Hi all, the Pets forum suggested that I crosspost this here. Please pass it on! Thank you.
-------------------
Kyla photos:
http://pics.livejournal.com/ayesha/pic/00035erxWe have made the sad decision that it is in our dog Kyla's best
interest to have a new home, and are looking for just the right place
for her. Kyla is a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd mix spayed female
who is a beautiful chocolate color with cream markings. She was
originally rescued from a shelter in Los Angeles. I was training Kyla
to be a service dog at one time, so she knows basic obedience, and can
also retrieve, hit light switches, and open doors. After 2 1/2 years,
I determined that she was too overprotective of me to ever make a good
service dog out in public, and kept her as a beloved pet.
About six months ago, Kyla started showing signs of illness. She was
eventually diagnosed with a rare autoimmune joint disease called
idiopathic polyarthritis, which can be managed via medication,
monitoring, and a home cooked diet. With proper treatment, she is in
no pain and can run and play like a normal dog. Her lifespan should
not be impacted. Unfortunately, Kyla has become aggressive towards
some of the other dogs in our home, particularly the other female, and
must be kept separated from them. Due to her illness and the
medications she requires, this behavior is likely to be ongoing and
difficult if not impossible to change. She now spends much of her time
alone, and is bored and lonely. We are both physically disabled and
cannot handle breaking up severe fights, nor do we want our other dogs
to be at risk. We have consulted with a behaviorist, and she as well
as our dog trainer friends are supportive of our decision. Although we
are devastated at the prospect, we feel that it is in her and our
other dogs' best interest that she have a different home.
Kyla is an extremely loving and loyal dog who wants to be by your
side. She is highly intelligent, fairly active, and enjoys playing
fetch and tug. She is an excellent watchdog. We believe that she is
partly mixed with husky due to her fuzzy coat, curled tail, and love
of pulling, but her personality is Aussie all the way through. Kyla is
very affectionate with family, friendly towards some strangers, and
cautious with others, especially men. She has a strong herding
instinct, so any children in the family should probably be teenagers.
Also due to her herding instinct, Kyla will chase cars and must be
kept on leash when not in a secure area. Kyla most likely needs to be
the only dog in the home, and is not good at all with other female
dogs. She has lived with a cat all her life, but loves to chase and
play, so most cats would find her irritating.
We are seeking a home in Southern California where we can visit her
often. We live in San Diego, but will consider anyone from LA County
to the Mexican border. Our commitment to Kyla will not end with her
finding a new home - we are willing to cover all of her
veterinary expenses for life, and take her back if at any time the new
home cannot keep her. Our ideal home for Kyla will be with someone who
will give her the attention she needs, and can commit to cooking her
meals and taking her to her regular and holistic vet appointments. For
health reasons, she also needs a secure backyard and dog door that she
can access for most of the day and at night. Experience with clicker
training and knowledge of dog behavior are a major plus. She probably
needs to be an only dog, but a very experienced home with a docile
male dog may be OK.
We will require lots of conversations in phone and in person, a home
check, and signed co-ownership agreement. For more information, please
e-mail ayesha @ shadowsong.com or call 619-241-8294 and leave a message
with a number where we can reach you.
Please feel free to forward this posting to friends and people in the
animal rescue community. Thanks.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(587 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
