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Post Info TOPIC: Ra
Lesley


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Ra
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We have a new foster boy.


He was to be pts but his owner was persuaded to hand him over to GAL.  He is only twenty months old, skinny, fluffy and was full of fleas.  According to his owner he wouldn't chase anything and consequently I don't think he's had much exercise (if any) cos he has no muscle tone despite being so young.


His reluctance to chase, combined with his anxiety, means he may be cat safe.  He is certainly manageable at the moment, but is very depressed so his character may change.  He has met our cat and showed no interest in her - fingers crossed that continues to be his attitude.


We have named him Ra (Egyptian Sun God) because he will be a big golden boy once his condition has improved.  We did use that name briefly for one of the Milton dogs, but that dog was moved back to Bothwell really quickly and given another name.


There is a lot to do with him - for example he won't toilet while on the lead - so does nothing while out for a walk, then I have to let him off the lead in the garden to do what he needs to.  Even then he looks at me balefully for ages as if wondering what I expect of him.


Yesterday he decided he didn't want to come for a walk - head down and dragging on the lead - same again this morning.  I hope that is just a phase and once he realises that he is not being taken away somewhere, and that we always return to the house and garden, his walking will improve.


He likes treats, but won't take anything from my hand - he salivates all over it while I am offering it to him, but won't take it until I put it on the ground.


This is only day 2 - early days - I'll keep you posted of his progress.



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Lesley
Ambers Mo


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Good luck with Ra, Lesley.  He sounds as if he has had a bad time.


Joyce



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Teresa


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Well done for taking on Ra.  I'm sure he'll flourish under your care, Lesley

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Jackie D


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Hmmmmmmmmm, potentially cat safe dog going to live with Lesley............


I wonder what the odds are of GAL beind one more foster home down shortly?



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Lesley


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This afternoon, as he did yesterday afternoon, Ra chose a spot on the far side of the garden and went to sleep!  And when I say sleep - I mean SLEEP!  I had to check that he was still breathing.  He remained in the same spot from around 1pm until after 4.30pm!    


When I went to get him to go for a walk - he actually trotted towards me giving a little tentative wag as he came!  Awwwww!   A teeny, tiny bit of progress already!



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Lesley
Lesley


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Jackie D wrote:

Hmmmmmmmmm, potentially cat safe dog going to live with Lesley............ I wonder what the odds are of GAL beind one more foster home down shortly?
And, after Skipper, I swore I would not foster anything other than a proven cat safe dog!  But there we are - needs must - what can I say!!

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Lesley
Nicki


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Lesley, well done for taking on Ra, I am sure he will flourish in your care. Look forward to hearing all about him.


Nicki and wee Janie.x



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FAJ


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Awww, Lesley, Ra sounds like a little poppet. My heart melts to hear about his wee tail wagging at you. Hopefully it won't be too long before he realises that he's safe with you. I'm looking forward to hearing loads of tales about his character coming out.

Any piccies.......?

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greyluvver


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Lesley, as others have said - Ra will come on great with your care and patience

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Lita
neeroz


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Like everyone has said before, Ra will come of his shell in your loving care.


As for the walking/shy bit Kai was like that, the dog that wouldn't go walks at Langbank kennel. You should see him sprinting like a maddy with Dexter in the park now!



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Lesley


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That's very interesting about Kai's walking Louise - I hope Ra will come on in the same way.


I have asked myself why he is so reluctant and it could be for several reasons: - he doesn't want to be taken elsewhere; or - all of his previous outings have been unpleasant and he has been punished (for not chasing); plus - I think he gets really weary because his muscles are so poor (non existent).


He is so young that I hope he will overcome his past and blossom into a happy dog like Sim.


He is very good and very quiet which is great, but I would like to think that he may become happy and calm, rather than depressed and calm as he is at the moment.


Wee guy!  He is a sweetie with the most gorgeous face.  I will try and get some pics sorted, but meantime Dave might post the ones Denise took when she went to assess him.



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Lesley
Jennifer


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He sounds like he will come on great as he has the company of your other dogs. I found this helped with Millie as she was nervous at first. Cant wait to see piccies of him.

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Christine Young


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Well Done, Lesley - for taking on Ra! And I'm looking forward to hearing how he blossoms under your care! He sounds as if he's starting to come around already.


Christine



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Dave


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Here's the boy, 3 piccies here, first 2 are really nice head shots of Ra, the third one is a full body shot and I guess that one tells the full story, this was Ra a few hours after he was handed into us, note the tail firmly under his body, very dirty patchy skin, very underweight and hardly any muscle tone on his back end, and if you look closely you'll see a redish area on his chest which looks like some sort of bite or puncture wound, poor wee lamb. I guess what makes it even worse is that he's not even 2yrs old till December....






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Gail


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Lesley, when you see the pics and realise how much he has suffered it just proves what a fantastic job you are doing to get a wee wag of his tail already.Well done you!!


Can't wait to see just how much he blossoms...he's a bonny lad.



