"Old friends
Sat on a park bench
Like bookends..."

The pictures of Roy flanked by Cody 07-149 and Belle reminded me of the Simon and Garfunkel song quoted above.  Roy has settled in nicely with all the humans, dogs and cats in his new temporary foster home.  Roy's previous foster mom taught him some wonderful cues to help him navigate his shadow world and have helped us help him transition to a new house, new characters, and new routines. 

What I've learned from Roy is eyesight - at least for dogs - is somewhat overrated.  As a new seeing-eye person, I sometimes forget he can't see because he learns his world so fast I forget before he does what's new and what isn't.  He's a great walker on leash.  He always knows when we approach an intersection and slows for me to give him guidance as to which direction to go.  He very seldom has to stop and sniff the doggy scent markers.  Instead he keeps his head high and prances as we travel through the neighborhood.  He will stop to listen if he hears another dog barking.   He does not bark back, but listens closely for a few seconds and then moves on.

If you're reading this and wondering if Roy would be the right boy for you, please don't hesitate because of his eyesight.  He can do anything and everything my other dogs can and he is so gentle and sweet he's a pleasure to have around.  And you'll never have to worry about him barking his fool head off at every person who passes the house (unlike another young pup I know and love).

If you're interested in giving this sweet, sweet boy a wonderful home please contact placementragom [dot] org.

Well, Roy did get a little of grandma's famous gravy on Thanksgiving. I would say though that he is at a good weight for his small frame. He may have made up for all of those missed meals when he was stray. A few days ago, I accidently left the dog food bin unlatched and boy did he enjoy himself. I have never seen a dog get so fat in an hour! And the piles he left outside over the next two days were HUGE! So no more extra servings for this hungry boy!

Roy is walking wonderfully with the Gentle Leader. He knows to be cautious when I say 'Step'--in any situation. Today, we were at a friend's house and he was about to walk off a 3 foot drop off from the hot tub. I said "Roy, step!" and he stopped and felt around and walked the other way. Smart boy, Roy! He also quickly learned the long stairway from her deck to the ground. The blind dog Web resources I've been reading have said that stairs are often the most difficult thing for a blind dog to learn. Not our Roy! He is a survivor and will figure out a way to get where he wants to go.

So--he doesn't respect baby gates--scrambles right over or through them if they are not attached tightly. He isn't crated here and hasn't been for several weeks. He is not destructive in having free roam of the house. He still gets what I call 'worried' when he hears strange dogs barking. Although he knows the bark of many neighborhood dogs now and ignores those.

I think Roy would do best in a home without another dog or with an older, calmer dog. He would enjoy long walks or to be a running partner. He loves to be outside. He's not a Velcro Golden but enjoys being snuggled.

Roy and I will be at Petco In Burnsville December 1st from 11am-1pm. Come meet him. I think you'll fall in love.

First--thanks to Billie and Jim for sponsoring this sweet boy! Billie Jeanne and Jim and their daughter Kathy (who is sponsoring 3 other RAGOM dogs!) are the Good Samaritans that found poor Roy up north in the cold rain and brought him into RAGOM. I'm convinced he wouldn't have survived much longer without their help! And look at him now. People remark on what a beautiful red boy he is--check out his picture. He's a beauty all right!

Thanks to all of the folks who stopped to see Roy today at Petsmart. He was pretty worn out by the end and zonked out on the ride home. He likes to ride in the front seat. He's small enough to curl up in it and I heard him snoring the whole way home!

Roy has learned the word 'step'. When we come to a curb--or any drastic change in topography--I saw "Roy, Slow" (because he walks soo fast) then "Roy, step" and he puts his little paw out and feels for it like his paw was his white cane! It is so adorable, I can hardly stand it! He's so smart. He's teaching me to be a seeing eye human and I am teaching him to be a safe blind dog. Not that he doesn't still bump into things. My neighbors and I have a gate in the fence between our yards. Roy knows exactly where it is and can go through it and up onto their deck like he can see it. But we close it at night. So sometimes he doesn't know it's closed and runs right into it. He doesn't seem to mind when he bumps into things. He figures out another way around or under. Roy is very brave and pretty confident.

He is relaxing enough to play more every day. Roy's idea of fun is to prance around with a ball in his mouth--head held high and high-stepping.

Here is what Roy needs in his forever home:

• fenced yard to keep him safe-and I think he could do OK with an invisible one.
• kids older than 4 or 5--he might not see them and could bump them over
• a daily run or long walk
• a seeing eye human with a lot of love to give.

What you will get in return:

• a well-behaved, loving dog
• a great feeling of having saved a life

I know many people would have put Roy to sleep. Several people have made that comment to me as his foster. Well, Roy is a healthy, happy boy with very little difference between him and my Skye. Especially in terms of daily joy that he feels himself and that he gives to others. What more can a dog want than a warm bed, good food, daily exercise and stimulation and lovin's? That all Roy wants. Can you give that to him?

Hi, I'm Roy. I know my new name already and I usually come when I'm called but I like to be outside so sometimes I don't! But then after everybody else goes inside--well, THEN I want to come in too. Foster Mom says I have to learn that word better--'come'! I really am happy to be living indoors now though. I have my own soft dog bed and I get food 3 times a day. I don't really believe that the next meal will keep coming so I eat really fast and then I'm off to look for Skye's food. Foster Mom started making me sit and wait before I can eat. I do that part really well but when she FINALLY says 'OK'--I scarf all my food up in seconds. Now she's threatening to feed me in a muffin tin, whatever that is. I don't see what the big deal is! Skye didn't want to share his breakfast this morning and he told me so. I said "all right already " and just walked away. Geez!

I can get around pretty good without my eyes. I have a map in my head of my territory. In the morning when I first wake up is when I bump into things. I knew they were there too! I'm just a little groggy in the morning. Or if Skye leaves one if his toys in the middle of the floor, I trip. I think maybe he does that on purpose! And when we go for a walk, I trip on the curb still. Foster Mom keeps saying 'Roy, step," but I don't get it yet. I love going for walks and I love meeting the kids that are playing basketball in the alley. They all give me lots of attention and pets.

Let's see, what else can I tell you about me... Oh... Foster Mom says to be sure and mention that I snore. And that I love to roll on my back and squirm around in the leaves outside. I love to nap on the leather chair in FM's office.

I need a family that can help me get a new map in my head of my new forever home. I need a family that will PROMISE to feed me everyday (OK, I had to sneak that in because it's really important to me personally, even though I know a family will feed me) and it should be at least 5 or 6 meals a day. Uh, oh--Foster Mom is trying to take the keyboard away! She says I'm going overboard.

What I really need is a seeing-eye human. Are you that person? Do you want to meet me? I'm going to Petco on November 10th in Eden Prairie at 11 am.

(Editor's Note:) Roy is now available for adoption.