NINA 12/12/04
#444
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Nina's Foster Journey - Adopted 12/27/04
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Pertinent Information
1 - 2 yr. old
Female Brindle Boxer
Shelter Surrender
Spayed and UTD
Natural Ears and Docked Tail
Being Fostered on Eastern Long Island
Adoption Donation $250
1/28/05 -Nina has settled into our
home remarkably well. She adapted to our schedule from day one, and has
become a wonderful and loving family member. Nina and our daughter
Angelina, are two peas in a pod. They love to play together and when
things calm down, they will both curl up and rest with one another as
well.
We noticed soon after picking up Nina, that she was scratching her ears
too much. Our vet confirmed that she has suffered from what looks to be
a chronic ear infection. Nina is now having her ears cleaned and
medicated twice a day, and seems to be doing much better.
We are also trying to socialize Nina a little more with other dogs.
There is a female, brindle boxer puppy across the street that Nina has
taken a liking to. The two of them play very nicely together. However,
Nina does not care for any of the other dogs in our neighborhood -
especially the males.
I must say that my husband and I feel extremely lucky to have Nina as
part of our family. She is so gentle and sweet with our daughter, and so
incredibly loving with all of us. It is hard to imagine what this poor
boxer baby has been through. But, we assure you, she has turned into one
pampered pooch that has us wrapped around her little paw.
Jennifer, Steven & Angelina
12/31/04 -My wife, daughter, and I could not be happier! Nina is great. The 3.5 hour drive back to Boston provided time to pet and rub Nina enough that she seemed to adapt to our family remarkably fast. The first night she preferred to sleep in our bed, but after a gently no and two attempts by Nina to come back in, she settled down in her new bed in our room. Nina is eating, playing, going to the bathroom OUTSIDE! She seems very happy. Deb her foster mom and family have done a great job. They were loving and caring so that Nina could begin to trust and love again. I commend Deb and her family for their patience and kindness to foster dogs. Their job is the hardest both to help the dog to adjust and to then send them on the their new homes. Thank you Deb I will keep you posted with lots of pictures. Steven
12/27/04 - I wanted to let you know
that Nina went home with her Forever Family
tonight. Jennifer, Steven & Angelina drove in from their visit in Brooklyn
with their families for the holidays. You see, they live near Boston, so
fate played a very nice role here and Miss Nina was "ready" to leave with
them just in time for their visit here in
New York. So.....she has gone home with 3 very wonderful people that have
been looking forward to her arrival in their family. She seemed smitten
with them all & a one point followed the baby where ever she walked. Very
cute to see. My wishes to all of them, it does seem like a very very good
match to me. Debby B.*sighing..my house seems sooooooooooo empty now!
12/26/04 - Please forgive me for the
lapse in time with Nina's update. The last 2 weeks of December are
exceptionally busy for me in many ways and one can only do "so much"
before their head explodes :o}
But, seriously. I am very happy to have nothing but good things to
say about this lil' girl. The "issue" of her aggressiveness toward my
resident dog Bogey is subsiding. She gets a little "uppity" if there is a
bit of commotion or Bogey growls while he is playing but all I have to say
is "NO Nina, you be good to my Bogey, no biting" and she walks away.
Nina had learned in the 2 short weeks she has been with us, my command for
leaving the room and going to lie down. She sits when told, she waits when
told. Nina also has no problem going outside to do her business.
Nina gets along fabulously with both my kids and she & my former Foster,
SweetPea were inseparable. We called them the twins. They even "wiggled"
together. They were wonderful together. They "beaned" like a perfect YING/YANG..lol
Of course, Nina is still really a "toddler" and she does get into
mischief, not destroying anything but she does like to just grab things &
play with them. She drops it right away when commanded and gives you
that......"what....whaddya do wrong?" face and I re-direct her to her
toys...which I must say, she LOVES playing with squeaky toys...and umm her
tail! Funniest to watch too!
Nina is still uncertain about her "life", still kinda sad, kinda worried
looking, but I know with the proper loving & reassurance, she will soon be
that bouncy baby 24/7 that she was meant to be.
I see no concerns with Nina's behavior. I am thinking tho', she might
oughta be "watched" if ever in the company of another male or another
Alpha female, as she isn't in the least bit "afraid" to stand her ground,
regardless of the size of the other dog...my Bogey is a BIG boy and she
had him a bit worried about what she might attempt next. As I said also
..she had "turned around" on this in this past week. So much so that she
has been allowed to roam free with the others. I just made sure to keep a
watchful eye...just in case she well....forgot her manners.
