Russell (Ray 12-074)

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Welcome Ray to RAGOM!   He is a beautiful cream colored, 9 week old, 10-pound puppy - ½ GR, ¼ yellow lab and ¼ Australian Sheppard.  Ray is blind in one eye, and farsighted in the other He has been with us for a week and is a very well adjusted boy.   We are not sure about his hearing at this time.  He gets around well, cocks his head a lot to see better with his good eye.  We keep everything in the same place (except puppy toys that get scattered around).  He is doing well on potty training, mostly outside – but if not he goes at the door on the towel/papers when I don’t get to him in time.

 

He has been to the vet and received his puppy shots.  We also brought him to an eye specialist who confirmed his vision issues.  He gave us great easy suggestions on how to teach him and keep him safe. 

 

He plays well with his siblings, our resident 2 yr old, and all of the children he has met 7-15 years old.  He does have those sharp baby teeth!! He is a joy to be with – lots of puppy kisses and cuddles and loving.  He plays hard, takes lots of naps, is crate trained and sleeps thru the night!

 

Ray will need a special family who understands his special needs, a calm, safe home that doesn’t have clutter or need to be rearranged.  He can have another “calmer” dog, as he shouldn’t rough house too much and the other dog can show him the ropes.  No young children.

 

If you would like to meet this handsome guy, please contact your RAGOM placement advisor.   We have lots of great info to share about blind/special needs puppies!

 

  

At a Glance #12-074

Mixed Breed Born: January 2012
Male 8 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

Welcome Ray to RAGOM!   He is a beautiful cream colored, 9 week old, 10-pound puppy - ½ GR, ¼ yellow lab and ¼ Australian Sheppard.  Ray is blind in one eye, and farsighted in the other He has been with us for a week and is a very well adjusted boy.   We are not sure about his hearing at this time.  He gets around well, cocks his head a lot to see better with his good eye.  We keep everything in the same place (except puppy toys that get scattered around).  He is doing well on potty training, mostly outside – but if not he goes at the door on the towel/papers when I don’t get to him in time.

 

He has been to the vet and received his puppy shots.  We also brought him to an eye specialist who confirmed his vision issues.  He gave us great easy suggestions on how to teach him and keep him safe. 

 

He plays well with his siblings, our resident 2 yr old, and all of the children he has met 7-15 years old.  He does have those sharp baby teeth!! He is a joy to be with – lots of puppy kisses and cuddles and loving.  He plays hard, takes lots of naps, is crate trained and sleeps thru the night!

 

Ray will need a special family who understands his special needs, a calm, safe home that doesn’t have clutter or need to be rearranged.  He can have another “calmer” dog, as he shouldn’t rough house too much and the other dog can show him the ropes.  No young children.

 

If you would like to meet this handsome guy, please contact your RAGOM placement advisor.   We have lots of great info to share about blind/special needs puppies!

 

  

Updates

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

As I was downloading the pics to send along with this final update it struck me.  When adopters come to get their dog, be it a puppy, young adult or senior, they always look like proud new parents.  This time was no different.
 
I wanted to include a couple of pictures of just Ray and Faith, fighting and loving as only siblings are wont to do.  What was heart stopping was when I was going to take a picture of the 'new family' and Faith and my Jax ran right over, as if to say their good byes, or maybe in Faith's case, plead to go with her brother. 
 
Ray is now Russell,  as his new mom had a blind dog named Ray Charles, and he hasn't been gone that long.......just couldn't call him Ray.  Infact she wasn't looking for another dog, let alone a half blind and totally deaf puppy.  But fate has a way of stepping in.  You see she is a volunteer with RAGOM and going to school with another volunteer to become a vet tech.  That's how she found out about Ray and Faith 12-075.  One volunteer/school mate talking about these new puppies............
 
Russell will have companionship with his fur butt bro, Jack (Jack is a little mix, paralyzed in his left hind leg) and 3 cats.  He will not want for anything and will only be on his own for about 3 to 4 hours a day as his mom has someone to come and let him out while she is at school. Russell is a very lucky boy to have someone want him so much and be willing to work with him.  While we humans feel sorry for this little guy because of his 'disability', Russell just wakes up and takes the day as it comes.  AND today was a good day. 
 
Also, kudos to this lady as she was one of many volunteers who were there when the MO puppy mill mommas and puppies came into RAGOM's safe care.  They all worked into the wee hours of the morning.  I know Russell got the best mom he could want.
 
It's really quiet here without Ray and Faith wrestling and carrying on.  We miss you little boy, and know we will see you again.
 
Love FM


Sister and brother discussion
All is forgiven

Ray with his new mom and friend...
Kisses for my new mom!

 
Faith and Jax saying goodbye!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Ray here.  FM said I could do my own update.  Boy I've been busy and not sure where to start.
 
