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STORMY 8/29/04
#430

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Stormy's Foster Journey - Adopted 10/17/04 - Rainbow Bridge 06/05

10/9/04

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Pertinent Information
9 yr. old  Female Boxer
45 lb. Owner  Surrender
Natural Ears and Docked Tail
Neutered or Spayed  and UTD
Being Fostered on Eastern Long Island
Adoption Donation $100

8/30/05 - This update is long overdue but it is a very difficult one to write.  At the end of June, we had to euthanize Stormy.  She started having problems in April.  She was having difficulty keeping her balance and would get tired quickly.  She even started to refuse to go walking with me  - which she used to love.  In June she started having what I called seizures - she would collapse and then it would take her a while to recover.  She kept getting more confused and would walk around in circles.  She also started to withdraw from us and didn't want to play.  After several visits and stays with the vet, he finally diagnosed the problem as small brain hemorrhages.  He said we could send her to Cornell for a CT scan but that would only identify the location of the bleeding.  Any fix would require extensive surgery.  Given Stormy's age and the suffering she had already experienced, the vet did not recommend surgery and we could not bear to put her through any more pain.  Stomy was a wonderful boxer and we miss her.  We only had her about 6 months but she'll always have a place in our hearts.  Although it was painful losing Stormy so soon, we thank BAR for allowing her to be part of our family.

1/19/05 - Stormy has been with us 4 month's now and is doing great. She doesn't like the snow since we still have over a foot on the ground. I call her a wimp because she doesn't like the cold snow on her belly but I really know that because of her back leg she has a hard time walking in snow this deep. We've had to shovel a place for her to go to the bathroom. She is still a little afraid of hands and will back off a bit when I reach to pet her. Also she surprises me with her sensitivity - this week I scolded her gently about being on the couch while I was at work - just told her it didn't look like she had been a good dog. She refused to eat her treats for the rest of the day. She is a very patient, loving dog and we are enjoying every day she is with us.

12/24/04 - Stormy has had her first Christmas with us and received more than enough treats and toys. I even baked doggy biscuits for her. We celebrated early (last Sunday) since we left for Panama City, FL on Wednesday. Stormy is staying home with my son Dan. We miss her but thought it would be easier for her to stay home. She and the cats get along well. One cat, Missky, goes right up to Stormy and licks her ear. I'm waiting though - Missky will lick one of my other cat's ear but then she bites it. Missky fortunately hasn't tried that with Stormy. I'm looking forward to getting home to Stormy so we can resume our walks. I stopped walking with her when hunting season stared, then it got cold and really hectic getting ready for the holidays. I am very thankful BAR allowed us to adopt Stormy.

11/22/04 -Stormy has adjusted very well to her new home. She gets treats every day when I leave for work, when I get home and before bed. She already has the schedule figured out and expects her treats even on the weekends. She listens well and we have let her out to go to the bathroom without a leash. We just stay out with her. She's ready to come back in when she's done. She has not bothered the 3 resident cats - except to chase them once in a while when they run. Two of them have decided Stormy is no threat and will go right up to her. Stormy is a wonderful girl and a perfect addition to our family.

10/17/04 - Today we drove up to Middletown to meet Ruth & Irving, the new "Mama & Daddy" of Stormy. Today was Stormy's adoption day! They are very, very sweet people! Ruth was smiling from ear to ear as she peeked in the back of my car to see Miss Stormy. Her husband commented on what a beautiful lil' doggie she was....& she truly is. My boyz "hung out" in the back of my wagon with her as us grown-ups did all the grown-up stuff that needed to be done. They brought here a beautiful leather collar & leash, (in fact, they brought several as they weren't sure how big they should get) Irving, ever so gently placed it on Stormy....& here is a REAL big part of why I felt they are all so perfect for one another.....Stormy has been VERY afraid of men since the first day we got her.....but when Irving approached her, she never even "ducked", never even growled at him :o} He led her to their station wagon, opened the back & he helped her make the jump up.........*smiling now..they even brought her a beautiful BIG rawhide bone and had it waiting in the back for her. Irving set down the one side of the back seat & invited Stormy to "explore" the car..which she did with much enthusiasm...she even set herself up in Ruth's seat & made herself comfy! We set out the blanket that my Mom made & that Stormy "adopted" as her own in the back. Stormy came back, sniffed her blanket..stuck her nose against the rawhide bone & decided , yes, she was going to stay! We gave our hugs & kisses & they were on their way. I have to say.....*smiling...they drove away as if they had the most precious cargo on board. It broke my heart to watch her drive away...but..I know she was going to people that chose her above all the others they read about, which means, they already had a bond with her. I know in my heart that she definitely found her Forever Family. I am sorry this is so long, but Stormy was my first foster and of course as you all know, they take a piece of you with them.
Thank you for the opportunity to "give" that piece...
Debby B.
Bogey & Clinton's Forever Mama
Clinton Waiting at The Bridge 8/4/04
Stormy's "former" Foster Mama

10/11/04 - Stormy is pending adoption.

