Bailey’s having fun in his new home and has a very furry friend to hang out with. His new owners sent us this update:

Bailey seemed to be a little frustrated with all of the rules we gave him, but all in all he did really well his first night. I was a little concerned when we had him out front and the 5 neighborhood kids rushed him, but he handled it great! He didn’t mind the kids pawing at him at all!

It has been really good tonight. He and Nella are getting along great! Bailey really enjoys looking out the windows, we are not sure if he has ever had windows that go all the way to the floor. He also is pretty fascinated with the bird. He and Harley have been exchanging words. Harley will go to the bottom of the cage and nip at him and Bailey thinks that is great fun. I think Harley thinks it’s fun too!

Bailey has a full house, a bird, a fellow dog, and a cat. He hadn’t met the cat yet when we were sent the update but he had walked by it without caring that the cat was nearby.

Here’s a pic of Bailey and his friend Nella.

Posted on September 10th, 2008 by kathy
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Jack’s foster dad let us know how the first weekend was with Jack in his home. Here’s what Walter had to say,

So far Jack is doing great and has made a lot of progress. At first he was rather aloof and when I took him out for the first time he tended to weave in and out during his walk. He also decided to stop on his own and refused to go up steps. At first I thought I had overworked him since I took him for a good 40 minute walk the second time around. But after some help from a friend we realized that he was just simply used to being the pack leader and after a little work we were able to get him to follow my lead. He should be able to walk perfectly without any problems soon and I can start helping him to lose weight.

Jack seems to be fine with dogs around his size but has shown some hostility towards bigger dogs. We aren’t sure how he is around cats or what level his prey drive may be. In the apartment, Jack’s a quiet dog and doesn’t seem to be bothered by any city noises. His foster dad reports that Jack will get up, and if the noise is nothing to be alarmed about, he lays back down.

Overall he’s very pleasant to be around and is well behaved and is housetrained. He’s been left alone for about 5 hours with no problems. His foster dad sent us some pics!

Posted on September 9th, 2008 by kathy
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Clay aka Kit is a 1 yr old male shiba who came to use from the Manhattan Animal Care and Control Shelter. He was brought in as a stray. For the past few weeks he’s been living with his foster dad and has been adjusting nicely. Clay has to learn some manners such as to not jump up on people and how to interact with dogs without wanting to jump on them as well.

He’s very affectionate and friendly and seems interested in meeting children, although so far he has not had the chance to interact with them. We don’t want him to accidentally push someone to the ground. He does like other dogs, but doesn’t seem to always like larger dogs.

His foster dad told us that Clay is often a very a quiet dog but now and then he will bark in the house. However, from what his foster dad can tell, there’s nothing to bark at. As he describes it:

Most of the time he’s quiet, but sometimes–he barks. You’d swear this dog can see ghosts–he barks and growls at random walls and corners. Also, sometimes he will be lying down and bark to himself.

Clay has proven to be well-behaved. When he’s left alone, he will stare at the front door, scratch it a few times, and after about 5 minutes, lay down and take a nap. He does not destroy anything, has not gotten into any trouble, and overall, is a great dog. He is learning some commands such as sit and is fairly good on a leash. He’s not allowed to bolt out the door or walk ahead of his foster dad. As Clay is still a young dog and has some puppy traits in him, he tends to get bored of toys quickly. His foster dad rotates the toys, rubber chews, the hard plastic toys, and sometimes a cardboard box.

Overall it sounds like Clay is having a great time in his foster home and couldn’t have asked for a better foster dad. Keep checking back for more updates on Clay aka Kit!

Posted on September 7th, 2008 by kathy
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Prince’s foster mom gave us a quick update on his progress with other dogs. She said:

Prince’s really mellowed out, he likes to make himself comfortable on the loveseat with Akira and they both of them enjoy short naps throughout the day and playing in the dog park. Prince is still a bit of a mamas boy and prefers to sit by me at the park, but he has been playing with Akira and other dogs every now and then.

He’s learning how to fetch and loves to play with the ball, as long as I’m playing with him (rolling it around the ground with my feet and kicking it for him to fetch from short distances). He is great in the apartment by himself and gets a little spoiled every now and then by being allowed to sleep with Akira on her bed (and even sometimes my bed).

Prince has adjusted very well and is continuing to become a perfect gentleman in preparation for his forever home!

