UPDATE: Cody is no longer available because he has Lymphoma. This special boy is doing well in his foster home and has a good quality of life at present.

When he was picked up as a stray by an Animal Control Officer, Cody was taken to be examined by a vet; he had severe infections in both ears, bare spots on his back, neck and tail and was walking with difficulty.  The ACO said she doubted anyone would be looking for him and would probably have to euthanize him when the 10 days were up.

Fortunately for Cody, the vet knew that one of her clients is an active member of GSRNE and asked her to find out if we could help him.  Our member offered to be his temporary foster home, if we didn’t have one available, and we were able to bring him into our rescue in June.  We asked the vet to take X-rays to find out why he was having trouble walking, and we learned that he has severe Spondylosis.

Cody moved to a regular foster home at the end of June, and he has amazed us with the way his walking has improved now that he’s going for regular short walks and taking medication to keep him comfortable.  The fur has started to fill in on his back and tail and is all filled in on his neck.  At his recent vet visit, his age was estimated to be around 8 or 9, and he’s acting more like 4 or 5 now that he’s feeling better.  He gets very excited when it’s time for a walk; the only thing he likes better is a ride in the car, and he hops in with no help.

There are cats in his current foster home and Cody is showing a little too much interest in them when they move around.  A baby gate keeps him in the kitchen and living room area and separated from the cats, who usually stay in the bedroom.  When they are in the hallway, Cody seems fascinated to watch them and shows prey drive towards cats outside, so we will be looking for a cat-free home for this boy.

Cody loves meeting new people and can be quite “talkative” when something interesting is going on and whines in excitement.  He has learned to go to his dog bed to hang out when his foster Mom is relaxing and is quite content to keep her company whether out in the fenced yard or inside doing chores.  If you have a special place in your heart for a senior German Shepherd who still has a lot of energy and curiosity, please ask us about Cody.