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CHINA 1/24/05
 

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China's Foster Journey - Adopted 3/6/05

Pertinent Information
4 yr. old  Female Boxer
  50 lb Brindle Shelter Surrender
Natural Ears and Docked Tail
Soon to be Spayed, but UTD
Being Fostered near Albany, NY
Adoption Donation $175 + $20 Microchipping

3/6/06 - Well, today is a year that we have China.  We love her very much and glad that we have her.  My husband and I always had dogs in our lives.  We both grew up with them.
So when we got married the first thing we did was to get a  boxer puppy. When we moved into our house 43 years ago we always decided to have to two dogs at a time. (to keep each other company while we were at work) We had Dobermans, Mutts,etc.  Our last two were a Rotweiler, whom we rescued from a pound and a boxer my children bought us for an anniversary gift.  We had the boxer for 11 years, (she was my favorite) and the Rotweiller for 16 years. When we had to put her down we decided no more dogs for us.
Six months went by without a dog in the house and our home was not the same. That's when we decided that we had to get another dog.  I then told my husband that if we get another dog it has to be a small one. We are getting older and would not be able to handle anymore large dogs.  I then went to the Little Shelter and met Gary there and he convinced me to get another boxer. 
So that's how we adopted China and we are very happy with her.  I know she loves us as much as we love her, and I know that she is very content with her forever home.

9/14/05 - Hi, sorry I am late with my six month report on China.   Forgot to put it on my calendar.  China is doing very well.  So far the medication she is taking for her seizures are working.  She put on some weight, but the vet said that we should expect that due to the meds she takes. 

I guess China now knows that this is really her home.  She is now barking when the doorbell rings or when someone is at the front door.  China is also familiar with the families cars coming in the driveway.  She also perks up her ears when she hears other strange noises around the house. Sometimes she even growls. China now knows that she is really part of the
family and is doing her job in protecting her family and property.

We love our China and am glad that we got in touch with "Boxer Angels Rescue".  Talk to you again in six months.
Marilyn

6/6/05 - There is really not much to tell this time except that I think China really likes living with Mike and I. She enjoys everything she does with us. I think she knows that this is finally her home forever.
We had to take her to the vet last week. She had a problem with her head shaking again. She had three episodes in one week and we were very concerned. He gave us some medication for her, and if it continues China will have to be tested further. Hopefully the medication will help and everything will be fine.

5/6/05 - We now have China two months. She is doing very well. My husband and I took her to the bluff one day and she saw some ducks, I don't know if she had seen any before. Anyway she tried to go into the water to get a closer look, but we held her back. The ducks can get very nasty sometimes. We also dog sat for a friend of ours for a week. He was a big lab and she got along very well with him. Today we had to watch my brothers toy poodle, but China did not play with him because I think that the poodle was afraid of her. All I know is that China gets very jealous when we pay attention to the other dogs, but she knows that we still love her very much and I know that she feels the same way toward us.

4/5/05 - It is now time for China's first update with us. First of all I would like to tell you how much we enjoy and love her. It took her only a few days to get used to us. She loves to play ball and runs very fast around the yard. She even ran after a rabbit that was passing through our yard, thank god she did not catch it. We take her down the park, And she also likes to take walks around the neighborhood. When taking these walks she meets some of the neighbors and their children and some of their dogs. She is very friendly with everyone, especially the children. I know she wishes she could play with them. We took her to the vet 3/23/05. The vet said that she was in good shape. She even lost 3 pounds. That same morning before we visited the vet, China's head was shaking as if she was having a seizure. We also told him that she has had a few accidents while sleeping. We thought she may be getting her urinary infection again. He took blood test for both but everything turned out normal. The vet said we should watch her carefully for anymore of these systems. So far everything has been fine. One last thing. China never barked. When we first heard her bark we were surprised. Now she has been barking quite a bit. I guess she now feels that this is her forever home and that she is now protecting what belongs to her.

3/14/05 - Here is my update on China. We had a wonderful week. She is such a good and happy dog. When we arrived home with her she was a little confused, which is expected. For the next couple of days she followed Mike and I
everywhere we went. About Wednesday she felt much more trusting and comfortable. Her favorite spot is sitting by the front door where the sun shines almost all day.
We enjoyed playing ball with her outside but when it snowed we even played in the house. She walks well on the leash, doesn't pull. She obeys all commands, sit, stay even when she was going to walk onto the pool cover we just said no and she immediately backed away.

She hasn't had any accidents yet. China lets us know when she has to go out. She doesn't jump on the beds or the couch. We do allow her to go lie on the couch downstairs with Mike when they are both watching the TV.
The only problem we see is that she gulps down her food very fast. Because of this problem we try to feed her a little at a time. I think in time she'll overcome this eating behavior.
Katie, I think you were a very good foster mother to China, and we know that we made a good choice in adopting her. Mike and I love her very much and I think she loves and trusts us just as much.

