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Maureen Anderson

Alfie ~

Alfie is home  

Click on Alfie's picture for larger view

April 10 Update:   As you see from the photo above, Alfie has settled into his new home well.  His new Mom has been working diligently with clicker training and Alfie has  taught her well.   As part of the training Susan wished to keep Alfie from the kitchen as that is the cat's territory.  To achieve this Susan spent some time with clicker and treats in hand.  Each time Alfie went toward the kitchen, Susan would click and Alfie would return for the treat, until they reached the point that Alfie would go toward the kitchen, stop, turn and look at Susan, waiting for the click so he could return to get his treat.   Alfie is a very smart little boy.  

Susan has jokingly decided that Alfie has a split personality.   Alfie is the cute-fun-loving-little-guy, and then there's Bealzebub!   Bealzebub appears when it's time for Alfie to go to his basement room when Susan leaves for work.  Bealzebub is the stubborn one, the one with "issues".   We hope that as time passes, Susan will see much less of Bealzebub and more of Alfie.   Until then, all is going very well and Susan has the patience of a Saint!

March 26 Update:  After weeks of rehabilitation Alfie will be going home with his new Mom on Monday.  While we have worked with Alfie to desensitizee his neck phobia he has a long way to go to a complete recovery.   We would like to thank Dr. Diane Ott,  for her encouragement and input with Alfie.   Thank you also to Susan Lutz for accepting the responsibility of our little Alfie.   Susan is an experienced afghan hound owner who is ready to share her life with an Affie once again.  She has joined us for Alfie's consultations with Dr. Ott, and  has been visiting Alfie in his foster home.  We are happy that Susan has made great effort to get acquainted with him prior to adoption as we believe that many of Alfie's issues come from fear.    Thank you Debbie Smith,  Alfie's foster Mom for going above and beyond for Alfie.   And thank you to all the wonderful people from all over the USA who emailed or called us offering to help Alfie.  It is very comforting to know there are so many who cared.

     Maureen Anderson

     AHRCO

Alfie's story.......

January 10th  -  At 5 years old Alfie came to us from the local Humane Society suffering from an ear infection so severe, we transported him immediately to the after hours Emergency Animal Hospital for treatment.     $500 later, Alfie had been anesthetized,  his ears flushed and treated, bathed and the small rock that was matted between the pads of his foot had been removed.  (Thank you Dr. Crouse for your special care of this little guy)  A few days later he was admitted to the Greenmeadows Animal Hospital for further treatment before being released to foster care.   A week later he returned to Greenmeadows again for wound care of an old injury on his front leg.   His injuries were puzzling. However,  veterinarian Dr. Matthew Frost believed the wound in need of debriding to have been a burn that had healed without treatment causing ulceration that Alfie had been licking and picking at causing a large 2" x 3" open wound on his leg. 

2/6/05 Update:  After 3 weeks in foster care, as his health has improved, Alfie's personality has begun to shine through.  He does have a strong will and apparently was used to getting his own way.   He is food motivated and responds quickly to commands.  He is sweet, loving and anxious to please and would be best suited to an adult only family - preferably one with previous Affie experience.  He is good with other affies (unless they try to steal his cookie) but does show a desire to chase cats.   Possibly he has not lived with cats before and is curious, however we would prefer to place him out of harms way by not giving him the opportunity to chase our feline friends.   Sadly, we believe that Alfie has been severely abused in his previous life, and he has some 'issues' that require a very special new family. 

2/19/05 Update:  As we have come to know Alfie we have discovered that along with his sweet, affectionate comedian-like behavior, he will respond to any pressure applied to a certain spot on his neck or pulling on his collar by fear biting.  This behavior could result in puncture wounds to your hand.   We are not sure why he reacts this way and are currently working to desensitize him.  He is also food protective;  a trait often found in rescues who have had to fight for food to survive.   The truly sad fact of the matter is that 95% of the time Alfie is a wonderful loving little guy. He's sweet, affectionate and wants to please.   To meet him is to love him.   He's cute, adorable and at times "a little snot!"    It's the other 5% that leaves us unsure as to his future.   He is as stubborn as he is cute, and he deserves a chance to grow.     

3/6/05 Update:  Alfie is about to begin a behavior modification program.   We would like to find an experienced afghan hound person, preferably within the Columbus, OH or Parkersburg WV area who would be interested in either a long term foster project or adopting him.   If you have experience working with clickers and/or positive reinforcement behavior training, and and are willing to work with an experienced animal behaviorist please contact us at ahrco@columbus.rr.com or call (614) 747-0795 to discuss Alfie's future.  

Click on each thumbnail for the large image to appear below.

Please give me the opportunity for a future.

This is my very favorite thing to do.

Alfie resting on the end of the couch

Worn out after yet another trip to the vet. This time for debridment of a large decubitus ulcer on the distal surface of his right humerus.

I love to eat the snow.

I really am cute, and I love being at Camp Debbie but I'd really like to have my own family, one who will understand that in my past life I was severely abused and sometimes I get a little "testy". It really isn't my fault, I try to be good but sometimes I am very afraid and I react negatively. On the plus side, I have a great personality and I make my foster Mom laugh a lot. You should have seen her laughing when she discovered than in the 2 minutes she had left me alone, I had opened the door to come into the house from the yard, stolen the almost empty bag of dog food from the shelf, and had taken it to my room, tearing it open, spilling it all in my bed. My foster Mom just laughed and laughed. Then I let her clean up the mess while I watched. :) I'm really a very smart little affie.

.

Please give me the opportunity for a future.

I really am cute, and I love being at Camp Debbie but I'd really like to have my own family, one who will understand that in my past life I was severely abused and sometimes I get a little "testy". It really isn't my fault, I try to be good but sometimes I am very afraid and I react negatively. On the plus side, I have a great personality and I make my foster Mom laugh a lot. You should have seen her laughing when she discovered than in the 2 minutes she had left me alone, I had opened the door to come into the house from the yard, stolen the almost empty bag of dog food from the shelf, and had taken it to my room, tearing it open, spilling it all in my bed. My foster Mom just laughed and laughed. Then I let her clean up the mess while I watched. :) I'm really a very smart little affie.

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