Jack - Staying With Owner

Name: Jack

Age: 8 years (estimated)

Breed: Labrador Retriever

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Charlotte, NC area

Vet Info: Jack has had a rabies vaccine and vet confirms he is neutered. He weighs 110 pounds. 

Owner Info: Jack was found by a good samaritan wandering in the road about a week ago. He appears completely blind and in one of his eye sockets, there is only a white circle, but she writes that he may have a little peripheral vision. She took him in and has been unable to find his owners or other rescue. She is not able to keep him because she already has several dogs and cats, and is hoping for our assistance to find Jack a loving home! Jack is an indoor dog confined to one area of the house, he is housebroken (he's not had any accidents in the house) and leash trained. He is not possessive of toys, treats, or food and has never bitten or snapped. Jack is good with women, children, and both male and female dogs. He's not yet been around men, but his good samaritan writes, "I have seen no signs of any aggression from him. He has been around my other dogs, and a friend of mine and her 10 year old daughter. He has not been around any men, but he has a very gentle nature and I cannot imagine him having any behavior issues with them." When responding to the question about how well the dog adapts to new situations, Jack's good samaritan wrote, "I believe he is adapting as best as he can given his visual impairment. I have moved furniture around and he responds well to voice command. Even when he bumps into things (which is often), which is very upsetting to me, he manages to either follow my voice or find his way around things to get from one place or another. He has to take a flight of 8 stairs in and out of the house to use the bathroom and he navigates them well without being on a leash. He has been introduced to all my dogs and gets along fine with them. He has not been around my cats so I do not know how he would react, but he is a very gentle dog that loves attention. He seems happy and content when around me and the other dogs. He will bark constantly when he can't see me or knows I am in another room so he may have some separation anxiety."  She wants us to know that he is a very gentle fellow and he loves people!! 

Update 5/10/14:  ​Jack is very content when he can "see" me or be near me; otherwise he can start barking for an extended period. Even though he can't really see me (but he may be able to make out shapes) he senses pretty quick when I leave the room or the (fenced-in) yard while he's outside.  He will come up the stairs and start barking so he knows where the door is - whether he can see somewhat or just has figured out his surroundings well enough I'm not sure. Jack is very sweet and loving, but he is a BIG boy.  Even though he has some age to him he is still very energetic and strong.  I am 5'10 and big-boned but Jack has a strong pull so whoever fosters/adopts him must be physically able to handle him.  Because he is playful and sight impaired I don't believe he would be suitable for a home with very young children who he may bump into and accidentally scare when he likes to come up close and try to play or puts his gigantic paw up on, which can hurt because it is a big paw!   When I pet him he likes to nuzzle and put my hand/arm in his mouth but he never closes his mouth to bite or get a hold of...he is just enjoying being loved on and trying to love back.  He finally "sensed" my cats, who are up in their cages while he goes out through the "cat room" to the backyard.  He is now barking a lot at them and trying to push his way to them.  As I said before, Jack gets along with all of my pets (i.e. does not bother them or act aggressively in any way) - however, some of my smaller pets are intimidated by him, and I watch him carefully when they are outside together because I don't know if he could accidentally get too close or step on them this since he can't really see - otherwise I have no concerns whatsoever about him around other dogs.  In conclusion, Jack is a wonderful dog...a little older, but you would not know that by looking at him or watching him move.  I think he would be great with a family with teenagers or grown children.  I don't have any concerns about him being around small children other than his size and sight-impairment.  Jack is very sight impaired but manages to get around well, especially when he hears your voice.  Jack has also discovered how to open the outside gate!  He is a smart fellow! 

Update 5/10/14: We've just received an email from Jack's caregiver and he is now urgent! He is going after her cats, and while she is doing her best to keep everyone separated, her cats are having a very difficult time.  She is desperately hoping and praying Jack can find rescue as soon as possible.   "He is really a good dog and I hope and pray there will be a home/foster home found for him soon.  I'm sorry that I can't be the one to give him a permanent home or foster him long-term".

Update 5/13/2014: Things are going a little better since I put the cat's cage in the living room up on my dining room table out of Jack's sight. I pulled my couch across the opening of the dining room so for now he is separated from that cat. My other dog can jump the couch into the dining room - a trick I hope Jack doesn't learn. I am keeping him on leash as we got out through the sunroom to the outdoors so he can't attack the cages of my other 3 cats. Jack is also on a routine where he goes out 2 times in the morning (6:30 am and 7:15 am) and 2 times at night (as soon as I get home from work and around 7:30-8:00 pm.) ....As long as I can keep him separated from my cats and they can eat and live in relative safety then I'll foster Jack as long as I can; if anything changes (such as he learns to jump the couch) and would hurt one of my cats, things could change immediately.