ROMEO (RUSTY) 5/04/03
#085

Rusty's Foster Journey

Pertinent Information
2 yr. old Red Fawn Male
65 lb. with Natural Ears and Docked Tail
Neutered and UTD
Good with older Children, Dogs, Cats
Owner Surrender
Being Fostered near New Haven, CT
Adoption Donation $200

7/7/03 - Rusty's one week update call to his former foster home:
They just LOVE him!  Dana said that when her husband leaves in the AM, Rusty jumps into bed with her and snuggles as close as can be.  The kids adore him.  His appetite is great and he gets scoops of vanilla ice cream!  What a life!  I'm so happy for this boy.  He really tugged at my heart strings.  Thanks to BAR he finally gets the life he deserves!

7/1/03 - Rusty has been adopted.

6/12/03 - Rusty is pending adoption.

6/11/03 - Well, Rusty is in recovery at the Wiggle Butt Hut. He is resting comfortably and sporting a lime green cast. What a good boy he was on the way home! He sat in the back seat of the car without a peep. He's taking meds for his surgery, and will go back in 10 days for a check up. The resident Boxers, Buddy and Sasha are VERY interested in our new guest. Sasha especially, has found a new "plop spot" right next to Rusty's crate. She just makes herself comfortable right next to the cage and stares at him! Funny thing is, for those of you that don't know, Sasha wsa put in a cast on Monday too! Hers is hot pink, but there are now 2 Boxer babies in recovery at the Wiggle Butt Hut. What a trooper Rusty is though. I'm sure he's on the way to a full recovery. More to come later on.

6/11/03 - Remember when you were a kid and your mother told you "don't run with that stick/pencil/? or you'll poke someone's eye out?" I guess Rusty's mom forgot to give him those words of wisdom. Maybe in the boxer world it's "Don't bite the tractor tires or you'll break your leg, " because that's exactly what happened to Pvt. Rusty on Sunday. The dogs had been in all day while the camp caretaker was finally getting a chance to mow. Later in the day when the handyman was putting away his tools of the trade the pups went out with him. As the tractor was heading toward the barn, Rusty again went into attack mode on those bad boy tires. We're not really sure if he slipped in the grass or just didn't let go and got sucked along, but the end result was that Rusty's rear right leg was broken at the ankle area. I took him on Monday to a wonderful vet clinic in Connecticut where he was operated on yesterday. He sailed through the surgery with flying colors and will be released today. For the next two weeks he will be recovering a bit closer to his vet "just in case." Please keep Rusty in your thoughts as the next 6 weeks he will have to rest quietly while he mends. Up to his accident, Rusty had been doing exceptionally well here at boxer camp. He and Mikey just love playing outdoors. Last week they even found a snake and had the best time pestering it. They were so wanting Mr. Snake to play and he just wasn't having any of it. I believe if I hadn't moved to snake to another area, those two boys would have barked him into submission. Rusty's appetite is great, he has the best manners, and the cutest little face. Maybe you'd like to have Rusty recuperate at your house? Everyone at the vet clinic thought he was just the cutest and best boy!

6/4/03 - Well, Pvt. Rusty goes for his second Ivermectin shot on Friday and I suspect that Dr. Bob will pronounce him ready to go on to his forever home. Although the physical signs of the mange aren't healing as well as I expected, Dr. Bob assures me it's damage to his skin that ultimately will look better. Rusty has an excellent appetite finally; I suspect that all the playing outside in the occasional spring sunshine may have helped. Rusty is a very good boy with excellent manners. Must be a holdback from his military beginnings (Mikey certainly could learn something in this department). He never, ever, ever begs at the table; not even when he knows what I'm fixing is for him. He does like to raid the cat food dish if you're not looking. Since it's been a bit better weather, we've had some doggie guests here at camp to visit the boys. We've noticed that Pvt. Rusty gets a bit possessive of his pal Mikey when other kids come to play. We are definitely going to work on this little development. Sometimes when he and Mikey are playing, they get going at it, rough and tumble, and then it seems that Rusty forgets it's play. He will stop as soon as you raise your voice. H finally feels comfortable and secure here and probably was not socialized much at all before camp. He really responds well to switching his attention to a quieter sport, as his feelings get very hurt if you yell at him. Just like all of our wonderful "previously owned boxers," Rusty will only improve with time, patience, love and his very own forever family.

5/24/03 - I can't believe how fast the time flies. Rusty has been here at camp 3 weeks now, and what a difference we've seen. He's relaxed a bunch and now really enjoys playing boxer games with Mikey. He's eating much better as well. He gets a bit intimidated sometimes and immediately retreats to his crate when things get a bit rowdy. I don't think this is a bad thing necessarily, just that he needs to have his confidence reinforced some. He loves exploring outside and playing in the creek, almost as much fun to Rusty as going for rides in the truck. He isn't the cutest kid on the block, but certainly is handsome in his own way. He is one endearing little boy that will make someone very happy with his sweet and winning ways. He does like to chase the kitty princess, but that's only 'cos she runs!

