GRR number: 16-026
Type of Surrender: Comanche Animal Shelter
Status: Available
Age: 2 years
Weight: 55 lbs (ideal weight for his structure would be 65 lbs)
Why Marley is an EGF recipient:
Intensive treatment/hospitalization for parvovirus
Sometimes all you need to tell the whole story is an e-mail chain! Take 3-year-old Marley, for instance, who contracted a life-threatening illness and lived to tell the tale. Medical director Margo kept us all up to date:
March 23: “Marley” will be arriving in our care from a West Texas shelter. He was an owner turn-in; his family moved into a no-pets apartment. This is a high-kill shelter so we need to get him out ASAP.
March 24: Vet tech Leda phoned with updates on Marley: “Underweight, poor coat, long nails. Submissive, really sweet, quiet, droopy eyes, cute dog.”
March 25, afternoon: Running out the door—details later—Leda phoned & Marley became ill this afternoon. Not eating, vomiting, explosive diarrhea. Tested positive for parvovirus (EXTREMELY serious). Parvo kills through dehydration, so he is on IV fluids as well as IV anti-nausea meds and antibiotics. We will provide Tamiflu, which reportedly reduces the severity of parvo when started early. He’ll be staying in an isolation ward at least through the weekend.
March 26: I delivered Tamiflu at noon yesterday. Cost is $180 for 5 days’ worth, well worth it, if it saves his life. Leda & helpers were with Marley. He still isn’t interested in eating. Very listless. Send up healing energy for Marley!
March 27: Cost to date to treat Marley’s parvo is at $1,200 after our 50% discount. He is a lot less nauseated today but doesn’t want to eat yet; they’re feeding him via syringe. No diarrhea! He’s improving! Staff switched the IV catheter from one leg to another. Marley objected – not aggression, but lots of interest as if to say, “It’s cold! Get away, you Crazy Lady!” We are hopeful he’ll pull though. He is definitely not getting worse.
March 29: Leda phoned with a happy update on Marvelous Marley: “Marley is eating & keeping down his oral meds! His poop is now formed, although it is still tar colored. He is off the IV fluids. He can move to his foster home on Friday. He is a sweetheart! He likes it if you sit with him & if you hand feed him. Marley is a ‘people person’ who wants someone close by. He’ll make a really great pet. He is ready to work when I ask him to, has manners, and he likes closeness but is not clingy.”
And after that, his recovery was “uneventful,” as they say—or, filled with nothing but happy events, as we like to say! He’s all settled into his forever home, where he’s doing great, though he HAS killed the occasional toss pillow. The dog who wouldn’t eat, who could barely lift his head, now loves his meals, LOVES to race across the yard, “and likes to stand up just like a person, with his front paws propped against the cyclone fence, and check out the surroundings. It’s just adorable.” He’s sweet to everyone (throw pillows excepted) and enjoying every minute!
Personality: Marley came to GRR for furever home placement as his previous owners experienced an unanticipated life change that prevented them from being his permanent home. With great pride they have relinquished Marley to GRR to find his perfect family. Before becoming a GRR golden, Marley had spent a good deal of time having free range outdoors and will require some basic education to fine tune household manners. Marley has generally a laid back demeanor and is a true people pleaser. He has demonstrated a willingness to learn and catch on quickly with his current Foster family. How can you resist those deep brown eyes? He is a playful boy now that he has recovered from Parvo, and is feeling much better.
Ideal home: Marley will do best in a family that is moderately active and is patient to train him with advanced commands. He does sleep through the night and has become accustomed to his crate. As a young boy he will do best with a family that will regularly walk him and perhaps build up stamina for a hike or swim. He has not been exposed to cats or to swimming yet. He has been exposed to children of infant to elementary age and did manage well.
To learn about the adoption process and complete an application, click here. We do not guarantee the availability of the dog that you have expressed interest in as it may be matched to another waiting family. However, there are always new dogs available as rescue is dynamic. We appreciate your interest in adopting a rescued golden.”
We do not guarantee the availability of the dog that you have expressed interest in as it may be matched to another waiting family. However, there are always new dogs available as rescue is dynamic. We appreciate your interest in adopting a rescued golden.