Hi everyone, please meet Shannon, part couch potato, part whirling dervish. Shannon spent her 4 years of life being used as a breeding dog in a commercial breeding facility. She was definitely overbred and without much human interaction. Her most recent litter of puppies was born with umbilical hernias. With that Shannon became a liability and not worth the cost of feeding. Fortunately she made it out of the mill, and after a few different stops at other rescues, Shannon eventually made her way to CR-USA. Things were looking up for Shannon.
Shannon is a beautiful healthy, strong 4-year-old Cavalier mix. Her mix is not known, but current foster Mom and Dad think she may have some Golden Retriever in her. She weighs approximately 33 lbs, and could stand to lose a few pounds. She is approximately 16” at the shoulder. She has a beautiful dark red coat and soulful brown eyes. She is heart clear, up to date on all vaccines and monthly preventatives. She is spayed and recently had a dental. She lost 11 teeth but has no trouble eating kibble. Shannon came into foster care with an ear infection which is now cleared. There are times when Shannon seems a little itchy so she received a cytopoint injection. Her forever family will need to monitor her for possible seasonal or food allergies. Shannon is fed in her crate. Shannon is completely potty trained. No accidents! Shannon is still very skittish at quick movements especially when she is up and investigating her surroundings. She is very quick and will bolt when reached for. That should subside once she is settled in her forever home. When she is resting on the couch, which is often, she accepts all kinds of affection and likes to lay her head in your lap.
Shannon came into CR-USA foster care extremely frightened and shut down. At her first vet visit, they could not complete the exam because Shannon was basically frozen with fear. No aggression, just terrified. With a little time and some medication, her exam was completed the next week. It is possible Shannon may need some medications to help with anxiety long term. She is not currently on any medications.
It didn’t take long for Shannon to realize that she actually likes being close to her foster family, which consists of two retired folks, three Cavaliers (all commercial breeder rescues) and one very dog-friendly cat. Shannon loves to snuggle close to her people and her three foster siblings. However, early on she had shown some mild resource guarding over toys which, unfortunately, led her to swallow an 8” rope toy in one gulp because another dog was nearby. As a result, during her spay, she also had the rope toy (still in one piece) removed from her stomach. She had an uneventful and complete recovery from the surgery. Her resource guarding has dramatically reduced, and there have been no incidents since mid-February. She will need to be closely monitored in her new home as she adjusts. Also, any toys need to be oversized so it is not possible for her to swallow them. Shannon also likes to munch on mulch from the backyard. So far, this has not caused a problem but we are working to discourage this habit and her new family will need to do the same if she has access to mulch.
Shannon has mastered stairs, and sit. She walks nicely on a leash but still needs a bit more focus. So many smells! Shannon spends a lot of her day snoozing on the couch with her people and doggie friends and would prefer to sleep in the big bed at night. She would be very distressed if she were separated from her family at bed time.
Shannon will need a home with lots of patience and love and very little alone time. She can be crated for a short time. She is not happy with this arrangement but it is necessary for her safety. No children please. Quick movements will startle her and children’s toys may look good to chew on. Another friendly dog or two would be required as she does follow the pack and loves to be part of the puppy puddle. She is good with dog-friendly cats as long as you or the cat don’t mind an occasional and enthusiastic game of tag. A securely fenced yard is a must, and the bigger the better as she loves to stretch out her long limbs with a good run. An AirTag is recommended, just in case. Shannon is a strong and healthy girl who could be a great hiking buddy or jogging buddy or even good for doing some nose work. The more exercise, the better.
If you live within a reasonable driving distance of Cinnaminson, NJ and you are interested in adopting this sweet girl, please email Rebecca Plimpton at beckplimpton@gmail.com and fill out an application for her if you don’t already have one on file.