5/20/03 - WOWSA! What a time I'm having here at this place! I've been so busy I forgot that all my fans want to hear about my visit here. There is sooooo much to do, and it's all great fun. Except for that vet visit. But I sailed through my neuter surgery with no problems. I'm up to date on my shots and free of heartworm and other parasites. What a good boy I am too! Now that I'm settled in here, I don't pace and whine any more. We have people come to visit and I'm a good boy with everyone. I just love going out to play, especially the creek. Mikey and I are pals. Mikey gets yelled at sometimes and I get a little nervous . . . not that I'm bad, but I feel bad for Mikey. So I go in my crate and give "eyes." I don't think Mikey minds getting yelled at; he doesn't even act like he hears the trainer person. Today was the best! The counsellor lady was home and played outside with us. Then a black think in her pocket started making beepy noises. She started for the truck and we all got to go with her. This was exciting. She's a paramedic and there was a motorcycle crash. We stayed in the truck and watched quietly like the good kids we are. There was a helicopter and it was sooooooo cool. When she was done she let some people kids pet us. I liked that. I'm a little rough, but listened when she said "Rusty, sit." The kids thought I was the cutest. HEHEHE. In my other life, I was a military boy, and we didn't have much fun. Here, we get to sleep late, play outdoors, get on the furniture for our naps, and get lots of lovin' too. Who'd a thought? AND regular meals with good stuff like turkey, and yogurt, and bananas, and apples, and biscuits, and allllll sorts of tasty treats. I'd really like to stay here, but I know there is a great family just waiting for a guy like me to brighten up their home and heart. Even the old guy here likes me now. I'll miss everyone here, but I'm ready just as soon as that phone call comes. Don't make me wait too long, you sure don't want to hurt my feelings. 

5/12/03 - Helloooooooo boxer fans. . . it's me, Rusty. I thought I'd give the trainer lady the day off for Mother's Day and let you know myself about my time here at Training Camp. I've been here at camp for a week now and am having a great time. At first I was confused and scared. I didn't know why I wasn't in my home and had been moved not just once, but twice. I'm still a little apprehensive, but everyone here is real nice to me and I think they like me. The old guy gets a bit crabby with me when I try to play with him. They say he's blind and I have to go slow, but I don't know blind is. Mikey and I have been playing outside. This place is sure different from Staten Island. There is grass, trees, a creek, a pond, birds, bugs, all sorts of stuff. We boxers have a secret entrance for coming and going. It took me no time at all to figure that out. I'm really good and go outside to do my business and don't run off or anything. Sometimes I bark when people come by, but once they come in the house I just want to see who they are and get a nice pat on my head. I have something called demodectic mange. . . .I don't know what that is either, but it can't be too bad. I feel great. Sometimes I don't eat as well as the trainer would like, but with all this strangeness, there's just too much to see and all. I don't have time to eat. I went to the vet guy and he thought I was pretty cute. Duh! Girls are cute. I'm handsome. There's two kitties here. One is no fun; she just flops down when she sees me. The other one runs and me and Mikey like to see how fast she can go and how high she can jump! Mikey sometimes gets into trouble, but not me. I go in my crate when the trainer goes to her job, I don't get on the furniture much, and don't hog the bed. This week I have to go back to the vet guy for a "procedure," whatever that is. Then they say I'll be ready for my forever home. I'm a little nervous about moving again. . . .I'm the kind of guy that wants a nice comfortable place to hang my collar.

5/7/03-Rusty is settling down nicely. He's got a ways to go, but who can blame the guy for being a bit unsettled? One day he has a home, next day he's somewhere else, and then before he knows it, he's in the car going to yet another place. He seems to be a pretty smart boy as well. Knows sit, down, his name, paw . . . all of course when the spirit moves him. Rusty was evaluated at the vets office today. The scrapings showed that it was demodectic mange, but the one mite he saw was dead. This is a good thing. Nonetheless, he will be treated with a parasite dip and antibiotics. Next Thursday he will go back to be brought up to date, neutered, and have another scraping done. The staff all thought he was quite a handsome boy. Since the first day, Rusty has not had one accident in the house. His appetite is a bit off, but that's not unusual for the stress he's under. He's in good weight, so I'm not terribly concerned. As far as the kitties go, he loves to chase the princess kitty when she runs, but totally ignores to the queen cat. That's cause when she sees him and Mikey, she just drops. It's like she's saying "go ahead, sniff me and get it over with." Rusty seems to be enjoying playing outdoors with Mikey and has not offered to run off. He's mastering the dog door as we speak. In he's got . . . still working on the out.

5/5/03-Rusty has come to camp for the spring session. He is a 2 year old owner surrender with demoectic mange. This is not contagious to other dogs, but will need to be treated. He doesn't seem to be too terribly uncomfortable but looks pretty funny. It's not a pretty site. Rusty is having a bit of a time adjusting to all the changes in his life, but I'm sure he'll come around when he realizes what a great place camp can be. He's been an only child up to now and is exerting his "maleness" and insecurity by trying to be the bully. It's not going over well with the old guy here and Mikey just gets mouthy when Rusty tries this tough guy attitude. He will begin treatment Wednesday and be evaluated to see when he can be neutered. Rusty does seem to have some basic obedience training, which we appreciate. As we get to know him better and he us, I'll update you on his progress. Right now we just concentrating on getting him relaxed and comfortable to the routines here. We're going to concentrate on playing well with others, sharing, and realizing that the food is yours and no one will take it from you. Then we'll start getting him out and about to see how he does. He seems like he has a good heart and is open to being loved and returning it. Lots of quiet patience, reassurance and we're sure he'll be on the way to becoming the wonderful boxer boy he was meant to be. Stay tuned and keep Rusty in your thoughts as he begins his costly and time-consuming treatment.