3/8/05 - Bad foster mommy - bad bad bad! We've been in such an uproar around my house I forgot to post that China went to her forever home this weekend! She's living with an older couple where she will very obviously be the queen. Michael told Marilyn that he didn't need her anymore when they met China because there was a new woman in his life.

I made the mistake of looking back after I left her with them and she clearly was doing the "HEY! You forgot me!" thing in their car but I know in my heart that she is going to the best place I could pick for her! Katie

3/1/05 - China is pending adoption

2/28/05 - China has got to be one of the most temperamentally perfect boxers we've ever had here. She is just what you think of when you think of a boxer. She is so tolerant of our kids, plays well with the other dogs, welcomes people that we welcome into our home, she just amazes me a little bit more every day. China has finished her course of antibiotics and let me tell you, it certainly did the trick. We haven't had anymore accidents in the house (except the basement but they're not, technically, allowed down there and they ALL pee in the basement when the sneak down). She asks to go out when she needs to go and will follow you around to ask again if you miss the request the first time. China has also taken to sleeping in my daughters room, she just LOVES her, she follows her around when she's home and has even been convinced to pull her 'chariot'. Which means standing patiently with a leash on while my daughter sits in the laundry basket. She's very patient and long suffering. :-) This girl just deserves all the best. We are going to be very sad to see her go.

2/22/05 - I just wanted to say some kind words about one of the other dogs in foster care. A pretty girl by the name of China who I had the pleasure of having in my home for several hours. China was great in my home so loving. She really didn't want to be in the crate but she was so quite in there with all the other dogs around. We let all of them out as much as we could and China was very relaxed. We didn't have to hold onto her leash because she was very well behaved. She milled about the house with my Maddie who is very passive and a more reserved boxer. If China was to go to a home with a canine companion she might prefer one of a more laid back nature. As I said she was only with me for a several hours but she was a pleasure. Her foster home knows her best but I did want to share my experience with her.

2/21/05 - Wow! What a difference having China on antibiotics has made in her housebreaking! Clearly the poor girl did have a urinary tract infection that just wasn't showing up. She's been dry in her crate for a while now (since before the antibiotics) but she's pretty much completely stopped having accidents in the house. I'm so happy for her, she was totally embarrassed every time it happened.
AND! She's started playing with our other dogs, she's still kind of tentative and they do some posturing that isn't quite play but isn't quite aggression. I have high hopes that her doggy social skills will continue to improve. I don't think she's had much chance to hone them before now.
This dog is just the best! She's got wonderful manners and everything! Please consider adopting her!

2/14/05 - Hooray!!! Chinas blood work all came back normal! The vet is going to put her on antibiotics for 10 days because her white blood cell count is a little high and he wants to be safe but other than that our girl is perfectly fine! Which also means she's ready for her forever home!
China is still doing great with us - she has lost 3 pounds and could stand to lose a little more but our fitness expert, Daisy, is working hard with her on that. She's got her doing laps around the yard daily, weather permitting. Really fast laps. Good thing we don't have a lot of trees at the fence line. And we've been very careful about the amount of food she's getting. I can even see her waist these days! A wonderful thing for a lady. ;-)
China is gaining confidence too - although she still gets started by fast movements near her (I think she might have been 'corrected' in a former home) she isn't as scared by them. She comes when we call her and sits nicely to wait for her dinner. China does still grumble if another dog comes to investigate her dish but if they just walk by she's fine. Our three are all supposed to leave the kitchen as soon as they're done eating but our old man can't help investigating on his way out some days. She gives him a little bit of "Get away from my food" and he ambles off, I don't know what she'd do if he tried to stick his face in her dish but I can take her food from her with no
problems. I think, perhaps, her diet is making her more protective than she needs to be. As long as mealtime is supervised she does just fine.
Chinas been out now several times on just her flat collar and walks very nicely mostly. She does pull ahead occasionally but nothing horrible and she listens when you ask her to stop, or to sit. She was very well socialized by someone.
I am a bad foster mommy because we still haven't gotten China anywhere where she could meet a kitty which was on my 'to do' list this weekend. I will make a concerted effort to do that tomorrow or Wednesday though - hopefully before my brother in law gets home from where he's training. He doesn't like us to use his kitty as the tester :-).
What I do know is that she's good with kids, she stays off furniture, she walks well on leash and she likes other dogs. She's working on her housebreaking but her accidents are getting more and more infrequent and she'll get that down very soon. I think she may have been left alone for extended periods because she holds it and holds it and holds it until she just about explodes. Once she figures out how to ask to go out it won't be a problem. As long as we keep her in her crate or let her out regularly we have no issues at all.

