DALTON

This poor boy didn't do well at the shelter. Dalton is a very sweet, quiet boy and the noise at the shelter upset him a lot. After getting to his foster home and getting a much needed bath (which he really enjoyed), he was especially content to go into his crate on his nice clean, warm blanket. He prefers the crate even when the door is open, but he likes to look out the window to see if he might catch sight of a squirrel in the back yard.

Dalton gets along with other dogs and is friendly with people after he's had a chance to warm up. He is heartworm negative and on prevention, neutered and current on vaccinations. He is house trained and, as I said before, crate trained.

Dalton is a fawn brushcoat and is probably around 4 years old.

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Right before Keith and Sherry were approved to adopt Dalton, we found a tumor on his rear leg. We had it removed and unfortunately it was mast cell cancer. Keith and Sherry still want to adopt Dalton. What a terrific young couple!

UPDATE 5/7/05: Dalton jumped right up in the car with Keith and Sherry to make the trip to Antioch TN to his new home. Before that, though, he put on quite a show to express his pleasure at meeting the Hendricks. You should have seen him. He was jumping around and gnawing on their hands. It was so cute. We know Dalton is going to love his new home. Keith and Sherry are a very special couple with a lot of love to give to Dalton. Way to go, Dalton!!

UPDATE 7/14/05:

Cindy,

The "old" guy is doing VERY well. He went to see Dr Harris on the 5th and received a good report.  The thyroid medication has made a  world of difference in him. 

At first he would not go up and down the steps of the new house.  We tackled that issue one potato chip at a time and now he is up and down the steps several times a day.  He sleeps upstairs at the foot of our bed or with the bunny in the bonus room.  From time to time he wakes us up at night dreaming. 

Which leads me into the new and improved Dalton.   Keith and I joke about accusing you and Celia of false advertising.  We actually moved over the weekend of the 4th.  We placed Dalton in the kennel while the movers were getting the large stuff Saturday morning.  The sweet boy had a fit.  I could hear him barking and whining from the mailbox!  Needless to say he got out of the kennel and went straight to the car.  He had to ride over to the new house in the front seat of my pick-up surrounded by stuff I had packed into the truck. I had no other place to put him unless I unpacked the truck.  That made him quite happy. 

Basically, he has taken over the house and is getting to be quite a watch dog.  He barks at everything - cats, dogs, etc. that come into his front yard.  The neightbors have a 110 pound lab that wondered into our garage the other day.  Dalton at 54 pounds started growling at him!  He has never shown the slightest bit of aggression or jealousy towards the bunny-it seems Dalton knows the bunny is part of the family too. 

He knocks over trash cans for left overs and steals any type of food that is left on a table low enough for him to get to (end table or coffee table). Loves pretzels.  And is better than a hoover at picking up crumbs from chairs and floors. 

We love him very much.  Even if he does poop a lot and HATES to have his ears cleaned. 

Sherry and Keith  

Dalton and his pal, Gus

UPDATE 8/23/06: I am amazed that Dalton has maintained such a gentle, sweet disposition after all those trips to the vet.  He likes the waiting room because he gets attention, has to be pushed down the hall to the examination room, and through it all has only gotten cranky over the ears and toenails.  (I am blown away that it takes several people to do his nails.  Keith and I have tried and he won't let us.)

I have discovered that Dalton touches people, even before they know his story.  People are attracted to him.  For example, the guys who come for our pest warranty inspections seek him out and tell me how much other people let their dogs annoy them while they are trying to work.  Pretty weird...... 

However, I think Dalton is pretty savvy about training new people.   Keith's son Ben spent the month of July with us.  Dalton had Ben trained to get his medicine before the end of week one.    (the pills are on a peanut butter covered dog biscuit served promptly at 6:00am and 6:00 pm.  Dalton knows the time because in the morning we are leaving for work and during the evening he listens for the opening music of the television show we watch at 6:00pm.  Sometimes we change channels just to mess with him.) Typically, Dalton runs a tight ship. 

Take care! 
Sherry

10/2/06: Dalton has had several more tumors removed since going to his new home, but last night he died in his sleep. He was a trooper til the end. He will be buried on his vet's farm. Dr. Harris loved Dalton, too. Sherry and Keith are devastated and Sherry can't stop crying. They have huge holes in their hearts, so please keep Sherry, Keith and Dalton (and Gus, -his canine buddy, who also has mast cell cancer) in your thoughts and prayers.