good and has so much energy to chase balls and play.

A big thank you to RD in SD for making a donation in her name and thanks to the SFHS for her rescue.

We had a big snow this week and she enjoyed playing in it. Finding her tennis balls was more challenging. She is getting fond of toys and carries one around. Our neighborhood walks have increased as she gets healthier and more confident. This week she walked beside the playground at lunch time with all the noise of a hundred kids. She was pretty scared but made it around and got a treat. All these things are new and challenges we have to overcome. 

She is having no problem making connections with Foster Mom. I get kisses regularly. It’s very rewarding when a shy dog begins to connect and makes an attachment to you. 

At first Iona spent alot of time in her crate as she adjusted to life here.  She is now happier with more freedom and friends with the resident dogs. She chases with them and is becoming buddies with Maggie. Her trips to the vet continue twice a week where she gets weighed and has a special bath. She has finished all her meds and her cough is all gone, skin issue is still a puzzle to her vet though. With improved health, it looks like Iona will be going into heat soon. Oh, joy!

Keep reading her story. Hopefully she will be cleared for adoption this spring. She won’t be spayed while in heat so we will have more time to work on socialization and building her confidence with new people and situations. Company coming next weekend so she will have house guests.


Where's that tennis ball?

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Wow, thanks Cait for thinking of Iona and sending a donation for her. That’s wonderful!

Life is improving for Iona as she continues to gain weight. She weighed 31.4 pounds at the vet Friday so she is almost at her normal weight. She is all up to date now with her shots and has made friends at the vet. On her first visit, I had to carry her in and out. Now she walks in the door and out on her leash. She has been going to the vet often as they treat a skin condition. She is missing some hair on her sternum and the vet feels her immune system was compromised by her poor living conditions, not only the lack of food and water but unclean bedding. Her condition has been aggressively treated. She is also taking a low dose of prednisone to give her a little boost which makes her even more hungry and thirsty.

Iona is coming out of her shyness. She is happy and enjoys playing ball, going for walks and getting more comfortable with a much bigger world. She still howls whenever there’s a siren in the neighborhood. It makes me laugh to hear her singing away. On our walks she is still cautious of people and noisy vehicles but today walked confidently along a busy street.

She is housebroken and is now learning what ‘go potty’ means when I take her outside in bad weather or darkness. She will go to her favorite spots and do her business and not mess around. Thanks Iona for being so smart especially in 45 mph wind and cold.

She will be spayed in early April when she is finished with all her antibiotics, steriod and we feel she is in a good healthy state. Until then, her status is Unavailable so that we can give her the time needed to adjust to home life and get healthy. That isn’t too far away so if Iona (or Nonie) sounds like a dog you are interested in, contact RAGOM by filling out an inquiry form. She is very affectionate, eager and learns quickly. Her age is nice because she’s past the puppy stage and ready to fit into life in a new home. Her size is also nice. She is petite but strong and athletic.

All these dogs are deserving of RAGOM’s support but there are many in this group of eleven and they all come with special health issues. Please consider sponsoring or donating to their care. And please watch their progress as they thrive with the love and care RAGOM fosters provide them.