Posted on September 6th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Prince | 2 Comments »

Zucca is doing well in her foster home. She weighs about 8-9 lbs. She is friendly with the other dog in the house except when eating - Zucca tends to be a little food aggressive. Zucca is good on walks, but gets a little nervous in the dog run. She still prefers women over men, but just needs a little time to warm up to them. Zucca is very curious of a friend’s 2 year old boy - she wants to play with him like she does the other dogs but scares him off when she gets mouthy.

Zucca would be good in a home with another dog to play with or with a family who is willing to give her the time and exercise she needs.

Stay tuned for more on Zucca’s progress.

Posted on September 5th, 2008 by michele m
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Paulie’s foster mom Courtney says Paulie is doing great! Here’s some photos she sent us:
Click the photo to enlarge

Posted on September 4th, 2008 by michele m
Filed under: Paulie | 7 Comments »

Jack is a mellow, relaxed, red and white shiba who is about 10 yrs old and came to us from Bucks County SPCA. He is a bit aloof but likes to be pet and will come to you when you call him. From what we can tell, he likes to be praised and pet. He isn’t too playful but he is an older dog. He also is a bit chubby so he may tire quickly.

Jack likes chin rubs and treats. He’s a nice, easy going dog that would do well in a home with another dog and older children. He’s doing well in his foster home and has been placed on a diet. Keep checking back to learn more about Jack!

Posted on September 2nd, 2008 by kathy
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Jerry is an 8 month sesame puppy who is very friendly and very much a happy playful puppy. He’s good with small kids and gets along with cats. He needs to learn some basic commands and how to walk on a leash. For the last few weeks he’s been learning how to socialize with other dogs, but he is shy and can become a little unsure how to greet and meet dogs.

Jerry is very affectionate with people and likes to play. He needs a home where he can get plenty of exercise and grow up to be a happy, healthy dog. He is used to being in the crate when he’s not supervised and only seems to cry or bark when he needs to go outside.

He was brought to us because his former owners had children and him, and it was a very hectic and busy household. They felt it was best to find Jerry a home where he could get the time and attention he needed. Overall he’s a great dog, but he’s a puppy and it’s always a shock just how much time and energy it takes to raise a puppy into becoming a wonderful canine citizen. Jerry does jump up on people and sometimes gets a little mouthy but his foster mom is teaching boundaries and manners. From what we’ve been told, Jerry is learning and is also a joy to have in the house.

Please keep checking back for more info on Jerry.

Posted on August 26th, 2008 by kathy
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Zucca is a 3 month old female, red and white Shiba Inu who weighs about 8lbs. and was brought to us because her owners did not have the time it takes to raise a puppy. Puppies require a lot of patience, time, and consistent training. We hope to find Zucca a forever home with people who are ready and prepared to take on all the responsibilities of raising a dog and all the sighing, frustration, and love that comes with it.

Zucca has some very typical puppy moods, sleepy and tired for periods of time and then hyper and silly. Her former owners told us that she would be very mellow for a while and then want to play and zoom around the place. In her foster home, she has a fellow Shiba Inu that she’s been making good friends with. According to her new foster family, Zucca is sweet and has some very typical puppy traits. She loves to play with toys, especially plush toys, and is not afraid to run up to her foster sister and bug her to play.

She displays some shyness towards men but they are working with her to understand that men are just as fun as other dogs and women! She’s a good puppy who has some attitude, in the sense that she doesn’t back down easily when the other dog tries to teach her manners. Zucca is create-trained and has not had any accidents in her foster home. She is learning to walk on a leash but sometimes just wants to sit down in the middle of the sidewalk. So her foster family is working with her to understand that she needs to keep moving, keep walking, and can only stop when they stop. She does not pull on the leash.

She’s completely unaffected by city noises and is happy to be outside. She’s finally gotten the hang of going up and down stairs. The first couple days she was confused by them- but now she has conquered them like a champ!

Keep checking back for more in Zucca.

Posted on August 24th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Zucca | 4 Comments »

Our foster mom Jenn and her family recently took Candy into their home. After a week of adjustment and learning a somewhat new routine, it seems to be that Candy has relaxed and is becoming a wonderful guest!

Jenn calls her “Candy Cane” because she is so sweet. After a week, Candy is coming out of her shell and not as “defensive” or “weary” of new situations. She’s starting to live in the present and slowly forget about her past, Jenn can tell that the hard days of living on the street are becoming nothing more than a blurry memory in Candy’s mind.