2/7/05 - China continues to blossom here into such a sweet boxer girl. The accidents in the house have almost stopped completely as long as gets outside on a regular schedule. Unfortunately, the vet LOST our blood sample so we need to take her over for another blood draw and start from scratch with that. Another unfortunately is that I don't have a lot of time this week to get her there. I'm hoping to try for Wednesday night but it's dubious. I hate to see this girl staying here for another week or two while her forever family waits for her but I also think we need to get to the bottom
of what's going on. Meanwhile she is too cute for words she's good with everyone she's met - barks some and carries on when she sees them from the yard or if they knock on the door but is very welcoming once she gets to know them. She's pushed her luck a little with our dogs and, wouldn't you know it, backs right down when they tell her they've had enough. She doesn't want to fight but definitely will give being the head dog a run for the money - I mean, what the heck? It's worth a try right?
She's been fetching for me - although she stops actually giving the ball to me when she gets tired. She'll put it right in your hand if she wants you to throw it again.
China is still not playing with the other dogs. She gets very excited when they play with each other and barks at them but doesn't join in. She will race them around the yard at full speed but no real boxing.
I will be sure to post as soon as I know when she will be going back to have her blood drawn again. Poor girl - who wants to get stuck with a needle twice?!?

2/1/05 - Well week two here with China-doll and she is just the best dog! She is so full of wiggles whenever she gets excited - she play bows and carries on waggling her whole behind while you talk to her. She loves to fetch and brings the ball back and gives it right to you so you can throw it to again. She isn't too sure about playing with the other dogs, when they get wrestling she barks at them until I tell her to shush.
China has also proven to us that she is not aggressive with the other dogs and food. She seems to be very worried that perhaps they might get fed and she won't but when I ask her to sit she will until I put their bowls down. They've all eaten together now for several meals with no problems, even when someone else has food left and China is done eating she's ok with it.
China had some blood work done last week to see how her kidneys are doing because Doc isn't sure if she has a urinary tract infection or what. The test results are due back tomorrow so we'll be sure to let everyone know what we hear.
China does not get up on furniture - what a good girl! I actually invited her up on the bed with me one night last week because the rest of our crew were snoring away and she wouldn't. She sat next to the bed and growled and carried on looking for attention but she wouldn't get up.
Speaking of her growling, have I mentioned how vocal she is? If you didn't know better you might almost be afraid of her but there isn't an aggressive bone in her body - she just talks, and talks, and carries on. Typical female, my husband says, just can't shhhhhhh for a second!
Keep watching the updates on our girl. She's just a doll in a brindle body and we'll keep sharing her antics as long as she's with us!

1/27/05 - China has now been with us for a few days and she has settled in with us and our other dogs faster than any other foster we've had. Everyone is just getting along so well! We have still been feeding her separately so that we don't have any food issues but we're going to try her one on one with another of our more laid back dogs in a few more days. China has got to be one of the most vocal fosters we've had to. At first, we thought she was growling at everyone - which she does but it's not a mean growl she just is talking back to everyone! She grumbles and growls and the whole time her entire body is wiggling all over the place. We'll have to get some better pictures for her site so you can see that she HAS to wiggle her whole body because she's got just a little teeny stubby tail - if you watch you can see it waggle but you really have to be looking!

China went to the vet last night and her heartworm test was negative (yay!) but they're doing a little more blood work because her urine specimen was a little dilute. They're not sure there's a problem but want to check her kidney function. We'll have the results back in a few days so keep your fingers crossed that everything is fine.

China was SO good at the vet - this girl sits nicely when asked and stays there so she sat down and just loved everyone up who came near her. The vets and the techs and the other dogs that were there, she's just a love bug! I hope this girl gets a fantastic home she is just through and through a boxer who deserves one!

1/25/05 - China arrived yesterday via a doggy caravan up the Thruway from NYC. She and 2 other dogs were generously transported to us via the NYC's Mayor's Alliance Van so that they can move on to their forever families.

China is a very confused girl right now - her owner dropped her off at the shelter just days ago and now she's in a new home with lots of new dogs to meet and kids too! She seems to be doing ok with it though. She just loves people and has met the resident wolf pack without any incidents. She may have some food aggression with the other dogs so we're keeping very close wraps on feeding time at the zoo here until we get her measure. This girl is sweet sweet sweet with people.

She's got an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow because we suspect she may have a urinary tract infection and she needs to be heartworm tested.

I can't wait for this poor girl to start to feel secure so we can meet her real personality. This morning I gated everyone else up in the kitchen and she started to play bow and wiggle at me - I was so excited to see her seem to be a little happy. My husband tells me she's laying right with him while he works today so she's definitely a people dog. I know we'll find her a new home that'll keep her forever!

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