Description:Geraldine was found on the side of the road. She was taken to the County Animal Services. A very nice women pulled her from the shelter and has been fostering her. Judy agreed to put her on our web page in hopes of getting her adopted and finding her the forever home she needs. She is heartworm positive, we do use the slow kill method which is very effective. Literature will be provided. It only involves giving her a heartguard pill every month.
Foster Update 8/11/15:
Geraldine (we call her Pepper) has a perfect blue tick coat and coloring. Her face has a white heart shape much like Mickey Mouse's. She has finally reached her optimal weight - around 55lbs. She has finished all of her treatments aside from heartwarming which continues and she looks healthy and happy for it. She actually seems to smile when she catches your eye.
She is mature enough that she can rest quite comfortably throughout the day or night quietly. She can also get out and play with the rest of the dogs. She really enjoys human time but gets along with cats, chickens, other dogs, kids, etc.
Geraldine (or Pepper's) favorite parting any day is dinner time. She loves canned food and treats. She lived on the streets and apparently got used to human food but will eat dry food also.
Her body language suggests she is a bit fearful of new situations but she seems open to trying anything. I would call her cautious.
As long as we take her out after she eats she is great at going Potty outside. she acts anctious when she needs to go out which can be easy to miss if you aren't paying attention.
Though she is fine with children I do notice that she gets more concerned if she is around a child who is making a raucous.
I don't know of any training she has had. Nothing is apparent. She walks on a harness well.
She loves having a yard to protect with another dog. She will likely enjoy being able to really open up and run. If she has a lot of obstacles in the way she may end up bouncing into things.
This dog is smart and loving, but low maintenance and happy to give back.
Foster Update 6/20/15:
Geraldine (we call her pepper) is a very sweet blue tick coon hound or German Shorthair Pointer. She had been living on the streets in the Gainesville area for some time. A family member saw her in the Alachua County animal control facility and sent a picture. She was scheduled to be put down the next day. I loved her immediately and had to do whatever I could to get her out of there. Thank goodness Pet Rescue by Judy was able to work out an agreement to allow us to foster her as she regained her health.
When we received Geraldine it was
Saturday
evening. She came with a terrible cough. We knew she had heartworms, but it turned out she also had kennel cough. It racked her whole body making it hard for her to sleep.
We have two other dogs, and my mother's dog who is regularly at our house. They are all around 50 lbs. Geraldine got along with all of them right away. She ignores the cat and chickens! She even does well around horses and a pig, though she is clearly a bit concerned about the horses.
I have two young children (8 and 10) who can be loud and rambunctious. Geraldine takes the chaos in stride. She likes the children, but it is clear that this dog really wants to bond with one human. As long as she can see "her" human she is happy. She isn't nuts about the leash (though she will walk on it), but she will stay within about 20 feet of "her" human at all times.
When she first came to us, she kept to herself. She was very quiet and reserved. It has been about a month and she has been working hard to get healthy. She was terribly underweight. She had a large tumor that hung from her belly and another on one of her toes which had cancerous cells and have since been removed. She started heartworm medication right away which also helped her get through the kennel cough. She had tapeworms and a bladder infection that caused her to urinate blood!
Throughout the treatments for all these issues, she has been strong. She had a few accidents in the house, but they were likely associated with all of her health issues and no real means to communicate the need to go outside. It seems before this, she was either out on the streets or in a small cage. Neither helped her understand how to go outside. It has been about a week since her last accident, so I believe this is no longer an issue.
Her one "fault" is that she is constantly on the search for food, even with dry food available at all times. She will put her front feet on the counter and look for bread or any other food she can find. We are working with her on this. She is still very underweight, however she is very picky about food. When trying to give her medicine, I have to be creative about hiding it in something she likes. She doesn't fall for dog food, even the canned kind. She wants table scraps or better yet, cooked chicken if she can get it. The medicine we gave her when she first came was very strong, monocyclene and it was hard on her stomach. There is no doubt that has influenced her willingness to eat whatever I might be sneaking pills in with.
Geraldine seems happiest when she is walking around with "her" person. She LOVES the trimmings from horse hooves. Since her health is improving she has started to bay, she seems younger and willing to play with the other dogs. She doesn't like being separated from "her" human but will settle down and rest just fine with her other canine friends.
We have all come to love Geraldine (Pepper) for her sweet, loving temperament, her strong heart and her real hound-dog beauty. I was never a fan of hounds, but this dog has turned me around. She seems at home on a small farm and loves being anywhere with "her" human.
This is a dog that deserves a forever home with someone who loves her as much as she has the capacity to love. Every day as she gets more and more healthy, the joy of life is returning to her. You can actually see her smiling.
If you have a soft spot for a dog who can strongly bond with you, who is gaining trust that the world can be a good place and has everything to give, you will be delighted with this dog. She is a genuine treasure!
According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, selective breeding in Louisiana of Foxhounds, Curs, French Hounds and English Coonhounds produced the Bluetick Coonhound. The Bluetick was originally recognized by the UKC as the English fox & Coonhound, which included the Bluetick, Treeing Walker and English Coonhounds as all in the same breed. The breeds were later separated into their own breed. The Bluetick Coonhound is a very intelligent dog. Very devoted to its family, it makes a good companion dog. It does well living indoors and plays a fine guardian to his family and home. They are usually best with older considerate children, but can also do well with younger ones. Some can be a bit dog-aggressive and reserved with strangers. Socialize this breed well while still young. The Bluetick is a passionate hunter and should not be trusted with non-canine pets. This breed is extremely alert, attentive, and able to work over difficult terrain in bad weather. Do not let this breed off the leash in an unsafe area, as they may take off after an interesting scent. They have a strong instinct to tree animals. Raccoons inhabit all states and provinces in the US mainland and Canada, and have for centuries been pursued by hunters. Each year, hundreds of licensed night trials take place. Each trial lasts approximately three hours and involves three to four dogs. Points are given according to the dog's ability to find, trail and tree a raccoon. Points are lost for treeing game other than raccoons. Each dog has a unique "voice" which it's owners usually can recognize. The Bluetick Coonhound excels in these trials. They can also be used to track fox or even cougar. The Bluetick has a fearless and warrior-like approach to the hunt. This breed may drool or slobber. The Bluetick is not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. Do not let this breed run free off of its lead, unless in a safe, secure area. Coonhounds have a tendency to follow their noses, and if they catch wind of a scent, they may wander off for hours following it. They have a life expectancy of about 11-12 years.
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