Gunner 11-224

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Profile

I am a new boy on RAGOM’s block and my name is Gunner 11-224. I came all the way to Maple Grove from Sioux Falls, SD. I owe a debt of gratitude to the wonderful RAGOM Transport Team and specifically John H. who really went the extra mile to bring me to safety. Also many thanks to Rona D. who helped me get ready for the trip. She saw that I had good care, necessary and complete medical attention and she put all my known history and papers in order. My paperwork conflicts on the question of whether I am a purebred Golden or a mix, and I’m not telling! I act like a Golden, I look like a Golden and my genes are predominantly Golden, as you will see from my pictures.
My FP’s will tell you my personality is so much like Golden you wouldn’t mistake it for anything else.

So far, all those I meet, people or dogs, I love them. I’m a very tall boy and my FP’s are showing me I have to stop inviting all I meet to join me in a dance. I don’t know how I would behave with children or cats as I haven’t met any in my foster home. I have met several small male dogs and we all got along very well. Some of us even took treats side by side with no incidents.

Gunner has a large frame but presently weighs only 48 lbs. His accurate birth-date is 9-5-07 bringing him close to 4 years old. He is completely UTD on everything necessary for his good health except for Heartworm medication due in August. He has 2 microchips and is neutered. He has a slight ear infection in his right ear which has been treated and appears to be healing. On the inside of his right hind leg is a scar which remains slightly pink but is definitely healed over. There is nothing in his history to indicate how it happened and it certainly has no hindrance to any of his normal bodily leg motions. He is house-trained and is in the process of being trained to go on walks in the orderly fashion of coming, heeling, sitting, staying and down. He knows the commands of come and sit. He was unwanted by his former families, not of his own doing and was also a stray. He has not been accustomed to regular care, at least in quite a while, so it will take him time to adjust the new and far better circumstances of his life.

There is little doubt that Gunner was literally starved because his ribs and hip bones are visible, protrude out and are felt when he is petted as indication of it. He is extremely thin but the good news is that his appetite is very good. He presently receives 2 cups of kibble with ¾ cup of cooked oatmeal, and a small cooked chicken breast all mixed together twice daily and topped with a Tbsp. of Missing Link with each portion to bring his coat back into the condition it should be. It has been very dry and rough but already, after only 3 days we see improvement which undoubtedly will continue. He really gobbles his food right down with no hesitation which is another very good indication he is hungry when he eats. He also loves treats which he gets a lot of to help train him and also help to put the necessary weight he needs back on him. This emaciated boy has also been the victim of very bad treatment (frankly we think abuse) in his past and has to learn to trust his human caregivers again.

He is wonderfully mellow with absolutely no aggressions that have come to our attention in this short time. He so desperately wants to please and needs, wants and responds to love and affection. We are happy to accommodate him but trying to do it without making the mistake of pampering him. A new owner should understand that he like all good dogs needs discipline but he has some real fears that he is in the process of overcoming and he will also need encouragement along with kind, reasoned discipline and that type of continuing care in his future. He does get nervous without someone sitting next to him during car rides but we believe he can overcome it. We do not yet know if he has storm anxiety but we expect to be able to determine that soon because we are in the summer season of Minnesota weather.

Our requirement for his new home is with someone that must love and protect this dog from any future abuse of any kind whether it is vocal or physical. For that reason we are unsure about placing him with small children. It could be a single person, a couple or a whole family and may be a place with or without other animals or fences but this wonderful boy has to be able to trust the hand that calls him, feeds him and will be faithful to him. He deserves to be given that kind of Golden forever home that we of RAGOM all believe in and write about. If you can give the kind of unconditional love Gunner needs and he will give back to you, please contact your placement advisor on his behalf.

 

 

At a Glance #11-224

Golden Retriever Born: September 2007
Male 40 lbs

Status: Deceased

Profile

I am a new boy on RAGOM’s block and my name is Gunner 11-224. I came all the way to Maple Grove from Sioux Falls, SD. I owe a debt of gratitude to the wonderful RAGOM Transport Team and specifically John H. who really went the extra mile to bring me to safety. Also many thanks to Rona D. who helped me get ready for the trip. She saw that I had good care, necessary and complete medical attention and she put all my known history and papers in order. My paperwork conflicts on the question of whether I am a purebred Golden or a mix, and I’m not telling! I act like a Golden, I look like a Golden and my genes are predominantly Golden, as you will see from my pictures.
My FP’s will tell you my personality is so much like Golden you wouldn’t mistake it for anything else.

So far, all those I meet, people or dogs, I love them. I’m a very tall boy and my FP’s are showing me I have to stop inviting all I meet to join me in a dance. I don’t know how I would behave with children or cats as I haven’t met any in my foster home. I have met several small male dogs and we all got along very well. Some of us even took treats side by side with no incidents.

Gunner has a large frame but presently weighs only 48 lbs. His accurate birth-date is 9-5-07 bringing him close to 4 years old. He is completely UTD on everything necessary for his good health except for Heartworm medication due in August. He has 2 microchips and is neutered. He has a slight ear infection in his right ear which has been treated and appears to be healing. On the inside of his right hind leg is a scar which remains slightly pink but is definitely healed over. There is nothing in his history to indicate how it happened and it certainly has no hindrance to any of his normal bodily leg motions. He is house-trained and is in the process of being trained to go on walks in the orderly fashion of coming, heeling, sitting, staying and down. He knows the commands of come and sit. He was unwanted by his former families, not of his own doing and was also a stray. He has not been accustomed to regular care, at least in quite a while, so it will take him time to adjust the new and far better circumstances of his life.