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FAJ


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Bless him - in that first piccie he looks just like a little fox. Beautiful eyes. A few weeks of good food , walks, rest and care from Lesley (who we know is a mega-Queen of tlc!) will have him nicely toned and looking healthy in no time. He'll be challenging Harry for the Most Handsome boy title at the Christmas show!

Keep us updated please with his progress, would you, Lesley?

Fiona

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Lesley


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FAJ wrote:

Bless him - in that first piccie he looks just like a little fox. Beautiful eyes. A few weeks of good food , walks, rest and care from Lesley (who we know is a mega-Queen of tlc!) will have him nicely toned and looking healthy in no time. He'll be challenging Harry for the Most Handsome boy title at the Christmas show! Keep us updated please with his progress, would you, Lesley? Fiona

Blimey - a mega queen of tlc?  I hope I can live up to that!


You are right about him looking like a fox - that's exactly what I thought when I saw that pic before I met him, and I was thinking of calling him Fox.  He looks really small and dainty in those pics., but in life he is much too large to be called Fox.  He is slightly built at the moment, and very skinny etc., but he is taller than Sim and his head is larger.  When he fills out he should be gorgeous - hence the choice of name.



-- Edited by Lesley at 15:21, 2006-07-25

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Lesley
FAJ


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Lesley, after all your magnificent care of Skipper when he'd been poisoned, you will always be a mega-Queen of tlc in my book, and I'm sure that of in many others too.

Fiona

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Valerie


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Ra has a beautiful face, and looks like he will be a great dog with Lesley's care.  The fact he went for a deep sleep in the garden may mean he can sense he is safe already.  Imagine anyone wanting to have him pts?

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Nicki


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He is mega lovely, looks like he has been through alot, bless him


Nicki and wee janie.x



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Jennifer


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aww he is lovely as other folk have said with your love and attention im sure he will improve very quickly.

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Lesley


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Ra has been with us for one week tonight, and I can report some improvements already - albeit small.


He wags his tail and smiles at us in the morning when we come downstairs.


His walking is better - stopping less frequently and requiring less encouragement - although he still looks like he is only putting up with being walked.


He is managing to 'go' while on the lead which makes things a bit easier.


He is learning to take treats from my hand - allowing me to push a gravy bone into his mouth when he parts his teeth (who would ever think that a dog would have to learn to take treats).


He doesn't really know his name yet, but responds to "come on" (in squeaky voice) while in the garden.


So - progress - although there is still a long, long way to go.  Somewhere in there, there is a perky dog who is interested in what is going on around him - we haven't seen much sign of him yet . . . . . . . but occasionally . . . . . . .there's a glimmer!! 



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Lesley
Valerie


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A lovely reward (and more to come) for all your kindness.  Look forward to hearing more of the Sun god.

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FAJ


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Awww, bless his cotton socks. Sounds like he's making lovely wee babysteps of progress. Here's to the days when he's first in the queue for his daily treats.

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Christine Young


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Hi Lesley


Just caught up with Ra's pictures. He's a beauty! Like everyone says, he'll come on leaps and bounds under your care. Poor wee mite - it looks as if he's suffered, but you're making great progress with him so far. To get a smile and wag of his tail every morning is wonderful - I'm sure it won't be long until he trusts you completely! What do Sim and Suzie make of their new friend? And how has he taken to them?


Christine



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Lesley


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Hi Christine - Sim and Suzie are just fine with Ra and he is fine with them.  For the first few nights Ra kept trying to eat their food in between bites of his own and there was never a cross word - they are both very laid back.


The only thing which might put a dampener on Ra's improving spirits is that Sim is such a playful lad - as soon as he spots Ra's mood might be a little brighter in the garden he pounces on him in an attempt to get him to play - which stops Ra in his tracks.


This evening we had a glimpse of the puppy he really is - when I came in (from doing a home check) Ra came out into the garden and was bouncing about at the back door, suddenly he ran down the garden, round a corner, up the grass - legs all over the place cos his legs are so long and his muscles are so poor - fell on his bum, turned round and ran back down again.  It was hilarious.  His coordination is all over the place!


Now that he is occasionally acting more like his age - Jerry has started calling him Enormo-pup - cos he is a big boy - taller and longer than Sim (but thinner and lighter).


There is still a long way to go but I think this is an amazing improvement in really a very short space of time.  It is only 10 days since he arrived here looking like a dog 5x older than he is.



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Lesley
Christine Young


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Lesley - that made me REALLY smile! It's great to hear he's coming out of his shell and acting like the mad pup that he really should be. Oh! I'm dying to meet the little (big) chap - hope I catch up with you and your brood soon!


Christine



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Lesley


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We will be at the GALa!  Perhaps we'll see you there?

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Lesley
Gail


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Lesley it sounds like Ra is improving every day, all thanks to your care and devotion. l look forward to hearing about his progress...Well done you!!

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Teresa


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Lesley, well done for your work so far - it seems as tho Ra is coming along in leaps and bounds after such a short time with you.  It sure sounds like he'll be a lovely pup when he learns how to be one!!  Apart from being skinny, he looks gorgeous

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