STATE: near Utica, NY
AGE: 4 years
DOB: 7/16/20
WEIGHT:: 44 lbs. (underweight)
SEX: female
NEUT/UTD: yes/yes
COAT COLOR: fawn & white
CHILDREN under 4: no (no history)
CHILDREN OVER 4: yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: No
OTHER DOGS: best as only dog
CATS: yes
CRATE TRAINED: yes
HOUSE TRAINED: learning
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: no
LEASH TRAINED: yes
MICROCHIPPED: yes
ADOPTION FEE: $475
3/9/25-Maggie went for a walk today on a popular trail. There weren’t as many people (or dogs) that I thought would be there, but it was early. She was nervous walking past people and wanted to turn around, but eventually figured out she could just hide behind me and she would be okay. We went past a few dogs. The only dog that made her nervous was a female hound. I’m not sure if it was because the hound barked at her or if she’s not a fan of bigger dogs. I’ll bring her back for another walk this week to assess this more. She was passed out after the 3 mile walk with the three cats and me. Needless to say, my morning after the walk was not too productive. I couldn’t disrupt the snugglefest. Oh, and she LOVED the movie Flow, which we watched last night. Who knew she is a fan of Oscar winning animated movies?!
3/2/25-Maggie had a busy day this morning. A cold walk around the block and then off to the pet store. She did great! Better than other dogs that were there. She was not nervous when shopping carts went past us and she sniffed and was interested in a lot of things without any marking or accidents. She was able to ignore other dogs, but when an unaltered male dog (an “exotic bully” in a shopping cart) started to show interest in her she started to get a little overly interested in him, but i was able to redirect her attention. Maggie settles down in the car after a few minutes of looking out the windows and she waits patiently when I leave her in the car to QUICKLY run into a store.
Maggie’s colitis is finally beginning to settle down. Her stool is looking firmer and there haven’t been accidents in her crate the last few days. She has fully transitioned to her prescription food and I think the high fiber has been helping her tremendously. She is also back on Metro and Cipro antibiotics to help with any lingering bacteria that might be adding to her issues. I still plan to come home and let her out and feed her lunch during the week since it’s her routine. Maggie is still extremely nervous with people, even those she has met before. When I had friends over, she remained upstairs. I brought her down to hang out with us, but this clearly stressed her out so I let her go back upstairs. Later on, I brought her down to hang in the living room with us. She was fine once we were all together and she happily slept on the sofa while we chatted. Maggie is a scared and gentle soul. Her adoptive family will need to be patient and understanding of this and give her time to acclimate to her new surroundings and humans. I look forward to warmer weather and cleared sidewalks to get her out on regular walks. I hope that makes her happy and gives her something to look forward to daily.
2/23/25-Maggie Mae had a busy week, which may have caused her some stress since she was out of her routine. She is still extremely nervous meeting new people. She crouches down and almost collapses to her belly when people approach her. She does seek comfort from me during these moments. She has also been having accidents in her crate this past week too. She doesn’t dislike her crate by any means, and she seems to be fine being alone, I just think because of her colitis, if she has to go, she goes. I am hoping that once we are back to our normal routine this week she will stop having accidents and we will see improvements in her bowel movements. I started Maggie on a prescription food to help with her colitis. I hope that once she is fully transitioned to the new food we see improvement in her bowel movements. I am also keeping her on her probiotic. Maggie’s ideal home is a quiet home that will allow her the time she needs to adjust and come out of her shell, which will be more like a marathon as opposed to a sprint. Right now she also needs someone who is able to let her out every few hours to avoid accidents in her crate. She is also eating three times per day to help keep her satiated throughout the day.
2/17/25-Maggie Mae and Zoey the cat have become fast cuddle buddies. I’ve noticed Zoey hanging out a lot more with us lately and I’m sure it’s because of Maggie. Maggie has definitely learned the household routine. Last night I let her out and when we came back in, she went upstairs to bed, as we usually do every night, but I wasn’t ready to go to bed. I could hear her walking around up there waiting for me and then she eventually made her way back downstairs. She reminds me so much of my Stella who I lost to illness a year ago. So sweet & special girl!
2/16/25-There is so much to say about Maggie Mae. She is the gentlest dog with the most soulful look. She has come a long way in the 4 weeks since she has been with me. Maggie was a bit out of it after her spay. We took a couple steps backwards with her colitis, too. I am happy to say that Maggie’s stool is finally beginning to firm up. There is less of an urgency to go outside to potty, too. She still has some ways to go, but I am finally feeling good about her response to treatment (antibiotics, probiotic, 3 meals per day with some rice and chicken atop her kibble and some other healthy foods like bananas and Greek yogurt). She still startles easily, but is definitely more confident. If I go upstairs and don’t come right back down, she will come looking for me. Her favorite places to hang out are on the sofa or in her crate. She definitely prefers the sofa, but will go in her crate if I am in the kitchen doing something and she wants to be with me. House training is still a work in progress. Accidents are random, but I do keep her on a schedule and never leave her unattended if it has been a while since she has gone out. When I’m home I let her out every 4 hours or so, except at night. She sleeps through the night without needing to go out. When I’m working, I do come home to let her out at lunchtime and feed her. She started having accidents in the crate during her second week here even though I was letting her out at lunchtime. Once I started feeding her a lunchtime meal, that stopped. She is very quiet in the crate with a bark or two during the day. I’ve never experienced her bark in person though. She’s very quiet when I’m home. Maggie is still underweight. When she was spayed she weighed 44 pounds. That’s another reason I am feeding her at lunchtime, too. I want her to fill out more and always feel satiated. She is very gentle when taking treats from me. That’s another accomplishment. She will tentatively take treats from my hand as opposed to having to drop it for her to eat it.