There is little doubt that Gunner was literally starved because his ribs and hip bones are visible, protrude out and are felt when he is petted as indication of it. He is extremely thin but the good news is that his appetite is very good. He presently receives 2 cups of kibble with ¾ cup of cooked oatmeal, and a small cooked chicken breast all mixed together twice daily and topped with a Tbsp. of Missing Link with each portion to bring his coat back into the condition it should be. It has been very dry and rough but already, after only 3 days we see improvement which undoubtedly will continue. He really gobbles his food right down with no hesitation which is another very good indication he is hungry when he eats. He also loves treats which he gets a lot of to help train him and also help to put the necessary weight he needs back on him. This emaciated boy has also been the victim of very bad treatment (frankly we think abuse) in his past and has to learn to trust his human caregivers again.

He is wonderfully mellow with absolutely no aggressions that have come to our attention in this short time. He so desperately wants to please and needs, wants and responds to love and affection. We are happy to accommodate him but trying to do it without making the mistake of pampering him. A new owner should understand that he like all good dogs needs discipline but he has some real fears that he is in the process of overcoming and he will also need encouragement along with kind, reasoned discipline and that type of continuing care in his future. He does get nervous without someone sitting next to him during car rides but we believe he can overcome it. We do not yet know if he has storm anxiety but we expect to be able to determine that soon because we are in the summer season of Minnesota weather.

Our requirement for his new home is with someone that must love and protect this dog from any future abuse of any kind whether it is vocal or physical. For that reason we are unsure about placing him with small children. It could be a single person, a couple or a whole family and may be a place with or without other animals or fences but this wonderful boy has to be able to trust the hand that calls him, feeds him and will be faithful to him. He deserves to be given that kind of Golden forever home that we of RAGOM all believe in and write about. If you can give the kind of unconditional love Gunner needs and he will give back to you, please contact your placement advisor on his behalf.

 

 

Updates

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Our sweet boy Gunner 11-224 has been officially adopted today, Saturday July 30, 2011. His new family came to pick him up after returning from a previously planned vacation trip. They came a day early and the smiles on their faces tell the whole story. Gunner has definitely gone into loving and caring good hands and he will return that love many times over. Good boy Gunner. Go and be happy.

 

 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Gunner 11-224 has been with us for 2 weeks. This gentle boy is a tall, good-looking dog. He is still learning not to jump up but he has made several improvements that we want everyone to know. His coat is improved, is softer and it appears that his body is beginning to fill out. His ribs and hip bones are not as noticeable when he is petted. On July 12 he weighed 47 lbs. He now weighs 55 lbs. and is steadily gaining weight which is wonderful. He still wants all to know his tail is his and please don’t fool with it. He did allow me to GENTLY comb it, without reaction, along with the rest of him. He absolutely loves meeting people and affection from them and of course he gives you one or both paws for more please.

He has gone through 3 storms without any stress so we are confident he has no storm anxiety. When he first came to us he was having occasional incidents of submissive urination. There has been a considerable decrease in the incidents of submissive urination. He routinely relieves himself just before or after a routine meal otherwise he lets us know when he has to go potty by going to a door and waiting for one of us to let him out. He has definitely improved while riding in cars even if sitting in the back seat by himself. Instead of pacing or needing comfort, he just pants and lies quietly on the seat or floor. He no longer cowers or crawls to us every time he is asked to come. Instead of always being in the house, he has begun on his own to investigate the screen porch or our deck to see people and animals going by the house.

Since being with us for a week and 3 days he has barked once. A neighbor came on the porch to the door of the house which was open. Gunner gave a low growl and barked once at him as he approached the doorway yet, when the neighbor came in the house, Gunner sat right down next to him for petting and attention. He also stayed alone in the house with free roam for 2 hours without incident. Someone (guess who) got up on our bed while we were gone because the pillows were moved. He also stayed alone and was very good while FP’s went grocery shopping.

The most significant improvement is his walking. Despite several attempts, we had been very unsuccessful in getting Gunner, even for a short time without having to prod or coax him, to walk on a leash or use a gentle leader. We had not previously used it but decided instead of the usual RAGOM leash, to try the tether leash and the gentle leader together for outside use and take him out on the road for a short walk. We don’t know what the difference between leashes is to the dog but he finally not only took a short walk on the road but walked a considerable distance stopping to visit with several neighbors. It was such a pleasure to help him overcome the fear that has kept him from achieving this accomplishment. We repeated walking with the tether leash and gentle leader and again he was successful in walking quite a distance. We graduated from that to a plain black 5 ft. leash with a gentle leader and that has worked well too. Go Gunner!

He is a wonderful, sweet boy and is on his way to being a perfect companion. A very nice family that is interested in me came to meet me. I had another bath and I was all ready to meet them, even my treats were ready. We all had a good time together and even the children got to see how gently I take my treats. I was really a good boy when they tested me on several things. They like me because they called the next day to say they will take me so I can have a “furever home” with them. They will come for me after they are finished with a pre-planned vacation which will be in about a week. I am a very happy boy and I will be ready for them. Bye for now, Gunner the Great signing out. .