I went to visit Dr Nancy and she did a little surgery.  Guess I won't ever be a dad, whew, and had my umbilical hernia corrected.  I'm feeling good, but was feeling good before so go figure.  I sure know my way around the kitchen here, but haven't wanted to try to those scarey stairs going down to the family room.  I have tried to make friends with Barney 11-408 but guess he isn't into us young whipper snappers.  Since I can see some out of my left eye I really like to go full tilt.  FM will send pics again soon.  I know my way around the deck and go down the stairs (they have outdoor carpet on them so when I feel it I know I'm good to go), and run all over the yard.  FM and FD aren't too happy since I discovered digging in the dirt is great fun.  I don't understand the problem here.  Jax will play with me a little now and then, otherwise I play with my sister Faith 12-075 all the time.  Since the weather has been so nice we play outside when FM is home and that's her excuse to sit out there and do nothing:)  We have had visitors, children and other dogs and big people.  I like everyone I meet and everyone likes me.
 
So we are working on sit, a tap on the butt, come is a tap on the head and getting my attention on my left side so I can see and then follow you, down I don't like!!, don't bite is a tap on my nose given something else to chew on.  Since I don't hear at all FM says I am 'challenging'......whatever that means.  But with a fenced in yard, furniture that stays in the same place, and consistency in my training I will be just fine.  I love life.  I can't be with small children as I am all over the place and still in my baby sharp teeth biting stage.  FM says looking down all the time to see where I am is giving her a pain in her neck!!  Anyway, I'm happy, loving and keep our crate clean.  I still have accidents in the house, but that's FM's fault....she gets side tracked and I don't get out the door, well you get the picture. 
 
I would like to live with some one who understands I have special needs and can be patient and continue my training.  Another dog to play with be great fun and good for me to have a companion.  I can be around children if supervised, I don't want to trip anyone up.  I will miss my sister, but I am just about ready to find my furever home.  I get my stitches out in about 10 days and will get my puppy boosters.  So I'm close to ready to go.  One other thing my new home will have to watch for is any low bushes that have sticks/brances poking out.  I want to protect my good eye.  The vet said even doggles would be a good thing for long expeditions away from home.
 
Well, that's about it.  Off to see what sister Faith is doing.  Stay tuned for more pics and updates.
 
Puppy kisses and a couple little nips!


Ray likes to clean up Jax's bowl
Ray ready to party!


Ray checking the box out.

PS - Check out Doppler's Happy Endings site, he's a RAGOM dog with sight challenges like me, but look what he's doing now!    http://ragom.org/avail.cgi/Available/dog?dog_id=4162
 

 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Ray and his sister Faith, 12-075, are now residing in St Cloud.  Their first FM did an awesome job with them when they came in and was so sad they had to move on, as she had to go out of town.  They have met my resident, Jax an English Cocker, and foster Barney 11-408.  The 3 cats are avoiding them for now.
 
Ray is deaf and blind in his right eye with partial vision in his left.  He is amazing at how he manuervers around the kitchen, deck, down the steps and in the fenced yard.  FD had blown all the snow in the fenced area into the middle of the yard so Barney could get around.  We now have a grassy race track for Ray to run and frolick on.   He is very adventureous and vocal.  He really crack us up.  He will bark to go out to potty sometimes, or bark if we leave the room or bark to tell his sister off.  He rough houses with her and they can get into it over a toy!!! 
 
Ray will have surgery on Thurs. to fix an umbilical hernia and be neutered.  With his carefree attitude I don't think he'll care.  I am just wondering how I will keep him quiet for a week.  Just like any other puppy he plays hard and naps and is ready to go again.  The wonderful thing about him and Faith is that they go to bed between 10:30 and 11:30 and sleep in til anywhere between 6 and 7:30.  Once awake we ALL are awake.  Out to potty, eat, play, potty and then hard core play time til it's time to nap. 
 
I have been leaving them alone for about 4 hours and they have not messed in their crate they share.  When you get home Faith wakes up but you have to wake Ray.  I let him smell my hand and then gently run my fingers over him.  Soon enough he is up and ready to go.
 
To use 'touch signals' we started with touching his foot to let him know there was a step there.  We have outdoor carpet on the steps for the senior fosters, and this has worked wonderfully with Ray.  He feels the carpet, sniffs and down he goes.  He seems to just know where everything is and seldom bumps into things.  We are tapping the top of his butt and then make him sit.  Getting any puppy to sit is a challenge:)  Biting is more challenging (you can firmly/loudly say ouch to Faith) so we have been tapping his snout and redirecting him.  We are lucky we have a lot of info on training blind dogs, deaf dogs and even deaf/vision impaired.  He is just so smart and with his keen sense of smell he catches on quickly.
 
Ray will need a very very special home and family.  A fenced yard is a must, learning the signs to use with him, treating him more or less like a 'normal' dog, giving love and consistency in training will be very important.  He loves to snuggle once he is played out which is a big plus.  No small children as it wouldn't be fair to Ray or the kids.  He will need his own special kind of time and TLC.  It will be challenging but so fullfilling.
 
Stay tuned for more adventures.


Follow the leader
Dining at sunset on the deck

This step is just right...
Ray and Faith tugging along


Ray and favorite toy.