Ruby-ba-too-dee...

Ruby was listed by the shelter as a "Chihuahua mix" officially, but it seems that any dog that is small and has pointed ears is listed as a Chihuahua.  Ruby probably is a Manchester Terrier mix with maybe some Doxie mixed in along the way... She's a 'low-rider' at about 13-15 pounds, black and tan and 2 years old.

Dumped at the shelter by the owners who were 'getting out of the puppy business,' Ruby had a severe case of mastitis.  She's fully recovered now, has been spayed, micro-chipped, up-to-date on her shots (including rabies) and is licensed for the County of Ventura.

Ruby is a moderate to high-energy dog and needs a home where she can run and play.  Active, Ruby is not going to do well if someone is interested in a 'couch-potato' or 'cuddly-bunny' kind of dog.  Although we don't have cats to test her with, she seems to do well with children.  A bit 'standoff-ish' at first, she warms up quickly and gets along well with other dogs.

If you're interested in adopting Ruby, please download the adoption application and fax it to 805-578-2604.

 

Extra note about Ruby...

Having watched Ruby devour my home cooking, she acts like either 1) meals were few and far between throughout most of her life and/or 2) she had to fight more dominant dogs to eat. She's not food aggressive, but consistently looks over her shoulder and watchful when eating, gulping down food too quickly.

Hopefully as time passes and she realizes no one is going to fight her for her food, there will always be two meals a day and plenty for all, this behavior will subside and eventually stop.

Update on Ruby...

The more I observe Ruby, the more I believe she's a Manchester Terrier, be it a flop-eared one which isn't AKC standards but she sure has the personality of one - intensely devoted, vigilant, watchful but not barky, etc.

About 3PM, she starts standing 'guard' on the recliner by the garage door, waiting for Desiree to come home... She gets down, goes potty, comes back and resumes her 'post'... (smile)... Unfortunately Desiree's schedule tends to be quite hectic at times, so there is no fixed arrival time at night... Some afternoons Ruby has quite a long wait until her bestest friend comes home!

The other thing that is absolutely precious about Ruby is that she picks up and carries around soft doggie toys... Takes them out back, doesn't necessarily chew on them, but cradles them in between her front paws... She'll pick up one and bring it back inside the house, go get another one - maybe she'll repeat these several times until she's accumulated a few - and then Ruby just sits with them...

I suspect this is a throwback behavior to losing her puppies and arrival in the shelter system... So if I get beyond the reason and just watch the behavior, it is heart warming to see how delicately she does this at least once a day...

Ruby LOVES those rope toys and will spend hours chewing on one... She doesn't chew on anything but that and the dehydrated chicken strip treats... So in this respect she's had some form of training by a previous owner...

Ruby's tummy is slowly shrinking now that the meds are kicking in and she's not in discomfort from the mastitis... She can make it through the night without having to go potty, so thank goodness for modern medicine!

Ruby has been saved...

Ruby is 2 years old and weighs 10 lbs, 1 ounce. Listed as a Chihuahua by the shelter (anything small with pointed ears is listed as this breed), we suspect she is a poorly bred MinPin combined with some form of Terrier --- however she is not delicate like a MinPin is. So basically, she's a 'Heinz 57' dog unless her new owners wish to do a DNA test to find out the exact breeds.

Dropped off at the shelter by her owners with the comment "We're getting out the puppy selling business," we're not sure what the rest of her back story is... Did she have the puppies and they were sold, then momma was dumped at the shelter?... Did she lose her puppies and then they dumped her? We're not sure exactly happened to her, but we couldn't leave her behind in the shape she was. Her mammary sacks are engorged with milk and she has mastitis in several, so she's under veterinary care and still intact until she is improving and can then be spayed.



Ruby is also a tiny bit fearful (shelter stint? losing her pups? combination of the two plus more?), but she absolutely adores young ladies for she bonded to a young TLC volunteer (age 20) on the spot, then crying at the door when she left. Ruby now sleeps with this young volunteer foster mom and is definitely a lap dog. Quiet and pretty cautious in general, but when Ruby likes you, she's inseparable. Some things she should already have been exposed to (like mirrors), but she's learning about new things every day as she no longer is breeding stock, but lives in a foster home like a normal dog.

Ruby uses the doggy door and listens well. She's got a beautiful, silky coat and the most precious eyes when she looks up at you. Ruby up-to-date on her shots (including rabies) and micro-chipped. Although by California law, she cannot be adopted until she is spayed, we are taking applications in advance for her adoption. You can print out the adoption application HERE and fax to 805-578-2604 or meet her at adoptions on Saturdays. We'll keep this blog updated with her condition and other great tidbits as she is fostered!