Cute, little oldie Sam was rescued a year ago after being hit by a car and found on a street in Portugal. He spent nearly a year recovering from a fracture to the hip in foster care in Portugal, and now appears to be fully recovered as he is happy enough pottering about and jumping onto the sofa. Given his old age, Sam struggled to find a forever home in Portugal, and didn’t seem happy with his other doggy friends coming and going. Thanks to the generosity of donations from the public, we raised enough to bring Sam to the UK, to see if his luck is any different here, so he is now based at a foster home in Stoke-on-Trent, where he is the only animal and can have the run of the house himself.
Not knowing Sam’s long history before being picked up at the age of 10 years old, it is clear that he doesn’t appear to have had much love, or food for that matter, as he wants to live by his own routine rather than be made to do things at a certain time. Regardless of this, he still loves company and to cuddle up on the sofa, and loves his short walks, especially in the long grass. Sam is a very low maintenance dog, and his most favourite pass time is to sleep, which he is completely entitled to in his old age.
He is an early to bed type of dog, and loves a lie in, only waking up to use the toilet and have a little drink. When he is awake during the day, he likes to have access to a couple of rooms to have a nose around, and if the weather is nice, he likes to wander around the garden for a bit. Sam is more than happy to do this alone, so long as he knows that his master is around, and will come over when he wants a bit of attention. Once he’s had enough, he will go back to his nest of blankets and duvets on the sofa (another thing he loves to make) and go back to sleep. Sam can be left on his own, and quickly realises that if his master is not near by then he will just go back to sleep, but he is very happy when his master returns and requires cuddles for a bit.
He has a few health issues, but none of which seem to bother him. He is blind in one eye from an unknown accident prior to him being picked up, and he suffers from Leishmaniasis, for which he takes tablets for to maintain his low levels and these will be supplied for life to his new owners. He also doesn’t have many teeth left, so coupled with his limited appetite, he doesn’t tend to eat that much. Given this, he tends to turn his nose up at regular dog food, and looks to help his foster dad eat his meals. Also, following his fractured hip, sometimes he is not too keen on being stroked in that area, especially if it is from his blind side and he is unaware it is coming. Poor Sam deserves a quieter home, where he can be the centre of attention and enjoy being able to do what he wants, when he wants in his senior years.
Foster Report
Sam has now settled into his foster home in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK, and can do what he wants, when he wants. He lives alone with his foster dad, who works from home nearly all of the time, so is happy to have his presence in the house throughout the day. Sam loves to build a nest out of blankets and duvets on the sofa during the day as he likes to be comfortable in his long snooze sessions. But he will have a little wander around the house and garden to sniff around and investigate. He is definitely a loving companion dog and will come to find you if he wants to sit on your lap or have a quick cuddle during the day. Then at night he is more than happy to lie on your chest and be pampered, until he thinks it’s time for bed, which he will then jump off on his own and head to his nest for the rest of the night.
Walks
Sam is not a morning person, so would not appreciate being woken up to be dragged out for a walk. Given his age, he gets enough exercise by pottering around the house and garden during the day, before liking to go on his evening walk around the block. He is a bit nervous of big trucks and buses on main roads (which is understandable as he was hit by a car), so I tend to walk him around the estate and on dog tracks where he loves to walk in the long grass. He is sometimes nervous when he see’s a dog in the distance, but soon realises that his master isn’t going to put him in harms way, and enjoys a sniff and little play with the dog.
Play
Sam is very small, and given his age, he doesn’t tend to play with many regular toys. He has however started to carry a tennis ball in his mouth and has a green frog which he likes to chew on. I think he only uses them to clean this mouth after eating though.
Car Travel
Sam is a very good traveller. I have taken him on numerous car journeys, where he has sat secured on a pillow on the back seat, and lay down until we get to our destination.
Food
Sam only really eats soft mushy foods, in small chunks given his limited teeth. We are experimenting in trying to get him to eat real dog food as part of his meals.
Mobility
Sam has recovered from his fractured hip, and can run around and jump on the sofa. He has access to all the rooms on the ground floor and garden during the day which he likes to wander about in. Sam does have access to the stairs, and if he wanted to, he could go up them to further investigate. However he had not yet wanted to go upstairs (even if I am up there). Whether he can’t because of his age and past injuries, or because they must seem like a mountain to him, or he just isn’t bothered, I don’t know.
Dog Details
- Breed: Mixed Terrier.
- Age: 11 years
- Gender: Male.
- Height: Very small.
- Weight: 7KG.
- Living With Dogs: “No” as he appears happy with him being the only dog and centre of attention when it suits him.
- Living With Cats: “No”
- Living With Children: Over 15 years.
- NEEDS to live with another dog: No.
- Health: Blind in one eye, with the source of this unknown. Suffered a fractured hip after being hit by a car just over a year ago, but appears to have made a full recovery. Has low Lieshmaniasis which is under control and he is currently taking tablets for. Tablets will be supplied for life free.
- Neutered: Yes.
- Adoption fee: £115
Adopting A DogWatch UK Rescue Dog
Before being adopted, dogs will have been vaccinated, wormed and treated for fleas.
If old enough they will have been neutered, if too young the new owners will need to ensure this is done.
All dogs are microchipped
All new owners can apply for 4 weeks Pet Insurance FREE, to apply please ask us for the pamphlet, our charity reference number is 1400005179.
All new owners will need to change their new dogs microchip information to their contact details. This costs £17. If you would like us to arrange this for you, at a reduced rate of £7.20, we will ask you to do a bank transfer to allow us to register the change.
For Rescue Dogs coming from overseas
This adoption fee is a contribution towards the costs of rescuing the dog including
– microchip, pet passport, vaccines, tests for South European diseases, neutering (IF OLD ENOUGH), parasite treatment and transport to the UK.
We can not home dogs from overseas to people who work full time or long hours, unless some sort of doggy day care is offered. They need someone at home a lot of the day, they are not used to being alone for long periods. A dog walker for an hour out of the day is not enough.
Leaving dogs a long time on their own means they are highly likely to develop separation anxiety which is distressing for them and everyone in their new home.
How to adopt a DogWatch UK Rescue Dog
For full details see our Adoption page
To apply to adopt please fill in our adoption application