Jenn told us, “Candy is a fairly independent pup and can be left unattended for several hours with no destructive behaviors or accidents. She is a perfect lady and doesn’t jump on the furniture or visitors. She seems to warm up to women faster than men, but she is excited to see either of her fosters when they come home. She greets us with tail wagging and a short game of tag where she runs up to you for a rub, then goes around the opposite direction for another rub.”

Candy is learning to play with toys but she’s still not sure what to do with them and what they are - but she does like nylabones. She also likes cheese. At the moment, Candy won’t eat from their hands but Jenn believes with time and trust, she will take food from their hands and understand that no one is going to startle her or scare her.

Candy is a very calm pup and will happily follow her foster around the yard and house. She likes to be with people but is perfectly content being alone. Although Candy has not yet been formally introduced to her foster canine siblings, she has been exposed to them through baby gates and has really shown little or no reaction. Candy does have a high prey drive, so she should not go to a home with small animals or cats.

Here’s several pics of Candy, click to enlarge.

  
  

Posted on August 24th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Candy | 2 Comments »

Bean is a wonderful, healthy little girl doing very well in her foster home. She is very affectionate and curious.

Bean is somewhat mischievous, always looking for food, but fairly well behaved. She listens to instructions. She is neither toy nor food aggressive. Bean does not need to be crated, and there haven’t been any accidents. She sits if told in a firm voice and walks well on a leash, but can pull at times.

Bean is still unfriendly with other dogs. She occasionally doesn’t like women, but several of the women have been around other dogs first, so it’s hard to tell if it’s the smell of another dog, or the women.

Bean enjoys walking for a while, but no adverse effects when she doesn’t get long walks. She’s a very sweet dog that will make someone very happy. She loves attention and being outside and she’s always excited to see you. However, she can’t be around other dogs (perhaps after introductions, but not recommended) or small children/infants.

Posted on August 22nd, 2008 by michele m
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Ashitaka is still learning basic commands and how to walk on a leash. He’s very good with other dogs and likes stuffed animal toys. He does have a tendency to take all the stuffing out of them. Ashitaka doesn’t seem to have aggressive tendencies, he sometimes will get a little possessive about a toy around another dog but has not caused any damage.

He’s having a lot of fun with his foster mom and goes for walks and plays in the backyard with a few other dog friends. Ashitaka loves a few things: attention, pets, and cheese.

Keep checking back for more on Ashitaka.

Posted on August 20th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Toshi | 1 Comment »

Prince is doing very well, and his foster parent described him as wonderful. He is a sweet dog and warms up quickly to people. He does get nervous if someone approaches him too fast and is too forceful when he first meets them.

He also can be a bit nippy but it seems to be a reaction to how someone approaches him. If he talked to in a calm and gentle manner, he relaxes and will let you pet him. He also had a bath recently and he was great! He tried to jump out a few times but with some easy talking-to he calmed right down. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of the water.

Prince has also gotten used to go to the dog park and playing with other dogs. He’s learning how to interact positively and has learned how to be the perfect pet… now to find his forever home!

Posted on August 15th, 2008 by kathy
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Candy looks like a new dog! She is learning more and more each day and looks wonderful.

    

Click on the images to enlarge

Posted on August 14th, 2008 by kathy
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At first glance, Ashitaka can give you the sense of an old soul. His gaze is deep and emotional. When he grins and wags his tail, it instantly puts a smile on your face. He loves to come over and lick your hands. He is happy to spend hours at your feet curled up or gazing up at you.

He has never has any obedience or manners training and is taking to is slowly. He is very food motivated but slow at understanding what is asked. A gentle hand works much better with him then a forceful correction. He is not a high energy dog.

He enjoys wandering around the backyard sniffing smells and peeking into bushes. He does have an reasonable prey drive and will go after birds and small animals. He does get along with other dogs but does not like dogs in his space or around him while he is in his crate. He will also growl if another dog challenges him over food.

Ashitaka will do best in a quiet home with no dogs or a calm female. He is happy to follow you arund the house or lounge around. He will require gentle training with refreshers through the rest of his life. He is a magestic sweet soul who just needs a calm family to live out his life with.

Posted on August 9th, 2008 by kathy
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A few days ago we got this new pic of Tasha. She doesn’t look like the nervous dog in her profile pic and looks like she’s having a good time in her foster home. She’s still shy but has been slowly coming around and relaxing.

She is still learning that not everything is scary and will take some time before she’s totally confident. Hopefully she will find a forever home where the people are patient, calm, and can work with Tasha to be the great dog we know she is.

