Sweetie Pie, I am named well—I am the sweetest dog around!!
Quick Facts:
- Breed: Cattle dog mix
- Gender: Female, spayed
- Age: 9 years old
- Size: 43 pounds
- Good with…
- Dogs? Yes!
- Cats? Yes!
- Kids? Yes, see below!
We are not accepting applications at this time while we assess Sweetie Pie’s current medical condition.
Background
I was a homeless girl who got picked up and put into an over-crowded shelter in rural KY. Not a good situation! Luckily a kind rescue lady heard how sweet and wonderful I was, so she contacted Cayuga Dog Rescue and they invited me to join their foster program! Best. Day. Ever!!
The sad news is that I am Heartworm-positive and had extremely painful ear infections in both ears, but the good news is that my Heartworm was in the very early stage (making it super treatable) and CDR said they would get me excellent treatment for both!
I have been in my awesome CDR foster home for a few weeks now and I am loving my foster mom, her 3 dogs (2 small females, 1 big male) as well as her cat and her fenced in yard! I’m having my pretreatment medicine for the Heartworm issue now, and will have my big injections in the coming months. I’m on high-powered ear meds, and they are helping. I was in such pain for such a long time, it’s amazing to have them feel better—I am so grateful.
Personality
I am a very laid back, mellow, easygoing girl. I am told that I am enormously lovable, kissable, pettable, and snugglable! I love to greet my foster mom at the door with the other dogs when she comes home, and I show my joy at her return by wagging my tail, swish-swish-swish and flashing my big smile!
Though I’m not interested in toys, I am VERY over the moon for soft dog beds!!! There are several fantastic orthopaedic type dog beds in my foster home and I spend much of the day moving from one to another, in utter disbelief and fascination that such soft, wonderful, comfortable, amazing things exist! It’s like every time I lay down on one, I think, “my goodness, it IS real!!”
I love to get pets, kisses, belly rubs, and cuddles!! Once I get to know you, that is! It does take me a little time to warm up and feel comfortable with you if you are new to me, but once I do, I will follow you wherever you go and really derive great comfort from your presence. The rescue folks aren’t sure whether I was a neglected outdoor dog for most of my life, and so find being near people just utterly wonderful and special, or if at some point I had a loving connection with a person, then wound up homeless, and am deeply relieved to have it again. Either way, while I am shy at first, once I know you, I love love love you.
I’m not much for going for walks (more info on my walking under Medical) or being outside in the yard all that much, but I do like to ride in the car! I quietly watch out the window and every once in a while I check in with you by peeking around the headrest to make sure you have not forgotten me!
I have a ton of wonderfully thick fur. My foster mom loves rubbing her hands through it! Everyone says that my fur makes me look bigger in photos than I really am. Of course I am housebroken, and I go out into the fenced yard to do my business and then am ready to come right back in. Sometimes I sit patiently at the back door, waiting to be let back in, but sometimes will (hilariously) knock on the door with my head to hurry you up! We don’t know if I might like it better outside once it snows and the weather gets colder, but it’s possible that I had enough outdoor time when I was homeless, and just really prefer the comforts of being indoors now!
My foster mom has never heard me bark! Seriously. She was told that I barked all day, once—when I was at the veterinary clinic. I was there all day for the first part of my heartworm treatment and I had to stay in a crate. Well, turns out, I really, really, really do not like crates! I barked and barked and barked, asking to be let out, and they finally understood. Once they let me out, I have not barked again! See, these humans are trainable!
My foster mom wants you to know I have very good manners. Since I have been here I have learned to take treats from her hand! She found out by accident that I know the “sit” command. When she asked one of the other dogs to sit, I did too!!
Cohabitation
I love people. When I first meet new people, I like to check them out from a distance and I really appreciate when they sort of ignore me and let me observe for a while. I am more comfortable with women more quickly, but I’m sure would come around just fine with a nice gentle man if he would be patient with me. The night I arrived, there was a very respectful, gentle 3 year old visiting my foster mom and I absolutely adored him.
I get along very nicely with the 3 dogs who live in my foster home. My foster mom thinks I probably would appreciate having another mellow dog around. Though I don’t really want to play with the other dogs and really don’t interact directly with them much at all, I do seem to like being part of the pack and it looks like I find their presence comforting.
I’m fine with cats. I am curious but not aggressive, and mostly pay no mind to the cat in my foster home. Though I really do like the smell of her food!!
Favorite Things
- Soft dog beds!
- My people!
- Pets, belly rubs, kisses and cuddles!
- Sleeping!
- Keeping track of my people!
Medical
I am Heartworm positive and am receiving life-saving treatment from the awesome vets at Cornerstone Vet Clinic! The treatment takes several months, start to finish, but I should be tip-top when it’s over. I have had the first part which is antibiotics and oral heartworm medication. Soon I will have to have a series of painful, icky shots, which no one is looking forward to, but my foster mom promises that I will get plenty of pain medication so it does not hurt so bad. Once these are completed, I will be heartworm free!
Like all dogs, I will need to have monthly heartworm prevention pills for the rest of my life, because one bout of heartworm illness is enough for any dog.
My terrible ear infections are on the mend too! We had to try three different ear medicines, and a long course of antibiotics, but it is finally working. For most of the first few weeks I was here I often walked with my head tilted because my ears were bothering me so much and making me dizzy. I am finally not doing that anymore and feeling so much better! I
Lastly, I walk a little funny. It’s called “ataxia” and for me it means that my hind legs sort of cross over each other when I walk, which causes me to sometimes trip over my own feet. A little confusing for me, but I am able to pick myself right back up and it doesn’t seem painful. The vet will be doing some testing and x-rays soon and if the cause remains unclear, I will then head up to Cornell to see the specialists. I’m told they’re very nice too!
If my walking remains as it is now, I can get up and down a few steps but not much more than that. I definitely cannot do a whole flight of stairs up to a 2nd floor. Living in a single story home, or living on the main floor of a 2-story home, will be best for me. It works out fine in my foster home, which is 2-story, because one of the other dogs can’t do stairs either, so we sleep on the main floor together. I would be very sad if everyone in the house went upstairs at night and I had to stay downstairs all by myself.
And just FYI… I don’t understand baby gates. When I am on one side and one of the other dogs is on the other side, I believe that one of us is trapped! Instead of barking like I do when upset in a crate, I just knock it right down to free the other dog! Sweetie-Pie to the rescue!!
Summary
I am a total sweetheart of a dog. I am very mellow, quiet, laid back and will be a great companion for you. I am not much into hiking or walking but would love to go places with you in the car. If you are looking for a new sweetheart then I am the one for you!
If you are interested in adopting me, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca , Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can’t do home visits where we don’t have local volunteers.
