BRUTUS 6

BRUTUS 6/7/03
#166

Adopted
6/28/03

Pictures

Brutus' Foster Journey

More Pictures

Pertinent Information
3-4 yr. old Fawn Male
55 lb. VERY Skinny Shelter Surrender
Cropped Ears and Docked Tail
Good with all age children and other dogs
Neutered UTD
Being Fostered in East Lyme, CT
Adoption Donation $250

6/9/04 - Almost a year with us now. Cannot believe a year already. Brutus is a member of the family and he knows it. Paws his dish when he wants to eat, barks to chase the outdoor feral cats (He thinks it's a game, they feel otherwise). For all that was involved in saving this guy, THANKS, he is a keeper.

9/18/03 - Brutus is doing fine, no more anxiety when left alone. He has settled in just fine. When we are not playing with him, he looks for a ball and plays in the yard as long as we are out there with him. Rolling the ball with his nose and running after it barking and growling at it. Very funny to see. Everyone that comes over cannot believe it. He listens very well and also talks and barks when we don't get it. He is very vocal in the am wanting breakfast (He has to eat even before the kids). When he sees/smells us cooking dinner he starts talking up a storm until we feed him. No more ribs showing. I haven't weighed him lately but my guess would be 63-65lbs. He seems to feel heavier than my 10 year old son when he is sitting on my lap, yes Brutus thinks he is a 3lb yorkie lap dog. He still likes to chase my cat but he is not a very good tracker if he doesn't see where she went he is running around in circles looking for her. Usually at night when he is snoring the cat comes around almost like a trial to see if he will chase her. They both have great personalities it's too bad he wasn't exposed to cats at a young age, I'm sure they would be friends. My cat was used to cuddling with my other boxer. Kids love him. My 3 year old and him are like two mischief devils when they get going, but at the same time seem to be best buddies. He is a nice addition to our family.

7/31/03 - Sometimes we feel Brutus adopted us rather than the other way around. He is a very good boy unless you are talking to our cat (she'll state otherwise). He likes to chase the cat and she is the type who continues to run. We are not sure if he is playing or hunting. He is excellent around all people. Big or little it doesn't matter he will give you a hug then of course all the kisses you want. He has a little limp after he runs around like a nut in the yard, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't develop into what my girl boxer had (it's not pretty). The vet said we should keep any eye on it, but not overly concerned. My husband couldn't believe how quickly he settled in. The second day was like he was with us all his years. Jean & Bill were right when they said he was a keeper. Although my cat may feel differently right now. I have contacted a trainer to hopefully deter him from the chase. We'll see. Thanks to all Brutus

7/9/03 - Just wanted to let you know Brutus is doing very well. He settled down the first night with no problems. We were all amazed how quickly he adjusted. He went to our vet last Thursday and got his updated shots. The vet found his teeth tips were broken the only thing we can relate it to was he was running around the yard with a bucket and growling and rolling it all over. Very funny site. He doesn't want the cat in the house. He keeps chasing her all over. She tip toes around at night when he is out for the count. I will be contacting an obedience trainer to help find his cat manners.

Other than that I feel we had him his whole life. He is a very good boy who listens better than the kids.

6/19/03 - Brutus is pending Adoption!

6/15/03 - Boy what a great Father's Day we had here today. There were 3 kids for me to play with ages 4, 8, and 12 and I just loved them all and they loved me. They had great food and we got the leftovers! I am really starting to look a lot better. My ribs aren't showing as much and my fur is soft and shiny. I am now allowed to run loose in the house since I have proven to be such a good boy. I don't get into anything at all and can be trusted alone in the house. I'm still sleeping upstairs with foster Mom and am real quiet at night. I sleep through the whole night long. Mom says that I have a very strong bladder and can hold "it" a long time. The other fur kids here and I have been playing ball and romping around having a great time. I really love the super large tennis ball and Mom says that I can take it with me to my "forever" home.

6/11/03 - Brutus went to the Vet yesterday to get all of his inoculations. Since he was from a shelter, and we do not know his vaccination history, he had the full compliment. He has whipworm which is easily treatable with Panacur for 3 days and then repeated in 3 weeks. Part of the reason that he is so thin is because of those nasty parasites. Now that he is on medication to rid him of them, he should be gaining weight and his fur should become nice and shiny.