10/4/04 - Hey there everyone! I wanted to bring a new update on Stormy. She is putting on some much needed weight. She is looking healthier as each week goes by. She was very underweight when she came to us. You cannot see her ribs sticking out any longer. It looked so bad when she first arrived. She eats VERY well and enjoys her bones, fresh carrots & yogurt (she does a fantastic little dance when she knows yogurt is being served..lol)
Stormy is getting much calmer, she was very skittish when she first came to live here. Any sort of loud noise & she was airborne. Not the case any longer. She likes to "know" where everyone in the house is, she checks on all frequently, as soon as she does her "assessment" she lies down.
Stormy is showing off her VERY playful side.....man o man alive! She is hysterical! We were rolling in laughter last night watching her play with a rubber kick ball...ohmygosh! It was too funny! She is still a bit possessive with the toys tho' where my Bogey is concerned. We were all playing with her with a little ball that actually is Bogey's but he doesn't mind sharing. I was lying on the floor next to her, Bogey walked in the room & she growled. So I told my son to remove Bogey as I wanted to be sure the growl was not directed at me. I then came closer to her face one again, no growl, just playing. Bogey came back into the room & she growled again. So I got up, told her NO Stormy, took the ball from her & told everyone we were through with playing. I told her sternly, we don't growl at our housemates. And told everyone to pay her no mind for a bit. She came into the same room where we all were, Bogey included and absolutely no problems. So, perhaps her excitement got the better of her. We just keep ourselves aware of that potential.
She really is a sweet little girl tho', very loving, lovable. She "talks" to you, especially when she hasn't seen you for a little bit of time. The sweetness of her face is to die for! Yu wanna just eat her up! She is still a bit apprehensive of men, she growls at first then cowers behind me, when the man sits down, she will come over & sniff then go & lay in the next room. Now, my nephew (22 years old) has been living with us for 3 weeks ...at 1st she growled & was afraid of him, now all she gives him is Lil' butt wiggles. So..I am certain is just a "fear" that was placed in her but once she gets to know them more, she is just fine. I consider myself blessed that Stormy is my very first Foster, as she is so good. Take another look at this sweetie, she certainly will be a blessing to you as well!

9/22/04 - Hello there everyone, wanted to bring you an update on Lil' Miss Stormy. She is doing so very good here with us. She quickly got used to our routine here in the house. She has even established a few of her own routines. I am VERY happy to report that a week ago Wed. Stormy & I made a "pact", she could stay out of her crate while we were away from the house as long as she did not try to go after my Bogey. She had started to "hide" from me in the morning as soon as she saw me putting on my boots, she knew "leaving" was next & with that came the yucky cage. (not to infer that it is yucky) but nonetheless, yucky to her! Boy, did she get that routine down fast. So that is when I followed her into my room & made the "deal". She was PERFECT! All the way around, in the house & with my Bogey!! So everyone is happier out of the crate. She had an accident in the house on Sat. but that is my LONG day away & she was not quite used to the wait. We will see what this coming Sat. brings with her. Another thing we tried for the first time since Stormy arrived, I took her for a walk on her leash, just to see how well she handled & listened..*rolling my eyes & giggling.......looks like we need some work in this area. She pulled & pulled & pulled. I made it a VERY short trip to the corner, stopping her constantly & getting her not to pull, it lasted a few secs, then she was pulling again. We will work on this as I know she likes to be "out & about" and it is a favorite of mine, walking to the bus stop & waiting for the kiddies. My Clinton thought he went to Heaven every time he heard that leash "clink" and he was a true gentleman when on it. So...Miss Stormy has a few lessons coming up. Stormy has been showing us her playful side.......and MAN!! does she love to play. She is so sweet looking with the ball hanging outta her lips..what a beautiful sight! The "duh, look at me" expression in full bloom. She is a all around very good girl. She is longing for her Forever Home complete with her Forever People...are you the ones??

