Buffalo - No Longer In Need

Name: Buffalo

Age: 8 weeks

Breed: Golden Doodle

Sex: Male (not altered)

Location: Southwest Colorado

Vet Info: Buffalo has had his first set of puppy boosters and will be due for distemper and parvo vaccines on August 12th. The vet's office commented that he is the sweetest thing!! Buffalo weighs 6.6 pounds.

Owner Info: DOB 5/26/14. Buffalo is an adorable and very sweet puppy whose owner wants him to have a loving home with someone who has the resources to care for him. Buffalo was born at his owner's home. She wrote, "His mom injured him when he was two weeks old--a head injury, and now we notice that Buffalo has limited vision. His nose is so compensatory that we didn't notice any disability for a long time. Often, he'll just sit and watch my husband at work at his desk, following his movements, but there are depth-perception issues, and both eyes (that look quite normal) are affected to some extent." Other than his blindness, Buffalo is a healthy puppy, and he lives with three other dogs. His owner feels he will adapt well to new situations because "Buffalo loves everybody!" He's just a happy and playful little fellow who doesn't know that he has any vision problem! 

Update 9/14/2014: Buffalo’s owner has been working with a neurologist and feels Buffalo is now ready for rescue! Briefly, a recent MRI showed a lot of fluid in the brain ventricles, but they feel no surgery is necessary, and Buffalo is on medication that will hopefully remove the excess fluid, and may also help his vision. He has had seizures in the past and is somewhat uncoordinated, but this is improving. His owner writes, "Today, we were all outside with little smart phone cameras trying to take some video of Buffalo running around full tilt. Zip, Zip…Big figure 8s and sailing jumps through the air--and not smacking into anything--just showing off. It's not just that he's blind and cute and all, but what he can DO while being blind. All we got were a lot of blurs and trees and grass; funny video, but no Buffalo in it."

Update 10/10/14: Buffalo is a mini-Goldendoodle; he weighs about 16 pounds at this time, and he's a slim dog. We take him out on a schedule (schedules are best for Buffalo), and if we stick to schedule, we don't have accidents. If we don't stick to his schedule, we do. Buffalo is doing better--makes me happy--My husband says that he doesn't "know if it's the meds or that he's getting more mature. He does still guard his food bowl. The vet said that he needed more doggie exposure, and we've companioned him with a very small, busy Cocker puppy. Mostly, they enjoy bark-fests for five min per day in the mornings. Later in the day, they are just there as a presence for the other, until Miss Cocker goes home in the evening. But he didn't guard his food before this pup came to keep him company. He does eat alone; she can't snatch his food."

Update 10/20/2014: "Buffalo has not had seizures in a long time. And you are right, it would take another MRI to see if he still had too much spinal fluid in the ventricles of his brain. So, I guess the meds are working the way they are supposed to (but I cannot say that his sight is any better). He LOVES to be outside, playing and playing. Sometimes when we take him in he fusses and cries, but then we put him down by his water dish or food dish and he focuses on water/food. When I say that he "fusses," he makes a lot of noise, and then he cries, and then he stops. He's never wanted to bite any of us; my husband says he "throws a tantrum." I'd say wanting to stay out and play forever and ever and guarding his food dish are his ONLY "issues" other than his sight problem. I did give him a complete bath once--and I think he should be sedated for a bath. He loves to play in water outside--sprinkler system or his water dish--but a soap bath all over is frightening to him. He has in-the-sink with sprayer underbelly, feet, legs, and butt baths--doesn't like them, but endures them. Buffalo is such a loving puppy--cuddly and he loves to be petted, have his tummy scratched, and his ears scratched especially. He's as cute as can be and loves to show off leaping and bouncing--he almost turns cartwheels. I am pretty sure that everything unfamiliar is still a problem for him, so he has to get used to "things" being where they are, but he loves all people. He has learned, "No," and "Buffalo come," and "careful!" or "easy, Buffalo!"--meaning that there is something he cannot see and he might consider changing direction--bushes or an incline or step or something. While he turns flips outside, he has to relearn walking on slick surfaces every time he encounters them--floors, tiles, newspapers even. When I look at what I've written, I realize what a special person it would take to keep Buffalo moving in an optimum direction and to commit to his care and who wouldn't be afraid to receive his love in return. I've talked with my vet about this; we have a goal of Buffalo being a loving pet for someone--someone who will be firm with him when he cannot have his way--and who will be loving and affectionate, too. You can actually fall into those big, pretty brown eyes. His soul is so easy to touch; it's like falling in love…."

Update 11/10/2014: We've received this update from Buffalo's owners and they're getting worried as winter is approaching. They're elderly and do not believe they'll be able to physically handle Buffalo through the winter. Her husband is already having difficulty caring for Buffalo due to his own health.

"Buffalo keeps on improving. Although a "mini," he's about 30 pounds (and could get up to 35 or 40) and beyond my ability to lift him any more. He's a loving boy. No seizures or anything like that. STILL protective of his food dish if he thinks anyone else around might be hungry. STILL wants to have his own way--like any kid. Still exploring and memorizing the property here. Today, we are snow-free; tomorrow, there will be snow. We enjoy day-by-day, but the time really is critical."