Abby's Update from Her forever family 12-25-08

She has taken up residence on our bed 60-70 % of the day/night where she peacefully snors between us. She is quite the queen of the house! both here and at Hazel's where she stays when we work, Her coat has come in so nicely; she has the softest black fur along her sides that stands out like down! Her tail is fully feathered now. She is beautiful! She is still on the leash for walks, but she is getting bits of time off, and has done quite well. She is bonded to us and looks for us when the leash isn't on. The new vet fell in love with her, and said she is one gentle girl. We think so too! Hazel adores Abby, and like us wonders what we would do without her! She gets several daily walks and plenty of outdoor time at her nana's house. Hazel cooks her beef bones with marrow at least everyother week and Abby goes crazy for them!!! Sierra and Abby play tag in the yard every now and then, which tickles Hazel to no end! We just returned from pre-holiday vacation in Sanibel FL; when we came home on Christmas eve to pick up Abby from Hazel's, she looked at us like "you dumped me and I'm staying here". Anyway, we are all very happy together, and we are so grateful that you chose us for Abby. It was a good match on both sides. We still miss our St. FLossie, but find so much joy in knowing what we are able to share with our Abby!

Abby Update!

Abby's foster mom writes: "Abby woke up like a trooper today. She's not as afraid of my outside steps and goes up and down willingly. She follows Bingo (my pointer mix) even though he's terribly jealous. But for moments at a time he forgets that he would like her to fall into a 40' hole and he plays with her. He even wags his tail when I'm not looking.

Abby is still afraid of the house noises. She started shaking when the dryer buzzer went off and my dishwasher scared her to death. But she is coming around.

She follows me from room to room if no other animal bars her way. She is incredibly affectionate. We started working on her name as she doesn't respond. She is completely housebroken and not even remotely destructive. She finally laid down.

When she runs, she is gorgeous - and very quick. She is still more interested in my kitten than I would prefer, but she is very respectful of my cats. She's afraid when they pet her (my cats are 22, 20 and 16 pounds); perhaps that's why she fixates on the kitten who just keeps flying through the house. I started not to crate her last night, but she was chasing the kitten, so I did.

I brushed her and got the mats out of her ear. She is unsure about being combed, but has tolerance to let me try what I want.

She's a terrible puller; but we'll work on that after she learns her name."

arleen

A shy, sweet girl!

Abby's owner was forced to sell all his property and turned a lot of his setters over to a shelter in Southern Illinois. IBR is trying to get them into foster care. Abby is one of the first ones that was pulled into rescue.

Her foster mom describes picking her up: "We had a hard time getting Abby in the car. She spread eagled. She panted the first half hour of the drive. I thought she was going to have a heart attack!! So I brought her up with me in the front and she calmed down and went to sleep. She felt more comfortable when she could see the other two in the back.

I also let her out in the house and she just paced back and forth, then would come right up to us. We would go to touch her and she would bolt. No aggression, she loves the other dogs but is timid with people. She layed by the back door the whole time she was out of the crate. She knows her name and comes when called but when she gets within 2 feet she runs. She just needs a little one on one TLC and learn to trust. She's SOOOOOO sweet!! She too is a little underweight, she's around 30 pounds."