9/12/04 - Stormy girl continues to do well here with us. She has come out of her "shell" more this week. She is very energetic( & I don't mean that in a bad way at all) for her age. She has begun to do her lil' dances when she is waiting for her food. She is still sort of anxious about getting it quick enough but when you tell her to sit or to wait...she obliges. I don't have an official new weight for her but I can see she is putting on some much needed pounds. Her ribs don't seem to be so pathetically sticking out of her any longer. She enjoys the little extra I have been mixing with her food. Boiled rice, yogurt ( she LOVES yogurt!!) Stormy has so far shown herself very trustworthy in the house, if I should step out front to do something in the yard..no furniture AT ALL, not even to look out the bay window to see where I have gone off to. I have left her alone in the house to run down to the store to get something, never touched a thing. I am still cautious with her around Bogey, just as a safety thing right now. She has not gone after him again in a week & has shown no signs of wanting to either (no bowed head or curling of her lip) Stormy is still crated when I go to work, again..as a safety measure. I still like to keep a eye open when she interacts with my Bogey. She has come up to him, allowed him to smell her head & um, parts and never even changed the expression on her face. She & Bogey come over for hugs & scratches every morning when I am putting on my shoes, again, no signs of aggression & sometimes in the "scratch my hinny" dance, they bump off of one another. Her kisses are becoming more frequent and her wild wiggly butt dances have "appeared", it certainly seems that love, respect & finding a "routine" once again is helping her to become the lil' luv bug that she is. I will have more recent pics. of her come next week, showing the difference in her weight & the softness that has appeared around her face. She is really a pretty lil' girl!

9/9/04 - Miss Stormy is doing very well here with us. She seems to have put on a wee bit of weight. I am feeding her just a "little extra" to get some weight on her as you can count all her ribs. She still seems "unsure" about exactly where she has come..she paces & I get the feeling she is looking for her "Dad". She has made herself very comfortable here, she has come into our routine very easily.
Stormy is VERY good with my boyz (11 & 8) she follows us thru our bed time routine, sits with us & then gives kisses before they go to bed. She looks for them as soon as I come into the house. She spends individual time with each one of them, making the boyz feel "extra special" like she loves them more & they eat it up. Stormy follows me around all the time & all she requires, plain & simple is some devotion & love. She is not a "high maintenance" sort of girl...she just wants some loving. She is also basically quiet and she hasn't gotten into anything while she has been here.
Stormy has NEVER gotten up on any furniture, no beds..she is very content with the floor or a nice piece of comfy rug..she really is a "Little Lady" just in need of the "security" of love & devotion she once held. Maybe you & your family have just what this little girl desires...check her out, she is a sweetie.

9/6/04 - I wanted to send a little update on Ms. Stormy. She is doing soooooooooo well here..within 2 days she realized that she is not going to be deprived of any food, in fact, because of her lack of weight, I have given her a extra feeding each day. I have also given her a "few extras" like bacon when we have breakfast & crackers when she goes into the crate...which she does go into very nicely. I am still crating her when we leave the house as a precaution to her & to Bogey as well.
She has not show any signs of aggression toward Bogey in over 5 days. In the beginning she was so hungry and worried about if she was going to get another meal that she was food aggressive towards him. But now I believe that she knows that food is very available to her, there is nothing for her to worry about. I feed them in the same room, as I feel separating them would not teach her that "we all get along" within the same confines. I was COMPLETELY amazed . I thought my Clinton was an extremely fast learner ..he learned in 2 weeks of being with us!!...but she learned my command for out of the kitchen when we are eating in 2 DAYS! She learned to leave the room & go & lay down until we are finished. She tried to "test" me the 2nd day but I am a persistent "cuss" and stayed by her side, commanding her to lie down until she did it. She gave up the "test" very easily.
When a man enters my house, her hair stands up, she cowers & she starts to growl but within seconds of them coming in, she is plastered to my leg...peeking out at them but refusing to advance forward until I make a "official" introduction & even then, it takes her a bit of time to "trust" & come away from me to even get a sniff at them. She is still a bit antsy, running from door to door, still a very nervous little girl so we continue to give her a lot more personal attention. She is absolutely smitten with my boyz...she "searches" for them as soon as we get in the door. She is more readily giving kisses & hinny wags..we keep giving her kisses & lots of loving attention. She is very good in the house..no accidents, although, she did come down in the basement when I was doing laundry & right next to me, she peed on the floor, I told her NO Stormy, we don't pee in the house & I promptly brought her upstairs & let her out back. NO accidents in the house tho' so far.
She really is a little sweet girl, I believe as she "realizes" love again, she won't be so scared, nervous & skittish. I brought her with me on a home visit I did today & she was a true "ambassador". I think she did get a little nervous that maybe she was going to be "left" there..so when we finished the back yard inspection, I brought her back to my car so she could be in familiar surroundings..I didn't want her to be afraid that she was being left there.

8/29/04 - Stormy lived with her master for 9 years, but he has now been hospitalized and when he comes out of the hospital will be bed ridden.  They lived with his grand daughter, but she is expecting a baby and just cannot continue to take care of  Stormy and the grand father, so BAR was contacted.  A wonderful volunteer who recently lost her Boxer stepped forward and offered to foster Stormy.  So Stormy joins our group of "Summer Seniors."