Posted on August 8th, 2008 by kathy
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Paulie is doing wonderfully. He was recently neutered and is recovering with his foster family.

Paulie is being worked on with his leash training and not jumping on everyone when they enter the house. Leash training is going well and he is almost perfect; he stops when I stop and occasionally pulls when he really wants to go. Not jumping is hard, but he has gotten a lot better. He gets treats for sitting when we come in and when other people come in.

Paulie is a hyper shiba, and can be sweet and quiet at times. He loves attention and he is great with kids. Lately, he has been extra mushy and thinks he is a lap dog. He has become inseparable from the female dog in his foster home. He is very protective of her.

Paulie is almost completely housebroken, he hasn’t had an accident in the house in a few weeks. He also has almost all of his commands down. He doesn’t like to stay when told, but his foster family is working very hard on that one.

Paulie requires a normal amount of exercise. He goes on two walks per day and also gets to run in the yard.

Stay tuned for more info.

Posted on August 7th, 2008 by michele m
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Rusty has been neutered and microchipped and is enjoying his days as a “new yawker.” He is a very mellow dog in the house but does get excited when its time to go for a walk, and sometimes zooms around the apartment when his foster mom comes home. His foster mom told us,

Rusty’s personality has changed. He has opened up more emotionally. Now he is very bonded to me and follows me around. He sleeps at the end of my bed and lets me cuddle with him, while before he was sleeping in the living room. Rusty has become much more warm and loving.

He still doesn’t like passing other dogs on the street that often and will act like a bully but our Animal Welfare Director came and helped our foster mom Liz with a few tips and techniques. From what we’ve heard it’s helping lessen Rusty’s acting out.

Rusty is learning basic commands like sit and come, he’s very friendly when meeting new people, and gets along with some dogs. He doesn’t seem to understand the body language of children, so it may be best he goes to a house with older children. He also loves to play and run around outside, so an active family or household would be perfect for him.

Keep checking back for updates on Rusty!

Posted on August 6th, 2008 by kathy
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Toshi is now Ashitaka (Asheetaka)! Ashitaka’s foster mom found that he responded to that name better than Toshi. Now to find his forever home.

Posted on August 4th, 2008 by kathy
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Bailey is doing very well in his foster home. He currently weighs 30 lbs. He is very friendly with the other dogs in his foster home as well as when he is out for a walk or in a dog run. Bailey hasn’t shown any aggression toward strangers, although he hasn’t been tested with children yet.

Bailey enjoys playing with his toys, and he’s not aggressive - just the opposite, he drops the toy rather than fight over it.

“Bailey joins in with the doggie chorus when I come home. He is sometimes vocal when in his crate because he wants out of the crate. No loud noise problems at all (and we had town fireworks at the end of our block). It took Bailey a while to warm up to me but now he is very affectionate. He’s also very curious, particularly about whatever any of the other dogs are doing.”

Bailey knows some of his commands like sit, and sometimes comes when called. His other commands like lie down and stay are still being worked on, but Bailey is showing progress. Bailey barks a lot only about getting out of his crate. If he is kept with the crate closed when I go out or go to bed, he’s fine. He just wants to join in if I’m around and he’s locked in the crate. He shows no problems when being left alone in his crate for long periods of time.

“Bailey is out in the morning in a fenced backyard where he chases around with 2 Shibas and 2 German Shepherds. Then he comes in the doggie door and sleeps on the floor like the rest of the dogs. If I stay home, he can stay like this, in and out at will. If I go out, he is crated. Exercise in the afternoon (again chasing around the yard with the others), perhaps a walk, then dinner, more time out of the crate playing with toys and the other dogs, outside time, then in the crate to sleep for the night. (If the adopter doesn’t have a fenced yard, not to worry. Walks are actually better for dogs, more intellectually stimulating because the scene keeps changing.)”

The best home for Bailey would be a structured one and with another neutered male dog to play with would be best but he would probably do just as well as the only dog in the household. Bailey dislikes being picked up (can scratch with his nails trying to get down). He is a curious, friendly, happy boy who loves to play and interact with people and other dogs. He’s good in the car and especially wonderful with the vet, even when given shots and blood drawn. He’s a very healthy (with a velvet coat), easygoing boy who would love his adopter all the years he has ahead for himself.

Posted on August 4th, 2008 by michele m
Filed under: Bailey | 4 Comments »