Nina will make a very nice addition to the family that is already waiting
for her to come to her Forever Home. Nina will be getting picked up by her
forever family on Tuesday, Dec. 28th. And they are all VERY excited to
meet her and to bring her home with them. Their lil' girl Angelina looks
at her picture that they copied & put up on their refrigerator and walks
down the hall...calling....."Ni, Ni" I believe...another "match" made by
the Angels :o}
12/18/04 - Nina is pending adoption
12/15/04 - Hello everyone..Miss Nina
is doing well.She is a luv-bug..to everyone here, lots of wiggles & just
general Boxer goofiness but.... she is has been a little too aggressive to
my German Shepard Bogey. Last night Nina went after my Bogey very badly,
she flat out attacked him. I was on top of my bed hanging curtains so my
"response time" was delayed. As I flew off the bed to grab her, she had a
real bad grip on my Bogey. I ...stupidly..grabbed her face to make her
release Bogey I got a nasty little hole punched in my finger. I finally
got her off Bogey & took her immediately back to her crate, telling her
all the way...WE DO NOT BITE OUR HOUSEMATES!! She has been exclusively
crated since then.
Nina is not very good in the crate..meaning..she cries, whines, yelps,
digs & bites the wire on the crate..unless she is surrounded by "people",
doesn't matter who, just as long as someone is "in her view".
I am sure that all this is her "challenging the Alpha", as nature has set
them up to do. But, of course it is a wee bit unnerving for the rest of
us. My poor Bogey boy went outside after her "attack" & I had to get my
flashlight & go looking for him in the woods in my backyard, he had
himself hunkered down in a pile of leaves, under a bush, he seemed ready
to spend the night right where he was.
So, I have been re-inforcing..it is BAD to bite our housemates & keeping
her crated. Tonight, again, I brought her outside to do her business &
when we came inside, Bogey was in the kitchen & she reared around to "go
for him" again. She was immediately placed back in her crate & told
again......NO..WE DON'T DO THIS TO OUR HOUSEMATES! I am sure this will all
"pass" as she feels more comfortable that she is in a good place, but for
now, it is an issue we are dealing with.
She plays fantastically with my other Foster Boxer, SweetPea, they are
HYSTERICAL together...kisses & boxing one another. It is funny but since
they are both the almost same coloring, it is like having twins, they do
almost everything at the same time. Like a "mirror image". I believe, as
with the other fosters, she just needs a bit of time to know, she is loved
& there is no reason to be mean to her housemates.
12/14/04 - I wanted to announce the
arrival of our new foster girly...as she was a stray picked up by a
shelter, she came with no name. So..we have, so far....named her Nina. She
is a cutie patootie! VERY VERY frightened...skittish..nervous..but she is
very very cute too. I brought her home "quietly" as I knew SweetPea our
current foster girl might get VERY confused. I dragged that dang GIGANTIC
crate into the house while SweetPea & Bogey were out in the back yard. I
placed Nina in the garage until I could set her up to go directly into the
crate, until I was at least a little sure how the resident babies would
re-act to her. I decided it would be best to follow "protocol" & leave her
in the crate for the next couple of days, a decision I felt goodwith, but
Nina HATED! She whined, she yelped, she dug at the floor, she bite the
bars..lawdhavemercy...non-stop. So we have been "crate shifting" from one
room to another, as she has relented a wee bit as long as she is "among"
everyone. I set the crate in my room for last night, she slept at the foot
of my bed, SweetPea , as always, in my bed. Everyone slept thru the
night..well..'cept me, worried if Nina would be alright thru the night.
As reserved & quiet as she was yesterday, we woke up to a totally
different girl this morning. Tail wags &
whole body wiggles for everyone. SweetPea is not very happy with this
whole "deal" but we keep reminding her that a little less than 2 months
ago..she was looking for the angels that were "promised" to her and that
she found us...BAR..that is and that it is now her turn to give back by
welcoming Nina and being nice to her. Giving back the
love that she had found. SweetPea is getting it..slowly but surely.
Bogey on the other hand...lol..had decided that staying as neutral as
"Sweden" is where is he staying. Nina doesn't seem to have any issues with
either dog, she is kissy & cuddly with both and with all of we humans. She
is laying on the rug next to me here with her head upon my foot. She
really is a sweet bunch of beauty.
Thank you Tina & Gary for being there with me to give her what she was
meant to have, a 2nd chance at getting what she deserves..love & respect
for the beauty that she is. I will keep you all updated.
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