Winky-adopted

Winky is pending for a family in Ellsworth, Maine.

Update 7/16/07

Winky continues to delight me with his calm but happy attitude and endearing behavior. He is so sweet, gentle, quiet, and undemanding. He has adapted to our home very well (no more marking inside). He stays inside all day long with no accidents. He also seems to be a dog that will stick around. I haven’t trained him to our invisible fence, but I have let him out around our house dragging a long rope so I can stop him if he takes off. That hasn’t been necessary—he pokes into the woods some, but stays pretty close by & mostly comes back enthusiastically when called. He loves to play with my youngest dog, and when my dog gets a bit too rough, Winky pauses for a bit to let things calm down, & then is up for more. We believe Winky may be Red Merle Australian Shepherd Mix. Which is common in the area where he originated in Arkansas.

I took Winky to the vet last week to have his eye checked. The vet determined that it is something he’s had since birth. When the eye was forming, two of the tiny membranes that should have dissolved didn’t—they stretch across the pupil. This makes the pupil unable to dilate, and also forces it downward. He can see out of the eye, but his night vision is impaired since the pupil can’t dilate. The good news is, it won’t get worse. It just gives him a little more character (as if he needed more!)

One of Winky’s many cute traits is that he often sleeps upside down, front legs straight up in the air. He seems very contented. I am so glad that he was rescued in Arkansas—now he just needs his forever home!

Update 7/6/07

From Winky’s foster mom: I can see why the volunteers at the shelter in Arkansas thought so much of Winky. He is a sweet guy! Winky is very congenial—he seems to like everybody he meets, whether person, dog, or cat. He is affectionate, and always ready to play, but he is also very calm & laid-back. Winky loves to go for walks, & has a perky little trot. He does pull a little bit if another dog is ahead of him. He gets quite animated with a tennis ball—it’s very cute. He likes to wade, but so far hasn’t been swimming.

At home he settles right down & doesn’t demand a lot of activity. He may not have lived in a house before—I’ve had some trouble with him lifting his leg inside, but we are working on that. In other ways he does very well in the house. He didn’t know any obedience commands when he first arrived, but he has quickly learned “sit” & we’re working on “come”. Winky is very gentle & loving, and I think he would make a great dog for kids.

My sense is that his sight may be impaired in one eye, but I don’t think he’s totally blind in it.

Winky doesn’t bark much at all—the only time he has so far is when strangers walked by our van when we were camping. He rides in a car extremely well. As a person with 3 large dogs, I have to say that Winky is a great size! He is actually only about 43 pounds, so is smaller than most huskies. I wonder if he could be part Australian Shepherd, which would account for his size and also his blue eyes.

6/30/07: Update: Winky has arrived into foster care in the Bar Harbor Region of Maine. He is not too tall, about up to the knees of your average woman and compact. He only weighs 50 pounds. He is sweet, doesn't pull on a leash and likes other dogs. We are sure he will be much happier living in a cooler climate. Winky may be blind in his right eye. The vet noted that there was an old injury to it, but could not be certain about his eyesight in that eye. Either way, it doesn't slow Winky down. He is a gentle compact dog who loves to play with other dogs..

6/9/07 Winky is approx. 1 1/2 - 2 years old in these pictures taken June 2007. He is a very friendly and affectionate boy. Winky does well on a leash too and is well behaved. He did great with the 8 year old child he came in contact with. Winky loved the attention he got from her.

Winky was so loved by the volunteers at the high kill shelter where he is residing, that he was given an extra two week window in order to find a home. If he does not find a home before 6/28 Winky will be put to sleep.

All known information is listed here. If it is not listed here, then we do not know if this animal is good with cats or kids. Before sending an inquiry, please read our "How To Adopt Page & FAQ" pages of our website. http:www.almosthomerescue.net."

Or Click HEREto visit our site.

This dog is available unless it is marked as Pending, meaning "pending adoption".

If this Dog is marked Urgent, it is because the Arkansas shelter where he/she resides is overfull. Please do not ask local shelters to take this dog in, there are many reasons why they cannot. Please also do not send us letters about why we euthanize, AHR does not euthanize, but the shelters we work with do. We are a rescue and we pull as many dogs as we have foster homes and funds for. We, like the shelter, do not have unlimited resources. Please, please: foster, adopt or sponsor a dog to help save their lives.

FOR PUPPIES: HOMES CONSIDERING PUPPIES MUST BE PREPARED FOR:

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES FOR POTTY TRAINING-THEY CAN ONLY "HOLD" IT FOR ONE HOUR PER MONTH OF AGE.

CRATE TRAINING FOR THE NEXT 10 MONTHS TO KEEP THEM FROM CHEWING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.

SUPERVISION WITH CHILDREN, AND OBEDIENCE TRAINING.

SOCIALIZATION-A GOOD DOG MUST BE EXPOSED TO ALOT OF STIMULUS AS A PUPPY SO THAT NEW PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENTS DO NOT INTIMIDATE THEM AS ADULTS. THE MORE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES -IN AND OUT OF THE HOME- AS A PUPPY, THE BETTER.

HOMES THAT WANT TO HAVE GOOD DOGS, MUST BE PREPARED TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO TRAINING A PUPPY. IT IS ALOT OF WORK!!! THEIR BEHAVIOR AND STAGES ARE EQUIVILENT TO A 2 OR 3 YEAR OLD CHILD. IT TAKES A FULL YEAR TO HAVE A CALMER, WELL ADJUSTED DOG! PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER ADOPTING IF YOU HAVE NOT THOROUGHLY THOUGHT THROUGH THE PROS AND CONS OF A PUPPY...SO MANY PEOPLE END UP RETURNING THEM IN 3-5 MONTHS BECAUSE IT IS CHEWING, JUMPING AND HYPER. THIS IS NORMAL PUPPY BEHAVIOR.

PATIENCE, CHEWIES, SOCIALIZATION, SUPERVISION AND OBEDIENCE TRAINING IS A MUST!!

. We pay a Transportation Service from Arkansas to bring the dogs to New England. The adoption fee is $250.00 for altered dogs. $350. for unaltered puppies, with $100 refundable after spay/neuter. All Senior dogs 6 years or older have a reduced adoption fee of $200. This includes vaccinations, spay/neuter and transport from Arkansas to Maine on a USDA approved transport, with a Health Certificate. All dogs are quarantined 14 days prior to leaving Arkansas... All dogs will be tested for Heartworm prior to adoption. Almost Home Rescue will process your adoption. Applications can be found at www.almosthomerescue.net and can be e-mailed attention of Adele to Lonepine_AHR@yahoo for this particular dog. Click HEREto visit our site.