Casper
Age: 3 years
Weight: 47 lbs.
Small Children under 4: Yes
Chidren over 4: Yes
Separation Anxiety: No
Neutered/UTD: Yes/Yes
Microchipped: No
Other Dogs: Yes
Cats: unsure
Crate Trained: Yes
House Trained: Yes
Obedience Trained: No
Leash Trained: Yes
Attending obedience at foster home: No
Adoption Donation: 250.00
UPDATE 5/19/11 - I wanted to let you all know that Casper passed away this past
Sunday. We had 7 1/2 wonderful years together. She was an amazing love. Until the
last couple weeks, she had unending enthusiasm for life and for me. Her smile could
melt your heart.
I miss her mischievous side. She used to steal my iced coffee, if I left it in the drink
holder in my car for even 30 seconds. I would catch her red handed with bits of paper
bag hanging out of her mouth, if I forgot to remove any trash from the car.
She was always great with kids, even my one year old, who would climb on her. She
remained a little shy of new adults and startled easily with abrupt sounds (even
sometimes her own collar clanging on her food bowl.)
She loved to cuddle. She loved to drive with her nose out the window. She loved to
keep my seat warm. She loved to go for walks...for errands...really anywhere I went.
I had to put her down when that smile and enthusiasm went away. She was too weak
to stand in a moving car and she could no longer control her bowel movements. She'd
also dropped significant weight. She was dying of her 3rd bought with cancer.
She was a miraculous dog with almost 9 lives, but not this time. I miss her terribly.
UPDATE 8/11/06 - Casper, now Cassie, is doing amazingly well. She's been with me
know for almost three years and I don't know what I'd do without her.
She's still a little tentative when meeting new people, but if they are dog people (and
somehow she can tell in an instant) she usually warms up as soon as they sit down.
Then she is all kisses and wanting to be pet. She'd love to cuddle all day, if that were
possible.
She's also still a little jumpy when we go out walking. Sounds or moving objects, such
as flags or doors, spook her. But knowing, accommodating, and being gentle with that
has long since become second nature. She is very quiet (I've probably only heard 3
single barks in 3 years) and only jumps up when asked. She lets her terrier mix sister
sound all the warnings and do the initial greetings, but happily shares the dog beds and
toys. They sprint around the yard and wrestle together.
Cassie had her first trip to the coast of Maine this summer and just loves the open
beaches. She bounds happily over rocks, seaweed and even into the water up to her
chest. Hopefully, we'll be able to find a local beach where she can play more regularly.
Wish us luck!
Basically, she's very happy and healthy. Cool huh!?
UPDATED 11/21/04 - Casper has been with me for over a month now. She seems to
love her new home and seems very attached to me. I love the way she greets me,
follows me from room to room, and runs around the yard with her big grin. Casper
and I are going through some upheaval, but she is doing very well. Her buddy Cori
(my 4 year old chihuahua/beagle mix) moved out last weekend with my now-ex. Cori
is being dropped off each weekday morning, so that neither dog will be alone for long.
Its quite an adjustment for both of us. Other than a few housebreaking issues, Casper
had been perfectly mannered. The day following the big change, during her few hours
alone, she messed in the living room, threw up in the bedroom, pulled apart a rock
display, and tore up a magazine. Three days later, she threw up two rocks. Ouch! I
guess she didn't like her new world being shaken up. Casper has since gone back to
her well-mannered, happy self. She has full run of the house, loves to cuddle and give
kisses, has played beautifully with her terrier neighbor, Mercury, (running in circles,
playing "catch me", for at least an hour), and is looking forward to meeting and playing
with her boxer cousin, _Mocha (a 1 year old brindle), and all of her other people
cousins and their children over Thanksgiving. I started in the obedience class last
Saturday. Casper will have her first class this Saturday. Wish her luck! So far, she only
seems to know 'sit'. Hopefully, that repertoire will be expanded dramatically. We'll see
how the weekday visits with Cori hold up, but I may be looking to adopt a companion
for Casper in a few months.
10/22/03 - UPDATED - Casper is settling well into her new home. Its amazing how
quickly she attached to us and us to her. She is full of kisses and loves lots of rubs.
She also loves to cuddle any chance she gets. She's absolutely beautiful, with her pink
highlights and black lips, which make it easy to see her smile. She's amazingly quiet,
leaving all the barking to Cori. We've had a few mistakes in the house, but usually that
occurred after a misinterpreted cry. She happily does her business in the yard, as long
as one of us joins her out there. She doesn't like to be alone outside for even a minute.
The day we picked Casper up, after a short drive, we picked up my other dog, Cori,
at my brother's house. She and Casper had a little bit of a rough start. They growled a
little on first meeting leashed outside. Then Cori barked incessently for about ten
minutes, jumping all over the car and crate. Casper just huddled in the crate and
occassionally cried a little. After that, Cori settled in for the 5 hour ride home (we
stopped about once an hour for breaks, where we walked them separately). By the
time we got back to Marblehead and let them meet in the yard, they were fine. We
have since had minor growling incidents around food and when Cori gets stepped on,
but those are rare. (Cori likes to nap under the covers of the bed and Casper doesn't
always remember/notice she's under there.)
They are becoming great friends, playing in the yard, riding in the car together, walking
beautifully on leash together, lying on the same couch or bed together(though not
touching). They both seem more confident on walks together than they do apart.
Casper seems to be in charge.
Casper just went for her first trip to the vet yesterday and did very well, kissing the
vet, while getting a shot. She was happy and healthy. She is eating well and is up to 48
pounds. The vet thinks she's at a good weight, but a few more pounds wouldn't hurt
either.
She has adjusted to her male pet sitter and immediately loved his female counterpart.
The first few notes from them expressed that she was scared, but now they are all
positive.
I think we have to wait for the next session to start obedience training, but I'm already
working with her on walks.
All in all, she's amazing!
10/13/03 Casper has been adopted.
10/6/03 We are starting day 2 with Casper and she is a peach of a pooch!! This little
girl is going to make some very lucky family a wonderful pet. She is crate trained,
house broken, healthy, fairly quiet, cute and energetic, knows a couple of basic
commands, and just LOVES PEOPLE. We brought her to our son's football game
where she got a lot of attention, which she ate right up! It was cold out and she ended
up watching the last quarter nestled on my lap in my jacket.
Her only issue so far is that she needs space and time from our two resident big
galloophs...she looks like a peanut near our 75 pound boxer!! But, she is already
warming up to them, it just needs to be on her terms. If you are ready for a complete
cuddle-bug, Casper with her soft white fur and warm kissy face is your girl.
10/4/03 Casper joins us in Glenburn just in time to catch the fall colors. She is a small
and dainty white boxer with a few black highlights. Her ears are natural and they kind
of stick out to the sides and fold down. She has funny little whirls of fur that have
black centers behind both front legs. She could use a few more pounds as she is kind
of skinny, but I don't think that'll be a problem as she is eating like a horse.
She immediately loves women. She likes guys too, but needs some time to check
them out before she trusts them. She is really taking her time getting to know the two
pooches who live here. It is all so new and unfamiliar, but she is a happy little
butt-wiggling face-kisser and I am sure she will relax soon.