Groovy, Awesome Dog Daisy Would LOVE
to Live With You (& your cats)!
Updated January 2014 with new info
Daisy is the black dog in the photos above, with one of her foster moms, lots of cats, and one of her neighbors (me).
Daisy's owner passed away October 21, 2014 and she, another dog, and several cats were left behind. All of those animals have been adopted in forever homes except for Daisy. Daisy is in a very loving foster home, full of cats, and she loves it there. And her foster family love her. But they may not be able to keep her permanently. They would be willing to consider adoption by another family IF that family could give her the loving, permanent home she deserves, and a more active lifestyle than they are able to give her, as Daisy needs to lose at least 20 pounds. Here are even more photos of Daisy.
Why is Daisy terrific and you should adopt her!:
Daisy and another dog, Josh (not pictured - he is a retired service dog, about her same size) were living with about four cats from 2010 or so through 2014, and Daisy is currently being fostered with several cats. I've never, ever seen her chase a cat, even one she doesn't know. Squirrels and rabbits, yes, immediately, but not cats.
I would trust Daisy absolutely with any older child that knows how to act around any dog (as in, a child that wouldn't abuse her, hit her, hug her too hard, pull her tail, try to sit on her, lay on top of her, etc.). I have neither seen Daisy aggressive to a person ever. EVER. However, Daisy could never be taken to a dog park, as she is sometimes hostile to dogs she doesn't know and love. If a dog that's too dominate or a little grumpy gets near her, she might try to fight. Note: I used to think Daisy was dog aggressive, because she always was with her former owner that has now died; but now, in the groovy house of many cats, she is happy to meet other dogs - she smells them, she lets them smell her, and then she moves on. Her foster parents have regularly been introducing her to other dogs, something I didn't think was a good idea at first - but all has been absolutely fine. In fact, I now walk my little dog with Daisy! I think Daisy is so much more comfortable now in her foster home than where she used to live, and that security is reflected in how she now likes greeting and walking with other dogs (she still doesn't play with them, however).
Daisy lived with Josh the dog for about three years, but she was constantly supervised, and her previous owner was... a bit of a tyrant. I used to say I didn't think it was a good idea for Daisy to live with another dog anymore, but now, I revise my assessment: I think it would take careful introduction to another dog on neutral ground a few times, constant supervision (the dogs could not be left alone together in a house), and a dog that would not be aggressive but could also hold his or her ground, for Daisy to live with another dog permanently. While I don't think most people are up to that big challenge, there surely people out there who are.
I do think Daisy needs to be in a home with cats. She seems really comfortable with cats around, though she doesn't interact with them much.
Daisy loses her mind if she sees a squirrel or rabbit - and therefore can never be off-leash except in a fenced yard.
Daisy ignores people jogging or bicycling, just glancing at such, if at all.
When I had time, I walked Daisy and Josh a few times a week, and I've been continuing to walk Daisy alone a couple of times a week. A firmly stated (NEVER YELLED) “Daisy, OFF!” will stop Daisy from growling at or moving towards other dogs that she sees - she will keep walking, because she wants to please YOU more than anything. Now that she's in such a groovy, calm foster home, she hasn't even growled at other dogs when I've walked her, so I haven't said this to her in weeks when we've seen another dog - she's very calm these days, and I think it's because she's in such a calm, happy foster home.
Daisy needs to be around people as much as possible, and in-doors at night. She is happiest when people are around - she just wants to be in the same room and hear them talking. Daisy can be left alone inside while you are at work, in a home where she knows she is loved and wanted and where you will come home every evening, not too late. She could be left outside in a very secure, large, shaded enclosure, but only in the daytime, with shelter from both cold and the sun, and when she has been walked in the morning and knows she will get a walk in the evening and she will get to be with you all evening and sleep inside at night. Left outside for too long, and feeling abandoned, she will whine and bark and lick her paw too much. She would be fine in an apartment if she were walked regularly. She lived in a one bedroom apartment on the second floor for at least three years, until October 2014, but towards the end of that time, she was having trouble with the steps because of her weight. As long as she gets a long walk every day, and receives daily affection - she really needs a home where she is regularly assured that she's loved and wanted - she can live anywhere.
Daisy is afraid of loud noises, loud voices, loud cars, most motorcycles (even when they aren’t running), angry people, of displeasing anyone, and of being abandoned. She expresses her fear, if she experiences such (and she doesn't much these days), by cowering or whining and licking her paw. Because her foster home is so calm and groovy, she's not whining at all these days (unless you stand outside the house while she's still inside and talk to someone - then she whines because you aren't including her!), and the wound on her paw is less and less (it will be gone by the summer at this rate, IMO - it's already sooooo much less than you see in the photos above).
Here are even more photos of Daisy.
When I first posted this notice about Daisy, I talked at length about her anxiety and dog aggression - but I've had to edit all that, because, in her current home, she is just so much more calm and groovy. In her current foster home, where they make it clear that they love her, and with all the cats around, all of those anxiety and aggression issues have either disappeared or become totally, easily manageable. I had no idea how much she likes being around cats. The wound on Daisy's leg is healing very well, because she's getting proper medication for it (antibiotics, anti-anxiety meds and a mild pain killer) and because she's so much calmer in her foster home and, therefore, licking less. If her forever home can be the same - a happy home with people that make it clear they want Daisy around - I believe - as does her current vet (and I would be happy to put you in touch with him) - that her wound will continue to heal and her medication will not be necessary at all (though I'm willing to pay for a full month of such for the person that gives Daisy a forever home). Her biggest issue is her weight - she needs to lose at least 20 pounds, and she needs a home where they will make sure this happens through proper exercise.
I am not adopting Daisy because my husband doesn’t like Daisy’s oh-so-fierce looks - looks that just aren't at all matched by her personality - and he wants a different dog, one we can take to dog parks, and one that I could pick up and put in the car on my own, if need be, in case of emergency. But I adore Daisy. I hope I can get her adopted by someone near enough that I can still see her, however rarely - but if I find a great person or family anywhere, that's what's most important. All I ask is that, once you adopt her, you share photos with me of her in her new home.
If you are interested in adopting Daisy, in giving her a permanent, forever home, email me at jc @ coyotecommunications.com with your full name and phone number, and the name of your city, and a statement as to why you are interested in Daisy. Please say if you have other dogs. Anyone interested in adopting Daisy will have to meet her, and myself and her foster family, face-to-face, in Forest Grove, Oregon and go on a short walk with us, where I’ll be asking LOTS of questions - I want to make sure she finds a great, loving, forever home.