The weather has been absolutely horrible here in Central NY and I have not been able to take her on walks. She hates the cold and snow. I am hoping to do it this week while I am on break. She walks like a dream on leash when I bring her places. I also want to introduce her to my niece’s dog on a walk to see how she reacts since we were told she is dog selective. I am hoping with proper and slow introductions she will have a positive reaction. I have a feeling she had some scuffles with other dogs in the past and that is why she is labeled dog selective. Maggie is very low energy. She’s not hyper or active like boxers tend to be. Perhaps those playful attributes will develop over time, but right now she is happiest being a couch potato.
2/11/25-The fact that my cat, Sophie, is not bothered by Maggie in the crate with her tells you how chill Maggie is. Sophie has NEVER hung out with my fosters, or even my past own dog, in this kind of close proximity. I had to physically remove Sophie from the crate so I could leave for work. We just LOVE Maggie. Her tummy issues are still lingering, but I am hopeful that they will soon resolve as she becomes more at home. She will be spayed this week & ready to go home soon after.
2/4/25-Maggie had her pre-spay appointment and she was just a sweetie. As nervous as she was, she let the vet examine her. She thinks Maggie could be a little younger than 4 because her teeth are so clean without any signs of tartar or plaque (sometimes we are told wrong birthdates). The “commercial breeding” life has not been kind to Maggie. She has some spots where it looks like she might have been nipped at by other dogs. Maggie is also still dealing with diarrhea. Her fecal exam came back negative for any parasites. With that being said, Maggie will finish up her current antibiotic and continue with the FortiFlora probiotic for the next 2 weeks to restore her gut health. The vet also said it could be stress colitis so we will be adding antibiotic ciproflaxin to her too as we have found that really helps when other medications may not. I am hoping she starts to feel better soon. She has a ravenous appetite, but it just goes right through her leaving her hungry, thirsty, and thin. Maggie is such a sweet girl. She is still very nervous and reserved and hasn’t engaged in play yet, but she does some silly things. She likes to collect her toys and have them on the sofa with her. She will also grab one of my shoes or boots and bring that on the sofa with her as well. She is always looking for me to come hang out with her there, too. She has done well meeting friends and family. She has very good manners. Maggie does well going in and out of the house on her own. She knows the concept of going potty outside, but occasionally has an accident due to not being able to hold it. She is quiet in her crate while I am at work. I do have to come home and let her out to avoid her having accidents in the crate. Even with her being let out during my lunch, she still sometimes has an accident before I get home for the day. I know once her tummy is feeling better, she will have better control. She does sleep through the night in bed with me and will jump down off the bed in the morning and knows to go right outside. Her spay is next Thursday 2/13. After that & once we get her tummy better under control she will be ready for her new home. She is sooo sweet!
1/25/25-Maggie is obsessed with looking at herself in the mirror. She knows she’s a cutie patootie!
1/21/25-Post- breakfast nap for Gus the cat and Maggie. I either have to get Gus a dog crate or dog of his own as he loves to go in with the fosters! Lol Maggie is doing so well considering her stomach issues. She is eating and drinking like a champ. Still not adventurous with trying new foods just yet. She likes what she likes. I have caught her counter surfing, though. She has been sleeping through the night, but I did bring her out during the middle of the night last night. So far she has had only two accidents and both were my fault trying to bundle up before getting her outside in the cold. Typical boxer fashion, she is not a fan of cold or snow. She heads back to the door after she potties. Sometimes we have to make another trip through the yard to make sure she has taken care of all of her business and she is beginning to understand that. She’s a smart girl. Hoping she starts feeling better this week with her medications.
1/18/25-Maggie Mae arrived to her foster home & is slowly settling in, even with a bum tummy. She is curious, nervous, and EXHAUSTED. As skittish as she is, she slowly inched her way up to me on the sofa. When we got home this afternoon , she explored the backyard and we ventured down the street. She did suprisingly well on leash. She ate and drank a little, too. She is also fine with my geriatric cats. Barely reacts and is non reactive with them right next to us. She was literally falling asleep sitting up in the kitchen so that’s when I said let’s go Netflix and chill. She’s smart, too!! Brought her outside for a potty break and after she went she went back towards the door and when I tried to do another walk around the yard, she refused to move! She wanted back on the sofa!!! Lol The best is yet to come for this girl!