Brutus was quite a hit at the Vet Hospital with all the people there. The Vet, Dr. Love, (yes, her name is really Dr. Love) went over Brutus with a fine tooth comb and got lots of Boxer kisses from him as she did the examination. She said, "You won't have him long in rescue, he is a wonderful dog." All he needs is a lot of TLC and he will make a great addition to some lucky family.

I wish I could say that Brutus would be fine living with cats, but I am just not sure about this. I have introduced him to the cat a couple times a day, but he seems a little too interested in her. Since he is on a leash he doesn't go after her, but he does quiver as he looks at her, and, if left to his own volition, would undoubtably chase her. What he would do if he caught her is the question! I need to invent a robot cat that all of our foster homes could cat test and cat desensitize our foster dogs with. The cat that we test the fosters with has a lot to do with their reaction also. So, although I would not automatically rule out a home that has cats for him, but I would cautious. But, with other dogs and kids, he is FANTASTIC.

6/9/03 - What a love this little boy is!! His name, Brutus, doesn't fit him at all. He is not a macho man at all, but a love bug and a playing fool. He has made himself at home here in no time at all. My pups have accepted him and have been playing ball all day long. They are just like kids, one gets the ball, then other one gets the ball, then the ball goes under something where they can't get it and they run to Mom to come and retrieve it. I have laughed so much today just watching them.

Brutus would like to tell you about the cuisine at the Canine Castle himself. "I started the day at the dining room with hamburg and rice, and when Mom got back from taking some of our other rescue dogs to the Vets, I dined on a nice bowl of tuna mixed with dry dog food. Afternoon canapes were little rolls of cheese and bologna. Mom , who recently retired as a Home Economics/Culinary Arts Teacher, is now the head chef at the Canine Castle. She cleaned out the freezer the other day and boiled up some lamb and it will be served tonight at a late dinner. I'm lucky that I don't have to watch my weight like the other fur residents here do. Soon my ribs won't show and my coat will be nice and shiny from all the good nutrients I am getting."

Brutus slept on the floor in the bedroom last night and was much more relaxed. He settled right down and slept the whole night through without a lot of scratching or moving around. Tomorrow he goes to the Vet for a check up and to have all of his vaccinations updated.

6/8/03 - A new guest has arrived at the Canine Castle for the "complete" treatment! He is the cutest, sweetest little boy, but he is soooo skinny. You can see how prominent his ribs are on the picture on the right. So he will dining in the "Executive Dining Room" with the finest cuisine available. Last night he dined on boiled chicken and dog food which he gobbled up. He had the same entree for breakfast, but lunch was scrambled eggs, hamburg and rice. Tonight will be the chef's special Roast Turkey Dinner. It won't take long at this 5 Star Restaurant to put some meat on his bones. His appetite is wonderful!

Early this morning he was introduced to the 2 resident Boxers, one at a time and then all three of them together and they got along just fine. Last night when he first arrived we kept them separated and he was very unhappy that he could not meet the rest of the troops. He barked and barked if he was left alone or crated, so he spent the evening in my husband's office with him and he was content. Last night we put a vari-kennel in the bedroom so he could be near people and he slept well.

He has very dry skin (probably from poor nutrition) and his ears seem to be bothering him a bit so he does a lot of scratching. So this morning he got the complete spa treatment - a nice bath with special shampoo for dry irritated skin, he was brushed to got a lot of the shedding fur out of his coat, he got drops in his ears and his teeth brushed. He let me pull and poke at every part of his body without incidence. His fur is so nice and soft now!

It has been a really busy weekend here with lots of visiting BAR volunteers and foster dogs. Brutus got along famously with all the visitors and was the perfect host. My 4 yr. old grandson has also been here and he was as gentle and pleasant with him as he could be. He didn't jump up on him and paid little attention to him - he was much more interested in the other dogs.

Since the outdoor introductions went so well, we let him loose inside with our other 2 and they have been like angels. He is stretched out on the floor right beside me now taking a nap and, undoubtably dreaming about how lucky he is to not be sitting in a shelter any longer and dreaming for his forever family.