Goldie

Goldie is a palliative care dog. Goldie a 3yo girl came from the pound just over 12 months ago. She was a scared nervous dog that the pound had difficulty handling.

Upon arrival she was very scared and was barking at us through the cage that she arrived in. On the same day she arrived we were all able to go into her yard and feed her treats. Within a week we were able to put a lead on her and allocate her a night kennel in the shelter. Within about 3 weeks we started sending her out on walks with our experienced, trusted walkers. Within a month she was able to go on walks with any walkers as long they are “experienced”.

It did not take long until we got comments from walkers saying “Beautiful girl”, “Lovely dog, very happy”, “Hesitant at times, but walked well”, “Such a pleasure to walk with some encouragement she becomes much more confident. She listens perfectly”

By the end of 2019 it became evident that Goldie had some walking issues. We sent her to the vets but nothing was found on blood work and x rays.

By March 2020 walkers were saying:
“Sore back legs possibly arthritis, sometimes falls down and needs to be picked back up”, “Bad back and legs, gets very unbalanced”, Goldie was lovely, she just stumbled a few times. Really sweet nature”, “A bit wobbly on her back legs, slipped a few times on the way back”, “Hind leg issues. Stopped occasionally and had to get her going.”

In May 20 we organised a MRI as our vet was pretty sure it was brain related. The result came back as a cerebellar cortical degeneration. In essence the cerebella shrinks and Goldie has less control of her mobility. It is not painful but it is degenerative. There are no drugs to slow the process, as far as we know.

Goldie is looking for a home preferably where someone is home a lot where she can spend her remaining time however long that may be. She just wants to be loved and spoilt. The amount of exercise she copes with will reduce over time.

Goldie has come such a long way and she has touched the hearts of those she is in contact with. We do our best to make her comfortable and feel loved.

We are looking for a palliative home with a family experienced at caring for patients. We do not know know long she has -- it might be a few years but her mobility will deteriorate so an environment with no stairs is important and a family with strength willing to liftmove her if she gets stuck and provide a safe place where she cannot hurt herself. She has a short coat and weighs 28.8kg.

If you feel you would like to offer her your home please fill out the foster application form and shoot it through to Monika@DoggieRescue.com.